POWERS
Zilla members attending the training programme were categorical in demanding that schemes such as the DRDA and Women Child Development department such as NREGA, NRHM, Anganwadi etc should be transferred to the village panchayats for their management
Bifurcation and separation of powers of Zilla Panchayats and village panchayats
Standard Operating Procedures for the functioning of Zilla Panchayats
Presently, panchayats have no role to play in Primary Health Centres and Village Committees and they should be given effective roles in these sectors
Extra expenditure sanctions of village panchayats can be approved by the Zilla Panchayats instead of the Directorate of Panchayats
With the government dilly-dallying on the question of framing recruitment rules for the ZP staff, it was demanded that recruitment rules to be finalized and staff should be appointed
FUNDING
Include funding of ZPs in the 15th Finance Commission
Allocate two per cent of the state budget to the Zilla Panchayats
Adopt Standard Operating Procedures for funding of Zilla Panchayats
Empower ZPs to approve budget and extra expenditure sanction for the village panchayats
Allocate funds to the Zilla Panchayats to meet expenses in cases of natural
calamities
Allocate at least Rs two crore to each ZP member for his constituency every year
Transfer five per cent of state Outlay development fund or budget to the Zilla Panchayats
In addition to the annual study tours, ZP members have demanded pension, increase in honorarium, medical allowances etc as enjoyed by MLAs should be extended to the ZP members
Pension should be given to ZP members after completion of a term
Protocol of Zilla Panchayats should be maintained. ZP members should be compulsorily invited for government functions and protocol should be properly followed during the functions.
Zilla Panchayats should be provided with passes for different events
ZP members should be invited by panchayats and schools for national festivals
ZP member should be given parking stickers for their vehicles for all functions
Provision of zilla bhavans in North and South Goa like other states
ZP Vice-chairperson should have equal rights as that of the Chairperson (car etc)
Honorarium to ZP member should be increased to Rs 70,000 per month.
ROLE IN GRAM SABHAS
ZP members should be co-opted for all gram sabhas within the jurisdiction of their constituencies
ZP members should be invited for gram sabhas and given position on the dais. They should be given the powers to address the gram sabha. Rules should be amended to this effect
ROLE IN DEVP FUNCTIONS
Compulsory holding of the District Planning Committee
Consultation with ZP members for the preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plan to avoid duplication of works
RDA should be given to the Zilla Panchayats
Activity mapping and defining of ZPs should be done in rural infrastructure works
Rural electrification should be done through solar energy and their functions should be handed over to the ZPs
