MARGAO
With the dust kicked up during the Zilla Panchayat elections finally settling down, it’s time for the newly-elected South Goa Zilla members to get down to brass tacks, beginning with the formation of the Constitutionally-mandated District Planning Committee and undergoing a four-day training session to accustom themselves with the functioning of the district panchayat bodies.
South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Triveni Velip, during the welcome address, was clear in conveying a message to the newly-elected members that they have a clear task cut out for them to take part in the DPC exercise to usher in the development of the district.
That the CEO touched upon the DPC assumes significance given that the DPC had remained defunct since its inception 20 years ago, with the South DPC consolidating no draft district plan for want of government’s guidance and support.
In fact, Triveni had last month written to the government to constitute a DPC cell in the South Goa Zilla Panchayat and to provide manpower support to take the DPC to its logical conclusion.
“All the members should take interest in the DPC. The DPC has to get the annual development plans from the panchayats and municipalities and consolidate a draft plan before sending the same to the government. Unless a plan is sent to the government, the government will not act and will not know what is required at the grassroots,” she added.
The CEO also made a plea to the newly-elected members to undergo the four-day training session as it will give them an insight into the functioning of the district planning bodies.
