Team Herald
MARGAO: The book titled ‘Public Matters’ by former Union minister Eduardo Faleiro will be released Friday at the Goa International centre by AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh, Leader of the Opposition Pratapsing Rane and Goa Congress President Luizinho Faleiro.
This is the first book of speeches in the legislative assembly and in Parliament that has been published by any Goan MLA or MP.
The speeches in the book deal with major issues concerning the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu from 1972-77 and with national issues upto 2003. It contains a preface by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee
It also contains statements Faleiro by former prime ministers Narasimha Rao and Dr Manmohan Singh, the then leader of opposition Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Shivraj Patil, Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
The book has four chapters — Politics and Administration, Foreign Affairs, Economic Matters and Judicial and Social issues.
Among the notable issues raised by Eduardo Faleiro in the Goa Legislative Assembly and in Parliament which are mentioned in the book include the Demand for Goa Statehood and speeches in this regard.
Incidentally his first speech in the Lok Sabha on April 4, 1977 and several of his subsequent speeches in Parliament dealt with the need to provide statehood to Goa.
There are also chapters on Eduardo’s speeches and work towards inclusion of Konkani in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, the need for primary education text books in Konkani and for knowledge of Konkani being compulsory qualification for government jobs.
The book also highlights Eduardo’s speeches on the demand for a Goa University, need for High Court and the need for inclusion of Gawda and Kunbi communities among scheduled tribes.
From a Goa perspective, the book contains Eduardo’s efforts and speeches for the protection for traditional fishermen using country crafts, protection of mundkars, need to examine the Code of Comunidade, employment for locals and pension for freedom fighters of Goa.
It may be recalled that since his first electoral triumph in 1971 as a member of the legislative assembly of Goa Daman and Diu, he won the South Goa Lok Sabha seat in five successive elections and then the Rajya Sabha seat. He was inducted as Union Minister of State, External Affairs and Finance in the Rajiv Gandhi government.
in 1986-90 and again by prime minister Narasimha Rao in 1992-96. He held the portfolios of External Affairs, Finance, Chemicals and Fertilisers, Ocean Development, Electronics and Parliamentary Affairs.
It is to be noted that in the first Viewer’s survey conducted by Doordashan on the telecast of Question Hour, in Parliament, Eduardo Faleiro was voted the most articulate minister.
Eduardo was also a leading member of several international organisations. He was the vice chairman on the Independent World Commission on the Oceans as well as the Vice Chairman of Parliamentarians for World Order. These organisations were promoted and supported by the UNO.
