CURCHOREM: The Indian National Congress Party’s State-wide outreach programme which was started on May 22 from Panjim has entered in Quepem on Friday.
The programme “Jana Gana Mana, Noman Tuka Goemkara” led by Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar and along with Opposition Leader and Quepem MLA Chandrakant Babu Kavalekar, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Velim MLA Philip Neri Ferrao, Santa Cruz MLA Tony Fernandes, former Curchorem MLA Domnick Fernandes and frontal organisation leaders proceeded towards Tilamola, Curchorem, Sanguem and concluded at Sanvordem on its third day.
The programme received overwhelming support from the general public where many people highlighted their grievances and urged them to bring a change in the state.
While interacting with the public and rickshaw drivers, a motorcycle pilot said due to increase in petrol prices they can no longer push the burden on the passengers and urged the Congress leaders to work and bring down the prices.
A local pharmacist complained that he has to spend more without a change in income after introduction of the GST as he has appointed extra employees to deal with the formalities of GST. “On the top I have to pay fees for a chartered accountant,” he added.
Some people brought to their notice the inconvenience caused to commuters as the passenger buses plying from Margao from Curchorem and vice-versa via Quepem stop in the middle of the road in the market to take in the passengers. Kavalekar directed the Chairperson of Quepem Municipal Council Raul Pereira to convene a meeting of concerned persons, including RTO officials to address the issue.
Girish assured the citizens that he would take up the hike in rates of all essential commodities, including petrol and diesel and electricity tariffs before the concerned authorities. Thereafter the delegation travelled by local buses and interacted with the passengers and later met more shopkeepers, vegetable, fish vendors and other traders/people.
Earlier briefing the media, Girish said that the main purpose to organise the programme is to reach out to the people’s doorstep to know and understand their grievances. “Almost 100 days have been passed since there is no chief minister, no cabinet meetings and the grievances of the people are increasing day by day and therefore people are approaching us and expressing their difficulties.” said Girish.
“Since the people are giving us good support and praising us for our sincere initiative to meet the people at their door steps to understand their grievances, some BJP leaders feel jealous” added Girish. The Congress president urged people to join them to know how the people are frustrated and on their government’s attitude towards mining issue, drinking water problems, raising prices on essential commodities and failing to provide jobs to youth.
