the goan I network
MARGAO
Saying the ensuing Zilla Panchayat election is a beginning for the party’s preparation for the 2022 Assembly election, Aam Aadmi Party
Delhi MLA, Atishi Marlena on Monday stressed on the need for strong local grassroot bodies at the Panchayat and ZP level to ensure close monitoring and accountability of government services.
Atishi further said the ensuing ZP election is all the more important for the reason that Goa is one State which has hardly been devolved any powers, giving indications that AAP will make the failure of successive governments to devolve powers a major poll plank in the election.
At the AAP Margao office on Monday morning ahead of the declaration of party candidates for the ZP polls, Atishi said that Goa is an important State, where AAP will be expanded politically in the next couple of years.
Saying that the Zilla Panchayat election are very important for AAP as part of the plan, Atishi said AAP is going to the grassroots, reminding that one of the important components of the reforms that have taken place in Delhi in education, health and other services is grassroot participation and citizens participation. “In school education, participation of parents and management is very important. This is one major reason responsible in improving the quality of schools in Delhi,” she added.
Saying that Zilla Panchayats need to be empowered as per the Constitutional provisions, Atishi said any government service can be effectively implemented if there’s proper monitoring at the local level.
“Goa is one of the states where there was absolutely no devolution of powers for the ZPs. This is one reason why you have poor delivery of services at the ground level, be it in health care, education etc,” she said, adding that the long-delayed South Goa district hospital is an example.
“These Zilla Panchayat elections are the beginning of our preparations for the next Assembly election in 2022. We will take up basic issues, which are affecting the citizens, including better facilities in the health and education sector and take them to a large scale in the next two years,” Atishi said, while disclosing plans to build a movement at the ground level to empower the people.
AAP State coordinator, Elvis Gomes said that people of Goa now look forward to AAP as their only hope to address their problems and put an end to political instability. “People are fed up of politics of changing parties like frogs. They look forward to AAP to bring about a change,” he added.
Gomes unveiled the names of nine candidates for the South Goa ZP Constituency, including Dinesh Borkar (Borim), Lia Gomes (Raia), Marcelina F Colaco (Nuvem), Rodofina Vaz (Guirdolim), Brinda Silva (Curtorim), Matilda D’Silva (Navelim), Sidharth Patil (Sanvordem), Sandeep Naik (Rivona) and Pobres Vaz (Cortalim).
