Goemkaponn Desk
PANAJI: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant today extended his government’s ambitious ‘Swayampurna Goa’ initiative to the Municipal areas, in a bid to make the cities and towns self- sufficient to meet the day-to-day needs.
The scheme was extended across all 13 municipalities- Mormugao, Margao, Mapusa, Bicholim, Cuncolim, Curchorem, Quepem, Canacona, Sanguem, Pernem, Valpoi, Sanquelim and Ponda and the Panaji City Corporation.
Minister for Urban Development Milind Naik was present during the launch, which was held via a video conference. The Chief Municipal Officers and staff were present for the launch.
Addressing the municipal officers, the Chief Minister announced that Rs one crore grant would be provided to the Municipalities towards becoming Swayampuran Goa.
“Government has started to desposit funds, recieved under 15th finance commission, in the accounts of respective Municipalities,” he declared.
However, the chief minister said every municipality needs to adopt various sustainable measures to gain economic empowerment for its city or town. He said that no State can flourish if its villages or cities are not self-sufficient.
Sawant said that the government aims towards making the Cities into sustainable cities.
Announcing that each municipality will have a Swayampurna Mitra, Sawant urged the Chief Municipal Officers and the new councilors, who will be elected next month, to get themselves involved and provide cooperation with dedication and identify the deficiencies in their wards.
He said that efforts should be to have 100 per cent implementation of all State and Central schemes.
Housing for all, sanitation for all, water and electricity for all, etc are some of the goals that needs to be achieved, he said adding that every Municipality will have to submit a monthly report on the progress of the Swayampurna Goa.
Sawant said that each Municipality will have to submit proposals, providing facilities like a market, bus stand, community hall, etc. He also appealed to Municipal officers to identify unused government buildings or land, available in their jurisdiction, which can be used for providing facilities.
The Swayampurna Goa initiative, which is in sync with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’ programme, was launched for panchayat areas on October 2, 2020. Under the initiative, the Government intends to make Goa ‘Swayampurna’ by December 19, 2021- the 60th year of Goa’s Liberation.
Action plan for Swayampurna Goa consist various aspects of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Youth and Adolescent, Senior Citizens, Women and SHGs, tourism, fisheries, natural resources, various schemes and their convergence and general-good governance.
The Chief Minister announced that the government will honour the best three Municipalities, Swayampurna Mitra and Chief Municipal Officers based on their performance.
