WEDNESDAY, MAY 08, 2024
Recurring themes in the Constituency Focus series that Herald is publishing in the run-up to the February 14 elections include better roads, improved higher education, proper water and power supply and more employment opportunities. There are others issues being brought up, but they are specific to the constituency and hence cannot be generalised with the others. But these remain the main issues that people bring up as Team Herald fans out across the State seeking to know what are the problems that people have and that they hope to see resolved soon. Possibly, it could be assurances on this that the people shall take a decision on who to vote for.
On the face of it the people are not asking for much. They are seeking for what should have already been given to them as what they want are not luxuries but a small improvement of the basic services that any government is expected to provide to the people. Yes, there are roads, there are educational institutions, there is water and power being supplied, but what the people are seeking is better quality of all this.
A quick analysis based on what the people have been saying leads to the conclusion that successive governments have not been able to deliver on the basic necessities, the services that people pay for and the quality that is expected. Besides the direct taxes that people pay, there is the road tax that is paid on every vehicle that is purchased, and the monthly water and electricity bill that comes to the doorstep of the consumer. People are paying for the services that they are being provided, shouldn’t the government be delivering? This is a question that has been posed before, but it turns relevant at this juncture too, as people are complaining about the services.
The other issue is the lack of jobs and higher education opportunities. These two are actually related. Across the State youth have been demanding jobs, and the government in the last six months managed to induct a few thousands in government service, across departments. The recruitment process also led to allegations of corrupt practices, and some have been put on hold due to this. Though there is as yet no single issue that has dominated the campaign till this stage, the lack of employment opportunities is being spoken of across the State and could turn into a major issue. Politicians and parties may find it easy to promise jobs to the people, but when it comes to delivering on it, this has been an entirely different matter.
For instance, Goa has not been able to attract any massive amount of investment in the past years that can generate the kind of employment that Goans are suited for. There are promises that it will be made mandatory upon the private sector to employ a certain percentage of locals, but this can work only if the jobs are suitable to the educational qualifications of the youth. Goa has to focus on industry for which the Goa higher education institutes provide candidates. Merely promising jobs and permitting industry for which manpower is not available in the State will not solve the issue.
As elections approach, more issues are likely to crop up, but roads, water, power and jobs will dominate just as they have done in the past. This just shows that very little is expected from the government and yet, there is a failure in delivery. If the performance of successive governments is judged on the delivery of these services, then there would be little for them to claim as having achieved. But, in a State that is so compact and has a very manageable population, why can’t any government deliver?
