MARGAO
The Goa Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development (GIPARD) organised a training programme on Role & Responsibilities of Functional Committees for the 30 Village Panchayats of Salcete Taluka at the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex, Margao.
Ashwini Acharya (Core Faculty, GIPARD) explained the timeline for the People's Plan Campaign (PPC) for preparation of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) for the Financial Year 2022-23. She also covered the importance of the structured Gram Sabha Meetings from 2 October 2021 to 31 January 2022 for preparation of the GPDP. Many queries were raised and clarified on issues linked to the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC), Finance Resource Envelope (FRC), display of Public Information Boards, uploading of approved geo-tagged projects etc.
Roland Martins, co-ordinator of GOACAN and State Resource Person of GIPARD explained the role, functions and the procedure for conducting meetings of the various Committees at the Panchayat level. Some of the Committees covered were Village Child Committee (VCC), Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), Road Safety & Traffic Management Committee (RSTMC) and Village Health, Sanitation & Nutrition Committee (VHSNC). He also covered action related to problems of stray cattle, registration of pet dogs, need for registration of wells, setting up Day Care Centre for Senior Citizens and the importance of the Panchayat Committees on Production, Amenities & Social Justice. The session saw a lively interaction and discussion by the participants over the challenges in activating the various Committees at the Panchayat level.
Among the participants on 3rd September were Assolna Sarpanch Xavier Almeida, Betalbatim Sarpanch Constancio Miranda, Colva Ex Sarpanch Antonio Leao Fernandes and Chinchinim VDC Convenor Marcos De Mello. On 4th September Nuvem Sarpanch Filipa Barreto, VDC Convenor Kenneth Dias, Raia Sarpanch Minguelina D'Souza, Dy Sarpanch Mario D'Souza, VDC Convenor Martin Rodrigues, Sao Jose de Areal Sarpanch Minguel Gomes, VDC Convenor Dioguinho, Rumdamol - Davorlim Sarpanch Avita Chodankar, Navelim Sarpanch Bebinda Gonsalves, Velim Panchayat members Agnelo D'Silva, Jerry Simoes and VDC member Ramona Almeida were among the participants.
