Twenty-two Government Bills “introduced, considered and passed” in a State Assembly in JUST THREE DAYS is no mean achievement, al-Beit with a “walked-out” Opposition. Including the 25,900 crore-rupee Appropriation Bill along with Supplementary Grants. At breakneck speed. How I wish the Zuari Bridge or the Dabolim Airport Parking-House was over at this speed.
I sometimes wonder, whether going forward, it’s going to be…legislate first (22-in-3-style) then undo-and-redo the entire exercise. But in true dignity of the House…no sooner were the thanksgivings over, the knives were out…a Berty Wooster mumbling to Jeeves… “Unseen, in the background, Fate was quietly slipping the lead into the boxing-glove.” (In Wodehouse’s “Very Good Jeeves!)
For example, if I see the agenda in the Business Advisory Committee, of the seventeen Bills mentioned, I would certainly have liked the House to debate at least FOUR of those Bills threadbare viz: a) the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation of Single Window Clearance Bill, 2021; b) The Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill, 2021, c) The unmentioned Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill 2021 and d) The Goa Appropriations Bill 20-21 and Supplementary Grants, given that the original Budget proposals were all pre-COVID-second-wave; and in the 2nd wave alone we had 1.10 lakhs fresh cases (double of the 1st wave) and 2,300 deaths (3-times of that in the 1st wave).
My Take: I thought as a well-meaning elder professional, without a conflict in interest, it would be in the fitness of things here to discuss at least the following: (apart from the four bills I already said), I would like updates on 1) The NCZMA compliance, the last dates for which are three times over and certainly does not go on adding to our glory in default; 2) The Unemployment situation, where we emerged yesterday, second All-India at a whopping 21.4% (CMIE),(against Kerala’s 7.5% and National-Average 7.0% (even on the face of the strongest All-India recovery of the Manufacturing Sector (PMI 55.3); 3) The Mhadei update on the new task forces’ achievements given that the new Karnataka Chief Minister accords “Top Priority” to finish the Kalasa-Bhandura project; 4) The progress made on implementation of the new National Education Policy 2020 and 5) Our success story in the UN-Niti Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as a Front Runner. What next. Lastly, 6) Where exactly are we on the Tourism Master Plan.
I turn to the FOUR Bills now.
First, the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation of Single Window Clearance Bill: I thought back in 2012 when the Board was born (and I was actively associated) the objective was to create 50,000 jobs and Rs 25,000 crores of investments in five years i.e. by 2017 and in the last page of its Web-Site was the Log-In for the “Single Window”; what new thing exactly are we then doing now? Drafting of the statement of objectives? The House should have rather discussed issues, say – one promise…“24×7 power-supply”…where are we?
Second: The Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill: In constitution (Section 4), I find a heavy ambience for possible conflicts of interest. The Directors are mostly in-service bureaucrats, the Chairman is the Chief Minister, so in effect, the Government is prospecting, the Government is inviting bids, the Government is bidding, the Government is accepting bids and the Government appoints the auditor. The Chief Minister in my view should rather be the arbiter, than the executor and the Directors should be independent accredited functional experts, the expression “and the audit should be independent (in Section 24). There has to be a disqualification clause for bidding by persons from whom charges or recoveries are outstanding, in line with Universal Corporate Governance practices. There are Financial Committees proposed in Section 10, I think it’s unnecessary, the Corporate Governance models of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs should be followed. Section 15 (4) Section 18 is silent on Recovery of the Demands the Government has raised Rs 240 crores of the total outstandings and the Rs 80 crores already received. Who receives the balance – the Corporation?
Third: The Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill: The Government conceded yesterday, the “Putra” be dropped from the “Bhumi”…but the expression “Bhumi Adhikarini” could also prove equally deadly as the “Adhikar” (Right Over Goa’s Land) – the Land (Comunidade or Government land currently missing, now to be added, perhaps)…caution! But what will be the revenue from this at “True Values”? What about penalties? I think the leaders lack consistency, for years they wanted “special status”, now suddenly they talk of “dignity” for “Putra-occupants”! Perplexing!
Fourth: The Appropriation Bill: We learnt from the Budget, of the Rs 25,900 crores’ spend, we will collect 9,000 crore from Own-Tax and Non-Tax Revenues. Another Rs 7,000 crore roughly, was to come from the Centre as Shares in Taxes and Grants, that still leaves a gaping gap of Rs 10,000 crores. Where is it coming from? We already are in debts of Rs 20,000 crore.
And in conclusion: I think a lot depends upon the mutual trust meant to be shared between government and citizens, for a democracy to function…unfortunately, the trust somewhere in the 60 odd years, seem to have withered away enroute…what remains is election-seats. So, the Wodehouse’s oft-repeated “…slippage into the boxing-glove.”
(Binayak Datta is a Finance Professional)
