Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a move aimed at boosting rural infrastructure, the State government has amended the Deendayal Panchayat Raj Infrastructure Development (Golden Jubilee) Scheme, raising the ceiling on project funding from ₹3 crore to ₹5 crore.
The amendment, published in the Official Gazette, is expected to help village panchayats take up larger projects and quicken the pace of development in Goa’s rural areas. Officials said the revision comes in response to growing demand from local bodies for bigger and more complex works that often exceeded the earlier funding cap.
In addition to increasing the limit, the government has also scrapped both provisos under Clause 17 of the scheme, which previously restricted how grants could be utilised. This is expected to simplify processes and reduce delays in project approvals.
Launched in 2013 to commemorate 50 years of Panchayati Raj in Goa, the scheme provides State-funded support for the creation of essential civic infrastructure, including Panchayat Ghars, community halls, market complexes, multipurpose buildings and other amenities. It was last revalidated in October 2022 for a five-year period, until March 2027.
The Directorate of Panchayats, along with technical agencies, will continue to vet project proposals, while a committee headed by the Panchayat Minister will monitor execution. Experts believe the higher funding ceiling will enable panchayats to take on more ambitious projects benefiting multiple villages, though they stress the need for stronger oversight and transparency to avoid misuse or cost overruns.
The scheme has already supported several initiatives across the State, such as the recently completed ₹3.63-crore panchayat building at Guirdolim. With the revised cap, many more such projects are expected in the coming years.
