Transfer of officials
We come across instances of transfer of government officials such as Collectors, judges, police and many others. Most times the transfer is routine as the officials would have completed their tenure at a place but there are two times when the transfer should not be warranted.
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First, harassing an honest and upright officer with transfer orders within few months, days and even hours of having occupied the new position or shifted to a new place. The second and important time is when an officer has been caught in a misdemeanour, (mis)conducting a critical and sensitive case and so forth. For e.g., bribery, corruption, embezzlement of money, handling/ mishandling riots, unprovoked lathi charge/ shooting and other happenings.
A new officer who takes over would need time to understand the issues and take remedial actions. In the meanwhile, the allegedly guilty or innocent transferred officer may wash off his/her hands from the incidents or may hinder the case by getting updates from colleagues, persuading / threatening witnesses, destroying / fabricating evidence, misuse official machinery etc. These are some of the conditions under which many a time bail is not granted to influential culprits, in high profile cases and even to a common person.
Similarly, an officer who is alleged of misdoings should not be transferred but either be retained at the same posting or told to proceed on leave. Within 2-3 months the issues need to be solved, prove/ disprove the allegations, verify the facts etc. Transfer of an officer is an easy option but may not help to address the problem but create new ones and justice will be delayed or not done to the aggrieved party.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Enlighten farmers on govt schemes
Under the present rule, Goa has taken giant strides in development. The multi-lane roads, flyovers and the new bridge across Zuari River are a testimony of the developmental work being undertaken in the state. However the agriculture sector also needs a big boost. Goa still depends on the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra for its daily need of vegetables, fruits and even flowers. Agriculture, horticulture and floriculture need a big boost in order to make it self-sufficient.
In this regard the remarks made by the Agriculture Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar in the Liberation Day speech at Margao assume significance. According to the minister, with a view to making the state self-reliant in agriculture, the government has introduced several schemes and facilities for farmers over the past two years. He said that the modification of certain schemes to make subsidies available at source, including for community farming, has attracted more people to farming.
Earlier the farmers had to incur the expenditure first and later claim reimbursement of the subsidy portion. This would place severe financial burden on the farmers many of whom showed reluctance to avail of the schemes. However the subsidies are now available at the source which has provided a boost for the farmers. What is equally important is to take the various schemes to the door-steps of the farmers. There could be several farmers who may not avail of the schemes and facilities because they are not in the know about them.
Hence enlightening the farmers about the government schemes and facilities is also of vital importance.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Seeds of another scam
A super CM of Goa who generally has an opinion about every other ministry but his own and habitually shoots off his mouth has alleged corruption in the proposal to hand over the restored Fort Aguada jail complex to a private party (which has no prior experience in such matters) for operations. The fort has been redeveloped as a museum dedicated to God’s freedom struggle and also has galleries for performing arts and a cafe.
The state government has leased out operations for a paltry annual sum of Rs 1.2 crores which is chickenfeed compared to the revenue generating potential of the property. The government could have easily raked in Rs 1 crore per month in entrance fees as the monument is one of the most visited in tourism heavy Goa. It is pertinent to note that during cabinet discussions on the subject, the CM had also agreed that the management contract of the restored jail premises should not be awarded to an outside entity, but for some strange reason he flipped.
There is a lot of merit in the argument that Fort Aguada could have been easily run by GTDC which has wide experience in running tourist venues across the state. Do we see the seeds of another scam here?
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Parking woes, old grievances
With regards to “Locals complain of parking, construction material dumping by roadside in Ponda Taluka (Herald December 20, 2021).
Goa achieved Liberation from the Portuguese Rule of 451 years 60 years ago. But the same old grievances continue to surface time and again.
The heart goes out to the residents of Ponda Taluka. Who should they turn to for help? Why are their complaints of parking vehicles haphazardly across narrow lanes and bylanes not attended to? When are the powers that be going to wake up and give lessons to citizens on civic sense and importance of parking vehicles at the designated areas?
Goa is a naturally beautiful state. People of Goa are tolerant, hard-working, shy and like to maintain a low profile. Don’t we deserve better? Full marks to Herald for showing solidarity with the residents of Ponda Taluka and highlighting this issue.
Gafaar Shaqoor, Margao.
Pay or forget the government job
Amidst allegation of scam in the recruitment of various posts in the public works department (PWD), LDC post at GMC, etc., the union government should direct CBI to probe this matter. Nor the state government should scrap posts from all the departments including police, health, FDA while initiating High Court monitored inquiry into all the recruitments.
The artificially created vacancies in the government posts shows itself a blatant, Illegal and arbitrarily filling those government vacancies. The recruitment is hurriedly happening on the eve of elections and at a rapid pace and clearly appears that the administration at the highest levels in collusion are filling their personal coffers for the ensuing elections and allotting jobs at the whims and fancies to their electoral constituency voters. That the staff selection commission is necessary to stop allegations of job scams.
The government is playing with the people of Goa and the future of youth of Goa. Favoritism in giving jobs is injustice to the Goan youth.
K.G Vilop, Chorao
Fooling the people
It is the longevity of politicians whether in Goa or in the whole of India that should matter. Almost all in politics are for personal gains and to amass wealth which will be sufficient for generations but not for people gains. It does not matter whether a MLA or MP sat in the last row or was a front bencher. What was his/her contribution, if any? said Abraham Lincoln and I quote” You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time but you cannot fool all the people all the time .”
Alas, the politicians they can fool all the people all the time than the time is close that people will revolt against the politicians who are only filling their coffers.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
