A shocking contradiction between two Goa government ministers during the recently-concluded Legislative Assembly session has exposed serious gaps in public asset management, with over Rs 34 lakh in unclaimed dividends lying forgotten while the custodian department claimed complete ignorance about valuable shareholdings.
The case involves assets of the Santa Casa de Misercordia de Goa, a Portuguese-era charitable institution, where Health Minister Vishwajit Rane claimed “no records available” about Comunidade shares while Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate revealed detailed information about 13,810 shares worth substantial uncollected income—just eight days later.
The contradiction raises a fundamental question: how can the Health Department, which directly controls Santa Casa assets, claim complete ignorance about shareholdings that the Revenue Department maintains comprehensive records of? The financial implications are immediate—Rs 34,04,712 in dividends from these shareholdings remains outstanding and uncollected, with the largest amount of Rs 29,22,117 pending from Verna Comunidade alone. Sources also suggest that Santa Casa likely held shares in North and Central Zones as well, which may have been misappropriated, though this requires investigation.
While the Santa Casa’s asset portfolio according to the Health Department records shows limited information, with the Urban Health Centre (UHC) building in Panjim being one example, sources reveal that it also includes valuable immovable properties such as the old Ribandar Hospital and the Serra building currently occupied by the Vigilance Department. However, there are concerns that several valuable immovable properties are missing from government records, and that shares may have been misappropriated by leading comunidades in Bardez, although this allegation has to be ascertained. Citizens are therefore calling for detailed inquiries to unearth the truth in this matter involving public assets. The institution’s Comunidade shareholdings have now become the focal point of this administrative controversy, highlighting concerning gaps in asset tracking and management that could extend far beyond what has been revealed.
The timeline of contradictions tells a troubling story. On July 31, 2025, when Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco asked Health Minister Vishwajit Rane about movable assets including Comunidade shares held by Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Goa, the Minister categorically stated that “no records are available” and dismissed all related questions as “not applicable”. Eight days later on 8 August 2025, the same MLA posed an identical question to Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate, revealing a completely different reality. The Revenue Minister provided comprehensive details, disclosing that Santa Casa holds 13,810 shares across seven Comunidades in South Goa alone, with Rs 34,04,712 in dividends remaining outstanding and uncollected. The breakdown reveals substantial holdings: Verna (1,213 shares with Rs 29,22,117 pending dividends), Curtorim (2,595 shares with Rs 4,69,695 outstanding), Ambelim (4,423 shares), Assolna (5,077 shares), and three other Comunidades with smaller holdings.
The implications are staggering for taxpayers and governance in Goa. These 13,000-odd shares in Salcete Comunidades alone, along with the Rs 34+ lakhs of unclaimed dividends, represent significant public wealth that has been neglected due to departmental oversight. According to sources, there is strong reason to believe that Santa Casa held shares in North and Central Comunidades as well, but these may have been misappropriated and transferred into private names, particularly in a major Comunidade in Bardez. Fortunately, the shares in Salcete remained untouched, though it defies logic that such a major charitable institution would have limited its investments to only one region of Goa.
This case exposes fundamental questions about how the government safeguards public wealth. How can the Health Department, which directly controls Santa Casa assets, claim complete ignorance about shareholdings that the Revenue Department maintains comprehensive records of? The financial implications are equally troubling—how long have these Rs 34+ lakhs in dividends remained uncollected simply because the custodian department was unaware of their existence? What other valuable assets from this major charitable institution are being neglected due to such departmental disconnect?
The administrative failure underscores broader systemic issues in how public assets with complex historical origins are managed. The Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Goa, being a significant Portuguese-era charitable institution, would logically have maintained diversified investments across the territory, making the Health Department’s claimed ignorance about such substantial shareholdings deeply concerning. In light of these revelations, concerned citizens have called for a comprehensive inquiry to get to the bottom of this administrative failure and ensure proper accountability for all public assets under various departmental custody. The case demonstrates the urgent need for better coordination between government departments and more robust systems for tracking and managing public wealth that rightfully belongs to the people of Goa.