AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
Even as Panjim, the capital, wit nessed uproarious protests against the Unity Mall — with demonstrators march ing towards the Assembly in session — another protest, equally spirited though far removed from the seat of power, unfolded in the hin terland. Along the northern coastal belt, under the glow of lit torches, people once again asserted that solidar ity is their only weapon to browbeat an unresponsive government. Over 900 people — youth, women and men — gath ered for the second torch light march in Pernem talu ka in less than a month, this time demanding that the long-pending 100-bedded hospital at Tuem, meant to be attached to Goa Medical College, be made operational. From 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm, villagers from across Per nem taluka assembled out side the ITI at Tuem.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
After lighting their torches, they marched over two kilo metres to the unused community centre, with the police astutely managing traffic along the route. The hour-and-a-half walk was a clear statement that the people of Pernem are unwilling to believe Chief Min ister Pramod Sawant’s assurance that the hospital will be opened on January 30, 2026. As women and youth weaved past traffic returning from work, it became evident that trust in the present dispensa tion has eroded—and that this loss of trust is now unifying the people. “The Chief Minister kept promising the people of Aram bol that our hill would not be cut, yet it was. Only after protests did we get results. Unity is the only answer,” said Sitaram Naik, who was part of the mashal in Arambol. “Sadly,” Naik added before joining the chorus of Van deMataram, “this government has developed the dirty hab it of lying, and worse, of thinking that we are a herd of fools who will believe whatever we are told.” According to Tome Lobo, leader of the Tuem Hospital KrutiSamiti, the yet-to-be-opened 100-bedded hospital was built to save residents from having to rush to GMC or the North District Hospital during emergencies. “The Chief Minister has told the Assembly that the hospi tal will be opened on January 30, but how are we supposed to believe this? The structure has been ready since 2019, it has been painted three times, and now we are expected to believe it will be operational in less than a month,” Lobo questioned. Many marchers, holding lit torches, believe the gov ernment’s assurance is merely a ploy to shift the existing health centre into the new building—a move they strongly oppose. “If that happens, we will launch a black-flag pro test,” Lobo warned. “This hospital, once attached to GMC, will reduce fa talities. Many patients do not survive the long journey to Bambolim. This facility is the solution to our problem, and shockingly, the government appears unconcerned,” said Es peranca Fernandes from Parcem village. Although a health centre exists adjacent to the new facil ity, villagers say it is grossly inadequate. “One evening, when I brought my daughter complaining of a headache, we were referred to the North District Hos pital. This health centre specialises only in referrals—to Mapusa or GMC. The hospital we have been waiting for six years is the one standing here, locked,” said BrigidVaz from Tuem, as she and others acknowledged the support of mo torists driving past the torch-lit road. As the crowd gathered outside the imposing but non-op erational hospital, 52-year-old Narendra Sawant pointed to another source of resentment. “We have learnt that the government plans to recruit only 25 per cent of staff from Pernem and bring the remain ing 75 per cent from outside the taluka. We will not allow this,” he said. The Tuem hospital building stands fully constructed, with artistically finished interiors, yet all rooms remain empty. Once operational, it is expected to house a mortu ary, ICUs, OPDs and several facilities on par with GMC. At present, only a dialysis unit is functional. Apart from residents of various villages, sarpanchs, panch members and former panchayat representatives joined the protest. “Today, without agitation nothing moves with this gov ernment. This hospital was our dream. I am myself a pa tient and know the suffering involved,” said former Man drem sarpanch Raghoba Gawde. “This government fooled us when starting the Mopa air port and probably thinks it can repeat the same here. Hav ing learnt from the past, we will not allow another Mopa,” Gawde warned, shouting from his motorbike. As dusk fell and the torches were extinguished, the words of protester Alex Noronha from Anjuna lingered in the air: “We have had enough of this government’s flip-flops. It is their lies that are uniting us.”
