The State Ministry of Panchayati Raj is headed by the Minister for Panchayati Raj. The Administrative Head of the Panchayat Department is the Secretary (Panchayats). The Director of Panchayats is the Head of the Department and is also the ex-officio Joint Secretary to the Government of Goa.
The Director of Panchayats is assisted by two Additional Director of Panchayats. Prior to enactment of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, the control and supervision over the PRIs in the State of Goa was with the District Collectors.
By virtue of the present Act, a separate Directorate of Panchayats has been set up and all the powers in respect of the Panchayati Raj, which were earlier exercised by the Collector, have now been assigned to the Director.
The Director of Panchayats exercises full control and supervision over the Panchayats through the Deputy Director of Panchayats and the Block Development Officers. There are two Deputy Directors of Panchayats, one for the North Goa District and the other for South Goa District. The Block Development Officers exercise jurisdiction over their respective blocks with their offices situated at the Taluka headquarters. The North Goa District comprises of 6 Blocks and the South Goa District comprises of 5 Blocks. Each Block is headed by the Block Development Officer who is assisted by Extension Officers, and other administrative staff.
Thus Directorate of Panchayats oversees the entire administration of the Village Panchayats, Block Development Offices, Offices of the Dy. Director of Panchayats and the Zilla Panchayats. In short, the Directorate of Panchayats is responsible for the effective implementation the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and Rules made there under. The Director of Panchayats functions as the Head of the Department and ex-Officio Jt. Secretary to the Government of Goa and is assisted by the Additional Directors of Panchayats at the State level.
