PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant used an opportunity to engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an incentive to elected representatives of local elected bodies and their respective swayampurna mitras to ensure last-mile connectivity to the state’s denizens as far as facilitation of online facilities and outreach of government schemes.
In his online interaction with sarpanchas, panchas, councillors, chairpersons and swayampurna mitras -- liaising government officials -- Sawant also said that 30 percent panchayats were still lagging behind as far as their performance and participation under the BJP-led coalition government’s flagship programme.
“The Prime Minister may speak to 10 swayampurna mitras, sarpanchas and panchas in the state sometime in September. The Prime Minister’s office will survey panchayats in Goa selected by the central government’s Directorate of Planning and Statistics. It will assess which panchayats have done good work,” Sawant said during the online interaction.
“Officials from panchayats which have done good work will get a chance to speak to PM Modi. This is an opportunity to tell the whole of India what you have achieved,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister also said that while largely there was a good response to the Swayampurna Mitra programme, some panchayats were still lagging behind,
“More than 70 per cent there is good response to swayampurna mitra programme, but 30 percent panchayats are lagging. We have to take everyone along,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister also said that panchayats should be in a position to provide last-mile connectivity to the residents of the state as far as 150-plus government services are concerned.
“152 services are available online. You as swayampurna mitras should insist that talathis and secretaries at village panchayats should deliver these online services to people. Those who are not well versed with the online system need to be trained,” Sawant said.
“People should not have to travel to Panaji to pick up various government forms. This can save time, money and effort. Service delivery should be at their doorsteps. Goa is the first state which can provide such last-mile connectivity,” Sawant also said.
