MARGAO
Come Sunday and Goa would join the rest of the nation in observing National Panchayati Raj Day.
This year, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is celebrating the iconic week from April 11-17 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav, focusing on Panchayat meetings in all the States to revitalize the institution of gram sabhas in rural areas.
While the Panchayats have been mandated to hold the gram sabhas on Sunday to deliberate and discuss as many as nine themes shortlisted by the department, questions are being raised in Panchayat circles about whether the new government has any plans to implement the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in both letter and spirit and bestow powers and functions on the Panchayat Raj institutions, including the Gram Panchayats and the Zilla panchayats.
Pose the question to Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho whether the grass-roots Panchayat raj institutions can expect any positive news on the National Panchayati Raj Day, and he was quick to reply saying the government and the Panchayat Directorate believe in strengthening the Panchayat institutions throughout the year and does not wait for occasions such as the Panchayati Raj Day to strengthen the grass-roots democratic institutions.
Says Mauvin: “I have set in motion the process to bring amendments to the Goa Panchayati Raj Act to keep pace with the changing times. The proposed amendments are still at a discussion stage, and will be tabled in the House as and when finalized.”
On the question of empowering the Zilla Panchayat bodies with more powers and function as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, the Panchayat Minister said he is in the process of clearing a proposal to give additional funds for the District Panchayat bodies, besides earmarking them with open spaces for development.
But, are the ZPs mandated only to develop the open spaces or play their due role envisaged under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment? Successive Panchayat Ministers had in the past paid lip service in devolving powers and functions to the ZPs as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. Former Panchayat Minister, now the governor of Himachal Pradesh, had even announced to allot the Rural Development Agency (RDA) department to the Zilla panchayat bodies, but in vain.
Says Mauvin: “When it comes to allotting new subjects and powers to the Panchayats, we need to discuss the proposals with our Ministerial colleagues. Only then the government will be in a position to decide which subjects to allocate to the Zilla Panchayat.”
On the audit of Panchayat funds, the Minister said he has issued directions to the Panchayat authorities to ensure that the audit is carried out without fail.
Convenor of Goa Panchayati Raj Institutions J Santan Rodrigues, however, lamented that the government is not serious about implementing the provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
He questioned: “It’s now two decades since the Zilla Panchayats had come into existence in Goa, but are these District Panchayat bodies enjoying the powers, functions and duties which they are scheduled to discharge as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment?"
Santan added: “Are the Zilla Panchayats just looking for additional funds or the devolution of the powers, and functions envisaged under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment? Have the Zilla Panchayats and the District Planning Committees ever prepared a consolidated draft development plan for the two districts in the last 20 years? It’s indeed time for introspection”.
One year on, DPC remains on paper
MARGAO
Over a year has passed since the new South Goa Zilla Panchayat had taken over the reins of office, but the District Planning Committee (DPC) remains confined to the papers, throwing up a moot question “ whether the Constitutionally-mandated DPC for South Goa will ever consolidate a district draft-development plan and forward the same to the government for implementation?
Leave alone finalizing the draft-development plan, even a meeting of the DPC, consisting of the representatives of the Zilla Panchayat and the Municipal bodies, has not taken place since it was notified by the panchayat Director around a year ago.
While the DPC virtually remained defunct last year, incumbent South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer & DPC Member Secretary Florina Colaco has pointed out that she has dashed off letters to the Panchayat and Municipal bodies across the South Goa district to send the Panchayat’s development plans which they plan to execute with government funding.
“Some of the Panchayats have responded to the letters and we expect all the Panchayat and Municipal bodies to send their development plans to the DPC”, she said.
Florina added: “Once these plans are received from the Panchayats and Municipal bodies, they will be consolidated and a draft-development plan will be formulated and forwarded to the government”.
What’s lining up on Panchayati Raj Day?
Well, the gram sabhas on National Panchayati Raj Day on Sunday are required to familiarize the members on any of the nine themes before a resolution is adopted at the meeting.
Further, the gram sabhas are required to work rigorously to achieve the goals targeted for the next two years and also take up activities in the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) related to the themes.
The themes include a poverty-free Panchayat that ensures there is social protection so that none slip back to poverty.
It also includes creating a village for the future of the children, which is lush and green with nature’s bounty, using renewable energy, protecting the environment and climate-resilient.
