GOA PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS UNION
Goa Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) Union is a cell of Rural based grassroots organisation ‘CURTORIM UNION’ with Registration no. 68/Goa /99 situated in Curtorim Village Panchayat jurisdiction of Salcete Taluka. It was formed on 19th May, 2012 on the Golden Jubilee [50th year] of Goa Panchayati Raj.
Background: Constitutional Provisions for Empowerment of Local Bodies in India including Goa:
Article 40 –The Organisation of village panchayat has been described under Article 40 of the original Constitution of India which provided for the State to take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to function as units of self govt. This Directive principle of state policy (Article 40) was given constitutional status by 73rd Amendment Act of 1992.
Action Plan on the Devolution of Finances to Activity Mapping, Scopes of functions and responsibilities of PRIs:
State Profile of Goa State - Existing Draft Report on Status of Panchayati Raj in Goa
Findings of Curtorim Union: Our studies/analysis shows that despite the Federal Government attempt to empower the PRIs (Rural Local Bodies) as well as the Municipalities (Urban Local Bodies) through the Constitution [73rd and 74th Amendment] Acts, 1992 the State Govt. has not yet devolved the designated functions to the PRIs and the Municipalities so the existing centralized policy of local governance remained unchanged under Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968 and it’s subsequent amendments. It is also observed that so far no initiatives have been taken towards operationalisation of the bottom-up approach of grassroots planning, which is hampering the decentralised planning & development process under the mandatory provision of Article 243ZD of the Constitution of India.
Vision & Mission :
To facilitate and enhance the people’s participation in development programmes and healthy management of Rural Local Self-Governments through Grassroots Democracy and process of Democratic Decentralisation in the form of statutory Panchayati Raj Institutions, as Self–sufficient Village Republics in the State of Goa.
Aims & Objectives of Goa PRIs Union:
- To preserve the unity of like-minded grassroots elected members present/past and also organisations/individuals associated with Panchayati Raj Institutions in Goa and their welfare.
- To fight for Devolution of Powers as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment read with Eleventh Schedule under Article 243-G and implementing the Statement of Conclusions jointly signed in 2006 by the then Union Minister of India, Shri. Mani Shankar Aiyar, and then Chief Minister of Goa, Shri. Pratapsingh Rane in presence of then State Panchayat Minister Shri. Subhash Shirodkar.
- To promote all round planned development and socio-economic activities in the villages and respective district for the matter of common interests between Zilla Panchayat and Gram Panchayats as per Article 243ZD of the Constitution of India .
- To fight for implementation of State Finance Commission reports and to demand creation for a separate Panchayat Window in the State Budget.
- To demand the inclusion of Sarpanchas as Ex-officio members of Zilla Panchayat and District Planning Committees (at least one member from each Taluka having less than 15 Gram Panchayats and two members from more than 15 Gram Panchayats)
- To demand formation of Block Advisory Committees and restoration of Executive Powers of Sarpanch being a Head of the Village.
- To carry on any other activities incidental to the attainment of the objects mentioned in a, b, c, d, f above.
Activation of District Planning Committee (DPC):
For effective implementation of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992, the role of the District Planning Committees is very crucial with Activity Mapping (that operationalises the devolution of powers i.e funds, functions and functionaries). The District Planning Committees (DPCs) constitute the 3rd foundational pillar of democracy. The importance of DPCs is highlighted in Article 243ZD of Indian Constitution and Section 239 of GPR Act, 1994.
Present Status of District Planning Committee in the State of Goa & Recommendations by Goa PRIs Union: Read More
Putting People First: Community-Led Sustainable Development: Read More
Road Map for Decentralised Planning & Sustainable Development – Through Goa PRIs Union Initiatives:
- 1. Road Map of the State of Goa & Proposed List of Ideal Villages identified by Goa PRIs Union for Formulation of Draft Village Development Plan for each Taluka in the State of Goa
- 2. Draft North Goa Map of Ideal Villages [One from each Taluka]
- 3. Draft South Goa Map of Ideal Villages [One from each Taluka]
- 4. Ward-wise Map of Ideal Village [Curtorim] of Salcete Taluka in South Goa District
- 5. Draft Ideal Taluka Map [Ponda Taluka] in South Goa District
- 6. Draft Map of Ideal Zilla Panchayat Constituency [Curtorim Z.P. Constituency] of South Goa Zilla Panchayat
- 7. Draft Ideal Municipality Map [Margao Municipal Council] of South Goa
- 8. Draft District Planning Committee Map of South Goa
- 9. Draft District Planning Committee Map of North
- 10. Draft Goa State District Planning Committee Map - By Goa PRIs Union
- 11. Curtorim Vision Plan 2020
- 12. Curtorim Agro Bio Diversity Map
