A long list. But if we keep our expectations low, then probably nothing will happen! Citizens also need to ask what's being done as the Right to Information Act allows us to do. (For more details on the Right to Information Act, check up this useful site at http://egov.goa.nic.in/rtipublic/ ).
http://goapanchayats.org/index.php?sitesig=PY&page=PY_050_Publications&subpage=PY_011_%20Functions What Are The Functions Of The Panchayat? 1. Subject to such conditions as may be specified by the Government from time to time the Panchayat shall perform the functions specified in Schedule -I. 2. The Panchayat may also make provision for carrying out within the Panchayat area any other work or measure which is likely to promote the health, safety, education, comfort, convenience or special or economic well-being of the inhabitants of the Panchayat area. 3. The Panchayat may, by a resolution passed at its meeting and supported by two-thirds of its total number of members and with the prior approval of the Director. a. Make provision for or make contribution towards, any exhibition, conference or seminar without or outside the Panchayat area but within the district; or b. Make contribution to any medical, educational or charitable institutions or any other institutions of public utility, within the Panchayat area, which are registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (Central Act 21 of 1860) or under any. Other law for the time being in force. (Refer Sec.60 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994) SCHEDULE -I I. General Functions: 1. Preparation of annual plans for the development of the Panchayat area. 2. Preparation of annual budget. 3. Providing relief in natural calamities. 4. Removal of encroachments on public properties. 5. Organising voluntary labour and contribution for community works. 6. Maintenance of essential statistics of the village. 7. "Demolition of unauthorised construction". II. Agriculture, Including Agricultural Extension: 1. Development of waste lands. 2. Development and maintenance of grazing lands and preventing their unauthorised alienation and use. III. Animal Husbandry Dairying and Poultry: 1. Promotion of dairy farming, poultry and piggery. 2. Grass land development IV. Fisheries: Development of fisheries in the villages. V. Social and Farm Forestry, Minor Forest Produce Fuel and Fodder: 1. Planting and preservation of trees on the sides of roads and other public lands under its control. 2. Fuel plantation and fodder development. 3. Promotion of farm forestry. 4. Development of Social forestry. VI. Khadi, Village and Cottage Industries: 1. Promotion of rural and cottage industries. 2. Organisation of conferences, seminars and training programmes, agricultural and industrial exhibitions for the benefit of the rural areas. VII. Rural Housing: 1. Distribution of house sites within Village Panchayat limits. 2. Maintenance of records relating to the house, sites and other private and public properties. VIII. Drinking Water: 1. Construction, repairs and maintenance of drinking water well, tanks and ponds. 2. Prevention and control of water pollution. 3. Maintenance of rural water Supply Schemes. IX. Roads, Buildings, Culverts, Bridges, Ferries, Waterways And Other Means Of Communication: 1. Construction and maintenance of village roads, drains and culverts. 2. Maintenance of buildings under its control or transferred to it by the Government or any public authority. X. Rural Electrification: Providing for and maintenance of lighting of public streets and other places. XI. Non-Conventional Energy Source: 1. Promotion and development of non-conventional energy schemes. 2. Maintenance of community non-conventional energy devices, including bio-gas plants. 3. Promotion of approved chulhas and other efficient energy devices. XII. Poverty Alleviation Programmes: 1. Promotion of public awareness and participation in poverty alleviation programmes for fuller employment and creation of productive assets etc. 2. Selection of beneficiaries under various programmes. 3. Participation in effective implementation and monitoring. XIII. Education Including Primary Schools: 1. Promotion of public awareness and participation in primary education. 2. Ensuring full enrolment and attendance in primary schools. XIV. Adult And Non Formal Education: Promotion of adult literacy. XV. Libraries: Village libraries and reading rooms. XVI. Cultural Activities: Promotion of social and cultural activities. XVII. Markets And Fairs: Regulation of fairs (including cattle fairs) and festivals. XVIII. Rural Sanitation: 1. Maintenance of general sanitation. 2. Cleaning of public roads, drains, tanks, wells and other public places. 3. Maintenance and regulation of burning and burial grounds. 4. Construction and maintenance of public latrines. 5. Disposal of unclaimed corpses and carcasses. 6. Management and control of washing and bathing ghats. XIX. Public Health And Family Welfare: 1. Implementation of Family Welfare Programmes. 2. Prevention and remedial measures against epidemics. 3. Regulation of sale of meat, fish and other perishable food articles. 4. Participation in programmes of human and animal vaccination. 5. Licensing of eating and entertainment establishments. 6. Destruction of stray dogs. 7. Regulation of offensive and dangerous trades. 8. Regulation of curing, tanning and dyeing of skins and hides. XX. Women And Child Development: 1. Participation in the implementation of women and child welfare programme. 2. Promotion of schools, health and nutrition programmes. XXI. Social Welfare, Including Welfare Of The Handicapped And Mentally Retarded: 1. Participation in the implementation of the social welfare programmes, including welfare of the handicapped, mentally retarded and destitutes. 2. Monitoring of old age and widows pension schemes. XXII. Welfare of the Weaker Sections and in particular the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes: 1. Promotion of public awareness with regard to Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Weaker Sections. 2. Participation in the implementation of the specific programmes for the welfare of the Weaker Sections. XXIII. Maintenance Of Community Assets: 1. Maintenance of community assets. 2. Preservation and maintenance of other community assets. XXIV. Construction And Maintenance Of Cattle Sheds, Ponds And Cart Stands. XXV. Construction And Maintenance Of Slaughter Houses. XXVI. Maintenance Of Public Parks, Playgrounds Etc. XXVll. Regulation Of Manure Pits In Public Places. XXVllI. Establishment And Control Of Shandies. XXIV. Such Other Functions As May Be Entrusted What Committees can be constituted by the Panchayat? Every Panchayat may constitute the following committees by election: - i. Production Committee for performing functions relating to agricultural production, animal husbandry and rural industries and poverty alleviation programmes; ii. Social Justice Committee for performing functions relating to- Promotion of educational, economic, social, cultural and other interests of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes; a) Protection of such castes and classes from social injustice and any form of exploitation; b) Welfare of women and children; iii. Amenities Committee to perform functions in respect of education, public health, public works and other functions of the Panchayat. Each Committee shall consist of not less than three and not more than five members including the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, as the case may be. The Sarpanch shall be the ex-officio member and Chairman of Production Committee and Amenities Committee. The Deputy Sarpanch shall be the ex-officio member and Chairman of the Social Justice Committee. Provided that the Social Justice Committee shall consist of at least one member who is a woman and one member belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. Each Committee shall be competent to co-opt in such manner as may be prescribed, members of farmers clubs, mahila mandals, yuvak mandals and other similar bodies recognised by the Government. A representative of co-operative societies in the Panchayat area shall be co-opted to the Production Committee. The rights and liabilities of the co-opted members shall be such, as may be prescribed. The Standing Committee shall perform the functions referred to above to the extent the powers are delegated to them by the Panchayat. (Refer Sec. 63 of G.P.R. Act 1994.) _______________________________________________ Saligao 403511 website http://saligao.goa-india.org Saligaonet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goacom.org/mailman/listinfo/saligaonet
