Cheerleaders waiting for their lottery?
The current session of the Goa LA has thrown up issues which must be analysed very carefully by all.
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The CM has given a written statement that: authorities have reported no violation of SOP issued by the Govt by any hotel, night clubs or event organisers during festivals or special occasions in the State.
That it is not for the people to report any such violations, which in any case would not be entertained had it been so, means we need to know who is the competent authority that did so? Did our mature Opposition MLAs and those who ‘defected so that they can work for their constituencies’ question this? What are the facts? Is there any avenue for the people to be open?
The Amendments to the Goa Lokayukta Act, diluting the already weak Act, was passed 23-7. Again, the 10 defectors voted which way? Did they act for the interests of their constituencies? Why did the same get passed so easily? Did anyone bring up the specific case of a ruling Minister, who, in collusion with bureaucrats and builders, blatantly violated the rights of a voter and conclude that the ordinary citizens would now not have any recourse to justice? And that he was indicted by the outgoing Lokayukta? No: had this been properly spelled out; the result might have been different. They could have asked the voters to now confront their elected representatives on this front.
Voters must decide whether to serve notice to their elected representatives. If they wish to be silent, so be it. No Party, neither those in the House nor on the side lines, will help us. They are only the cheerleaders waiting for their lottery.
R Fernandes, Margao
We need a good, caring government
It’s disheartening to see the farmers protesting throughout India. Farmers contribute a lot towards the economy, besides providing us with nourishment. We cannot afford to treat our farmers unfairly. In our Melauli and Mollem too we saw Goans protesting against the government. We do need leaders who have love and compassion. The country cannot progress unless we listen to the needs of the suffering.
In Madhya Pradesh the young leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress and joined the BJP. In Rajasthan another young leader Sachin Pilot also wanted to leave the Congress. We need to see what ails our politics that good and effective governance looks too distant. Without humility it’s difficult to have development which helps the poorest of the poor.
Recently, 23 senior leaders of Congress have written to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, asking for a renewal in the party. This seems to be a good step, if it sincerely seeks to raise the standard of our governance. A good justice system, a sound education, adequate employment opportunities, research and innovation, is necessary for a developing nation. When will we truly see a good and caring government?
Newton Mendonca, Aldona
Unemployment rate is high in Goa
The joblessness in the State is on the rise. The State’s rising unemployment is in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis as industrial activity has been low-key. One youth got a job in a private firm during the year 2020 through the regional employment exchange of the labour department. Unfortunately, the government calls it a figure of unemployed youth, giving an impression that government employment is employment and non-government employment is ‘unemployment’.
Moreover the data shows the grim situation of job creation in the country as placements are not keeping pace with rise in number of job seekers and there has been a decline in the placements in percentage terms. Government has failed miserably in employing its youth.
If it goes like this, after a few years, Goa will only exist as a holiday destination for Goans. It is clear that the pandemic has drastically increased the number of unemployed in the State. Unemployment in Goa is a major matter of concern and the State requires a recovery plan to emerge from this.
KG Vilop, Chorao
Violence in any form can never be justified
Whatever be the issue, violence in any form can never be justified. So despite condemning the violent incidents in New Delhi on Republic Day with demand of punishment for a section of the farmers entirely justified who had taken law in their own hands, still rationality demands that one should not go overboard while criticising the unfortunate development. Yes, it must be said that if there is no harm in chanting Jai Shri Ram directed at Mamata Banerjee in a government programme in West Bengal while celebrating the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, then why so much hue and cry on raising the Nishan Sahib on the complex of Red Fort!
If Jai Shri Ram forms part of “national culture” just because it is a religious slogan of Hindi-speaking Hindus, then Nishan Sahib also forms part of national culture as it is a religious symbol of Punjabi-speaking Sikhs! After all at the end of the day, Punjabi Sikhs are also not a bit lesser national or Indian than Hindi-speaking Hindus! And most importantly, it must be remembered that the flag raisers in Red Fort had not touched or violated the national tricolour. Not to forget that for the action of a miniscule section of the farmers, the leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha have not hesitated a bit to promptly apologise for the incident without even a day’s delay and have decided to undertake a daylong fast on the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom as a day of penance! What a noble sense of remaining true to one’s conscience!
In contrast demolition of Babri Masjid was infinite times more barbaric and philistine. While the Republic Day fiasco led to the death of a single individual, the uncivilised show on December 6, 1992 with its communal after-effects throughout the country resulted in a toll of innumerable deaths and destruction of property! Far from apologising to the Muslims and the country for the unpardonable act, the perpetrators not only boast about the vulgar show of muscle; they treat the upcoming Ram temple, right upon the spot where the mosque stood, as the symbol of “cultural nationalism”.
Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata
Goa in a debt trap with empty coffers
An acute slide in income coupled with huge financial outgoings on infrastructure has seen Goa’s debt climb 52% in the past three years to @ Rs 19, 000 crores, the corresponding increase in interest to service debt has increased by 30% to @ Rs 1200 crores at present. The government has also sold State securities and bonds worth Rs 14,500 crores to repay loans availed since 2012. As is obvious the economic health of the State is in terrible shape when the family silver is being sold off bit by bit and loans are being taken to repay previous loans which were taken to repay earlier debts. The health, education and social sector spending is facing the crunch with budgets being sharply reduced under these heads.
The FM’s (post held by the CM himself) claim that the government has taken measures to boost revenue generation is in glaring contradiction to the ministry’s own internal assessment that there will be an @ 55% drop in income owing to Covid. The State has already increased VAT on petrol to 25% from 21% earlier and 22% on diesel from 18% previously which has had a cascading effect on prices and subsequent increase in the cost of living for the common Goan.
Austerity measures are the need of the hour, the government MLAs should set an example by taking a 25% pay cut and giving up on their fancy housing and car allowances.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
