We have rung out the ‘Old Year’ and ushered in the New Year with much hope and aspirations. There were momentary joyous celebrations both during X’mas season and during the heralding of the New Year. There were messages galore from spiritual, political and socially conscience leaders inspiring people to work for a better tomorrow. But what does the crystal ball hold for Goa and the world at large for 2017 and the years to come.
Gazing at the crystal ball the picture is; that the people at large are losing faith in Faith, but sadly, a large section of the lay majority nurture and nourish “Faith and Hope” and do precious nothing by themselves; to work hard and transforms dreams into reality. They expect the God or the Government to help them. Narendra Modi, the present Prime Minister of India promised Indians 15 lakhs of rupees in our individual account and we would live in “hope and faith”, for his entire term in office getting nothing.
We have accepted that Acche Din will dawn upon us; thanks to Modi sahib. Oh, what about good governance and the talk ‘sabka saath sabka vikas all about? “Less government and good governance”. Sorry, we hope, pray and assure ourselves that BJP government would whip the rich and liberate the poor from the pangs of hunger because the “magic wand” of demonetisation would work wonders, because in India we firmly believe in “Faith”. Cunningly, to work wonders, Modi has been changing the goal post in his “disastrous demonetisation” formula from burning or extinguishing black money, to curbing terrorism and from garnering taxes from the rich to the goodness of digital India and the cashless economy. Like the Pied piper of Hamelin Town, Modi has been luring the ignorant masses into the dream world much finer than what we know about from “Alice in wonderland” or “Jack and the bean stalk”.
Seeing elections for sixty years, I would like to place my observations for posterity, being now in my seventies I saw my father and grandmother vote in the 1950’s from our outstation residence in central Bombay. Then, they knew nothing about the candidate but voted for the “Congress Party” for it’s symbolism and secularism. Even when I voted in the late sixties for the first time, I never saw or met the candidate I voted for. The Communism as I then understood, represented justice and equality. Thing are very, very different today. The present political formations have totally lost the party ideology and meaning; the purpose now is “Winnability”.
For 5 years, those in control of the National or the Regional party are dormant. Those in power do the looting and those in the opposition do the scooting”. Fake encounters, shouting scams against one another is played before the public and the corrupt electorate and the voter by and large, want a scamster, who will tolerate voter’s illegalities and give him doles.
For the last 40 years, I have been consistently writing about the destruction caused by mining from 1980’s. Mining under the water table and rampant destruction to agriculture are yet to be addressed even as of today. Sadly, we give doles to those involved in the mining loot- truckers, barge owners and mine operators. But farmers who lost their land due to mining dust and rejects are sadly ignored.
After 40 years of me crying hoarse that mining operations in Goa depletes the water table, causes acute water scarcity and activates water borne diseases for Goa; precious nothing is done. Mining-dependant parasites are finding favour of political parties and the suffering affected masses remain quiet, expecting God, demi-God or the “elected patrons” to help them by affording doles or a tanker of free water from tube wells. This is a prescription to catalyze the quick decay of Goa due to water shortages.
Give a fish to a man, he lives for a day but you teach him fishing he earns for a life time. Do voters understand? The BJP as well as AAP are directing Goa and Goans today towards depleted natural resources, lethargy and helplessness by promising doles and not igniting the soul of skill development and employment generation with productivity. Besides, Goa is already having a Rs 15,000 cr deficit budget in the form of loans. From where all these doles will come from is a million dollar question which voters must understand.People must demand dignity to earn their bread. Freebies and doles kill the soul of the society. Unless people realise the importance of self- respect and the goodness of skill and labour, our society will slowly crumble down into destitution or prostitution living only on ‘Hope or faith’ without Resolution of the growing misery and pain of exploitation by the various political formations.
The people must realise soon the wisdom in the phrase that with the sweat of thy brow one must earn the bread. Goans would vote on 4 February 2017 for the Goa Assembly 2017-2022. Reject those who offer Doles and embrace those who offer us Dignity to earn our living to help us to direct Goa towards Prosperity through sustainable living.
Sadly for Goa, all major political parties have unfurled their vision document with no vision at all. The BJP and the Aam Admi party have promised doles and encourage mining parasitism. The Congress has not applied their mind, promising jobs for all without concrete policy worth the salt. Strangely instead of scrapping the Investment Promotion Board, the directionless congress manifesto promises to modify the IPB. What a disaster? Goans have a tough task of assessing as to who would offer them dignity and service.
