PANAJI
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday informed the State Legislative Assembly that the government is allocating grants of up to Rs 3 crore to each Village Panchayat (VP) to support their infrastructural development and foster self-reliance.
Replying to the Calling Attention Motion tabled by opposition MLAs Vijai Sardesai and Carlos Ferreira, the minister said that various Grants-in-Aid to VPs are being provided regularly.
“…such as rural infrastructure grants, garbage grants, grants for salaries to all Panchayat elected representatives, grants for salaries for the staff of weaker VPs, grants of upto Rs 3 crores (Rs 3.5 crores in deserving cases) per VP for infrastructural development such as VP Ghar, market complex, community hall, crematorium, matching grants to encourage Village Panchayats to increase their source revenue to make VPs self-reliant,” the minister said.
The GFP and Congress legislators had moved the motion stating there was fear and anxiety among the people about the weakening of the Panchayat Raj system in the State and interference of the State Government in basic matters of development works. They sought steps the government has taken to devolve powers to the Panchayat Raj as envisaged in the 73rd amendment, particularly the Article 243H, where by the State Government provides for grants-in-aid to the panchayats from the consolidated fund of the State to make Panchayats self-reliant and vibrant institutions of local governance and empower them for the effective delivery of services to strengthen the rural economy.
Sardesai, during the discussion also alleged that the total budget had been reduced from Rs 289 crores to Rs 250 crores. “It proves the government is choking the Panchayati Raj system,” he added.
Godinho stated that the government does not interfere in the basic matters of development works as the VPs have full powers to tender all the works undertaken by them under all types of funds including VP funds.
He further replied that the Government of India also grants Finance Commission Grants and that till now, under 14th finance commission grants, VPs have received Rs 125 crores while under 15th finance commission grants, VPs received Rs 130 crores to date.
