In the 60th year of its Liberation, Goa has as much reason to ponder as it has to celebrate. There is no better day to take some time off and think of the future of our beloved Goem than January 16, the day observed as Asmitai Dis or Identity Day, the reason being Goa voted on this day to remain a Union Territory and not be merged with Maharashtra. Today, Goa is enjoying the fruits of an election that took place 54 years ago on this day. But somehow these sweet fruits leave at times a bitter aftertaste.
Six decades of freedom should have taken our little State to the cusp of success. Our State should have been that epitome of accomplishment that other States would yearn to achieve. In size Goa is very manageable, in population it is even more so. It has a high standard of education and an equally high per capita income. Yet, something has been lacking. Across the State there is conflict as people dissatisfied with various government policies, rise to be heard.
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An MLA of the ruling dispensation recently said that the governments at the State and Centre have to stop using Goa as a corridor. The same MLA went on to state that the people of Goa deserve more respect, that their rights have to be respected. These were not statements from an opposition politician, but from Alina Saldanha, who in the previous term was a minister. But, is anyone listening? The cries of the people of Goa are akin to voices in the wilderness.
In philosophical thought experiments, there is a question posed which states: “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Herald takes the liberty to amend the question and ask: “If thousands of trees are being felled in the forest, shouldn’t the people make a noise, even if there is no one who wants to listen?” That’s the paradox we are facing today in Goa, where no one wants to listen to the elimination of our forests. But should this contiue?
Some 13 to 14 months from now Goa will be voting to elect a new government. As it has in the past, Herald will reach out to its readers with an impartial assessment of the government and the opposition. Herald will go behind the scenes and also be in the frontline in its reportage, telling you our readers what is occurring in the State.
Over the course of the next 12 months we will tell you what each MLA has achieved during his term. We will tell you what the government has achieved and what the opposition has accomplished. We will tell you everything you need to know so that you can make an informed decision when you walk into the polling station. We will tell you the facts, we will report what the people are saying. If at times it appears that we are leaning towards the opposition it is because they create more sound than the government. It will be their voice that is being reported as objectively as possible as Herald will, adhering to the highest standards of journalism, remain impartial as always.
