Centre, Goa sign joint declaration to strengthen Panchayat Raj

Panaji, Apr 12 (UNI) Union Minister for Panchayat Raj Manishonkar Aiyar and Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane today signed a joint declaration to strengthen panchayats in the State.

Mr Aiyar, who was on a three-day official visit to Goa, told reporters later that the joint declaration was signed on lines with the pattern followed in various states and Union territories.

Mr Aiyer said in fullfilment of the devolution of powers, responsibilites and activites under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act 1994, the state has already commenced the process aimed at devolving functions, funds and functionaries to panchayat. Goa has undertaken to complete this process and issue the necessary notification, transfering schemes based on activity mapping by September 2006.

He said for effectively performing the funcion devolved to them, the panchayats would need a matching transfer of funds in respect of the devolved functions. This will require the creation of a panchayat sector in the State budget for each department.

Detailed operational guidelines will also be issued for the consolidation of gram and zilla panchayat and municipal plans into draft district develoment plan by the District Planning Committee.

Goa Government will consider constituting disaster management committes within every panchayat. In order to provide immediate relief, the government would consider the provision of funds that can be reimbursed from a revolving calamity relief fund.

The Centre will extend technical assistance to the Goa Government for undertaking further Panchayat Raj reforms, including ctivity mapping and fiscal devoluion, Mr Aiyar said.

He said the Centre will pursue the estalishment of ''Gram Swaraj'' so as to provide support to the panchayats to strengthen their administration.

The Centre will also support the development of rural business hubs (RHBs) through public-private-panchayat partership so as to promote local skills and products, he said.

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