Education scenario in Canacona grim: MLA
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 19
Painting a grim picture of the education scenario in Canacona taluka, Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar castigated the State government for not taking advantage of Central educational schemes meant for tribals.
Tawadkar was referring to the Tribal Welfare Scheme under which States get funds from Centre to boost education in tribal-dominated areas. The MLA ridiculed the government saying whether it was aware of such a scheme in order to take full advantage of it.
Speaking during discussion on budget on the first day of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Tawadkar informed the House that Gujarat had taken full benefit of central schemes and was running some 200 projects under it. “The Tribal Welfare Department is with the chief minister and I am certain he would take note of the same,” he mentioned.
The MLA said, “The general feeling among the people of the State is that the education scenario here is good, but one has to come to Canacona and see. In interior parts of the taluka many schools are closing down.”
He mentioned that those who could afford had admitted their wards in Margao to provide them quality education which is not available in Canacona. There are some parents who have to be in Margao everyday for the sake of their children’s education but have to commute to Canacona on a daily basis for their livelihood, he mentioned.
He said the drop out rate in Canacona schools was something the Government should ponder over and find a solution to.
Tawadkar also raised the issue of implementation of the Tribal Forest Act. “There is no sign of any deliberation on the law,” he said asserting, “If implanted, the law would bring relief to 3,000 to 4,000 tribal families.”
Raising the issue of health for which Canacona was in the news some days ago, he reminded they were assured of improvement in the health facilities within a fortnight. “The Government shouldn’t wait till people are forced to come on the streets,” he stated.
He highlighted roads in remote areas of Canacona were pathetic and quite a few of the parts were not getting clean drinking water even after 50 years of liberation.
Raising a point on the much-talked about Galgibaga bridge, the MLA said atleast during the golden jubilee year of the State work on the bridge should take off. The land acquisition for the purpose was done years back but till date there was no sign of the bridge, he maintained.
On the agriculture front, he observed there was a great potential for agriculture tourism in interior places of the taluka like Gaondongrim and Cotigao.
I have seen something like this in Singapore and am assured the same has great potential for employment generation, he highlighted.
