I remember the basic definition of democracy from my civics lessons. “Democracy is defined as the government of the people, for the people and by the people.” The series of events that unfolded following the pandemic definitely don’t spell democracy.
The vicious cauldron of mismanagement with COVID-19 as the main ingredient and the delectable ingredients adding to the woes are double tracking, coal offloading, large scale deforestation, marinas. What started with six cases in Mangor Hill could have been sealed, had there been a lockdown one month ago. Despite repeated pleas from MLA Carlos Almeida, councillors and Vasco, residents the town was left to sizzle in COVID. The virus happily rode roughshod from Mangor to Baina, Sada to Kharewada. Most Goenkars believed that Vascokars launched COVID-19 in the State. Overnight we were seen as brand ambassadors of COVID-19. What was our fault as residents of Vasco? We wanted and pleaded for a lockdown, nobody listened to us. We made an expensive sacrifice of 22 human lives, yet nobody heard our cries.
Forty cases in Chicalim were not reflected in the figures presented by the Health Secretary, all the residents thought Chicalim was a safe haven, moved around. The reason cited cases in Chicalim were linked to Mangor Hill.
A recent report stated that one of the tourists from Bengaluru tested positive while on holiday in Goa. How does this contribute to the economy? On the contrary this is an overload on our already overloaded health system. Why are we letting tourists in, when our house and hands are full? Teachers forced to work when Goa is sizzling with cases. Private hospitals bullied to reserve 20 per cent ICU beds for COVID patients or face cancellation of their licenses if directions are not complied with. Does this spell democracy?
The cauldron is bubbling with proposals of double tracking of railway tracks from Castlerock to Collem. Total forestland required would be 138.37ha, which means 22,882 trees will go under the axe, of which 20758 fall under the protected area. The four-lane highway on the other hand, from Mollem to Anmod Ghat, passing through Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary would need 63.615ha of forest cover. Total number of trees to be butchered 20,340, out of which 12,097 would be from the protected area. Does this spell democracy?
There are so many political interests muddled with COVID-19 as a blindfold. The infamous marina at Nauxim, laying of a new 400 KV transmission line, coal offloading. Have we paid attention to the voice of the citizens?
The mother of all problems right now is tackling COVID-19 by the horns. The damage has been done but we can still reduce it with decisive leadership, a meticulously planned lockdown of the entire State, till the number of active cases drops substantially. A three-day lockdown doesn’t serve the purpose, nor does a four-day extended lockdown in certain parts.
It is both humiliating and frustrating when you’re in excruciating pain, and the not so noble doctor chases you out because you’re from Vasco. It is demoralising for a volunteer of an NGO to be chased out of an office because she came from Vasco. It’s a shame that a priest linked to a church in Vasco had to step out of an office because he came from Vasco.
