Centre ranks Gaondongorim number 1 in panchayat development plan

POINGUINIM: Gaondongorim panchayat in Canacona taluka has set an example for panchayats across Goa on development plan parameters, with the Centre according it top position.
Nestled in the green cover of Western Ghats, it has left far behind panchayats of Quepem, Sanguem, Ponda, Salcete, Darbhandora and Mormugao, which also find mention in the list.
Goa ranks 9th among states in the gram panchayat development plan campaign.
Gaondongorim panchayat completed the data collection tasks on several developmental works undertaken under the grants sanctioned by the 14th Finance Commission within the stipulated timeframe.
Sarpanch Suman Gaonkar said that the village development committee comprising panchayat members, teachers, health workers and others helped the panchayat to compile the data that helped in securing a good rating.
“When the development committee of any civic body works in tandem and prepares varied plans for different developmental works and also ensures implementation of the same, the rating on the development front will be always on a higher side,” she said.
“After preparing the plan as per the requirement, we immediately submitted the file to the Block Development Officer, who then forwarded it to the concerned department for further action,” Gaonkar said.
When asked as to how much funds were utilised under the finance panel grants, Gaonkar said that around Rs 20 lakh of the sanctioned amount has been utilised for different developmental works, of which some have been completed and others are in progress.
“When plans are prepared well, funds are used in time, and data is uploaded within the deadline, one gets a better rating,” she said, adding, “The plan was prepared in 2016-17.”