Candolim locals draw up village development plan

CANDOLIM: The locals of Candolim were seen in front of the village panchayat preparing a village development plan which is required for getting funds from the central government as per the 14th Finance Commission. A meeting was held of village development committee (VDC) and the panchayat and the villagers.

The village development committee, constituted by the panchayat of Candolim, had called all villagers to be present at the panchayat office for contributing their ideas and suggestions for the village plan.

An activist from Candolim Roshan Mathias said that for village development plan the villagers are identifying needs of their respective wards unlike the ODP which was prepared sitting in an air-conditioned office against the wishes of the people.

Mathias said that it is the first step of a mapping process which will be followed by taking senior citizens and youth into confidence. He said a meeting will also be held with businessmen, fishermen and farmers to take their views into consideration.

The person behind the High Court case against the ODP, Damian Telles said people of Candolim want the ODP to be de-notified. He said that the village is not against anyone but the locals will not allow anyone to destroy the beauty of the village. He said the villagers from all walks of life came and participated in preparing their own village development plan at the Candolim panchayat.

Meanwhile, Candolim sarpanch Blaize Fernandes said that the village development committee constituted by the village panchayat has called villagers to plan the development as per the 14th Finance Commission. He said that it is mandatory to identify what development is needed in every ward and it has nothing to do with the ODP.