PANAJI
Department of Panchayats is gearing up to go cashless by January 1 with a comprehensive plan being drawn up to involve the 190-odd panchayats from across the state.
As a part of the plan, the department has organised a training session on December 9 from 10 am to 1 pm at Taleigao Community Centre for the administrative staff of all panchayats.
The chief secretary and top officials of the department are expected to remain present for the training session.
Speaking to The Goan, Panchayats Minister Rajendra Arlekar stated, “As our government has decided to make Goa the first cashless state, we are preparing the panchayat departments to go cashless. Panchayat staff including clerks, panchayat secretaries, sarpanchas and panchas have been asked to attend the session so they can receive the necessary training.”
He informed that the department is presently working closely with the State Bank of India to implement the idea through the use of POS machines. “These are simple machines. Only those citizens who have debit or credit cards can swipe to make transactions at panchayats,” he said.
Two such ‘point of sale’ machines have been installed at panchayat offices of Veling-Priol and Bandora.
However, these are yet to be operational.
