Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a significant step towards professional, citizen-centric and transparent local governance, seven Village Panchayats in Goa were awarded ISO certification at a programme organised by the Goa Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development (GIPARD) in association with the Directorate of Panchayats at the Secretariat, Porvorim, on Thursday.
Minister for Panchayats Mauvin Godinho presented ISO certificates to the Village Panchayats of Volvoi, Sarzora, Sao Matias, Keri–Terekhol, Menkurem–Dhumase, Harvalem and Chicalim, recognising their efficient public service delivery systems.
Expressing satisfaction over the achievement, Godinho said the ISO certification has helped these Panchayats attain higher standards of administrative practices and stressed that the standards must be consistently maintained. He further informed that 41 more Village Panchayats are currently in the process of obtaining ISO certification, which has strengthened the commitment of local self-government institutions towards transparency, efficiency and vibrant public service.
“Let us make Goa different by achieving higher standards in delivering public services at the grassroots level,” the Minister said.
Director of GIPARD, Vasudev Shetye, highlighted the institute’s role in upgrading administrative systems at the Village Panchayat level and elaborated on various initiatives undertaken to facilitate ISO certification.
Volvoi Panchayat Sarpanch Vinayak Vengurlekar lauded the efforts of GIPARD and the Directorate of Panchayats, stating that the ISO certification process would drastically transform the functioning and administration of local bodies.
ISO Consultant and Lead Auditor Adrian Simoes said Panchayats achieving ISO certification must adopt a citizen-centric approach. He added that attaining ISO should be viewed as a beginning and that sustained performance through consistent efforts is essential.
Retired senior bureaucrat N.D. Agrawal was also present at the function. Director of Panchayats Mahadev Aroundekar proposed the vote of thanks.
