There is a complete breakdown of administration and governance in the State. The indications are there and the signs are really ominous. Last week, even as the cabinet members through circulation extended the stay of the offshore casinos in River Mandovi, two government departments blundered and except for the ministers concerned, the others have resolutely refused to acknowledge that something is wrong with the government. To emphasise, something is very wrong with the State, and there is no correction in sight, simply because like the ostrich the government has buried its head in the sand, refusing to see what is staring it in the face – a tottering State administration on the verge of collapse.
First it was the Fisheries Department that published a newspaper advertisement seeking applications for drivers, where it made the knowledge of the Gujarati language one of the desirable qualifications. It withdrew the advertisement, after the minister, who was in the US when this happened directed that the recruitment announcement be taken off. Hardly had Goa put this behind it, when it was shocked like never before by the Goa Medical College releasing the wrong body from its morgue for cremation. This had led to protests from civil society in Goa, and from Goans across the world on social media, but the government in the State appears unmoved, turning its attention to other matters, that are of lesser concern.
This is an abject failure of the administration that could get worse in the weeks to come. There is outrage across the State at the mix-up at GMC but the political establishment does not raise even an eyebrow at this. The social media is flooded with messages of outrage, demands for the Health Minister’s resignation, but a cowed down government hasn’t been able to respond to any of this. Except for the Fisheries Minister and Health Minister, regarding the blunders of their respective departments, the other ministers have kept quiet over the matters. Not even the Chief Minister who is undergoing treatment at AIIMS in New Delhi has made a statement on the issues. Whatever happened to collective responsibility of the cabinet?
This eerie silence from the government does not bode well for the future. It portrays a government that is not concerned with the people and their problems. Just remember that while this was happening, the casinos got another six months of lease in River Mandovi and State government employees got an increased DA. Were these issues more important than the blunder at GMC, where action should have been taken immediately?
To the government the GMC mix-up is not important. The case investigation has now been transferred to Crime Branch to ensure ‘a thorough and more professional investigation’ and ‘considering the gravity of the offence’. The Health Minister and the Director General of Police will review the progress report on a fortnightly basis. The question is why not on a daily basis? A fortnight is a long time, which indicates that the government and the police are already looking at a protracted probe. Why should it take months to ascertain how this blunder occurred and who is responsible? This case requires a speedy investigation so that there is closure for the family. It cannot be allowed to prolong for months.
Why is the government not in a hurry to know the truth? Shouldn’t this have been cleared so that the government can also dismiss the crescendo of allegations of an organ trade at GMC? Close to three months from the formalin in fish incident, Goa is still unaware of what exactly transpired as new revelations appear and fresh inquiries are ordered. Will this be a similar story? The collapse of the administration has begun, it will only get worse.
