Panaji, April 24, 2026:
On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, the Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) has urged the State government to remove hurdles in implementing the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which mandates decentralised planning through village panchayats.

In a press release issued on Friday, GBA highlighted that the amendment, which came into force on April 24, 1993, grants constitutional status to panchayats and empowers them to prepare development plans for their respective villages.

The organisation noted that while the Director of Panchayats has issued a memorandum directing village panchayats to prepare Annual Development Plans under Section 238 of the Goa Panchayati Raj Act, the process has been progressing slowly. This delay is largely attributed to the lack of necessary data from various government departments, which is essential for preparing comprehensive plans.

GBA has called upon all departments to promptly provide the required data to panchayats to facilitate effective planning at the grassroots level.

Further, the organisation stressed the urgent need for devolution of powers to local bodies as envisaged under the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution. It emphasised that true empowerment of panchayats can only be achieved through the transfer of the “3 Fs” — Functions, Funds, and Functionaries — across 29 subjects.

Pointing out a major concern, GBA claimed that Goa remains the only state where full devolution of powers to local self-governing bodies has not yet been implemented.

The organisation has demanded that the State government undertake necessary legislative changes in line with constitutional provisions to enable effective decentralised planning.

The statement was issued by GBA Convenor Sabina Martins and Secretary Reboni Saha.