PANJIM: The Sawant government back-tracking on implementing the recent hike in ferryboat toll fee, resembles the student agitation held over four decades ago to seek 50 per cent bus concession for them.
The government is now finding it difficult to implement its decision to levy fees for two-wheelers and hike in fees for four-wheelers using ferryboats. In a similar way the students fought to seek 50 per cent bus concession.
O Heraldo spoke to some of the former student leaders who were in the forefront of the agitation. Pointing that the raging controversy over the increase in fares for those travelling in ferry boats has ended, Adv Aires Rodrigues said that it would be prudent that every government decision is taken very fairly after a proper consultation and dialogue with all stakeholders.
“Memories still linger of that 1979 student agitation for 50 per cent bus concession that took Goa by storm. We were successful on account of the sustained efforts by the students. The private bus lobby was solidly behind the then government,” Rodrigues said, while adding that “one bureaucrat who deserved his rightful share of our gratitude was the then acting Chief Secretary late Dr J C Almeida”.
“Despite pressures from various politicians and the very potent bus owners’ lobby, Dr Almeida was very sympathetic with the very rightful demand of the students,” he said.
Mohandas Loliencar, former student union leader, said that every elected government should work for the welfare of the public. Ferryboat services by the government is meant for the welfare of the people and the government should subsidise it like the State-run Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd.
“Elected MLAs enjoy all privileges at the public cost, but when it comes to giving privileges to people they are taxed. Ministers should do cost cutting on non-essential expenditure,” Loliencar said.
He said that student agitation in 1979 was against the bus lobby, which was a private business, unlike ferryboat services run by the State government. “Shashikala Kakodkar government did not give anything free and she allowed the private bus operators to increase standing capacity in the buses.”
Former student leader Jyoti Dhond recalled that students’ agitation was successful because there was strong leadership and it was not backed by any political party.
“It was apolitical movement and since demand was genuine we could pressurise the government,” she said.
Reacting to the proposed ferryboat toll fees, Dhond opined that the government should be empathetic to the common man.
Activist Sabina Martins said that the student agitation was basically for allocation of resources for transport to facilitate education. The government decision should be pro-people and with budgetary allocation. The government should curtails its wasteful expenditure on events.
In the past the bureaucrats used to advice the government but now the Ministers are telling the bureaucrats what to do, she said.
Have asked CM to take right decision in ferryboat fare matter, says Phal Dessai
PANJIM: River Navigation Minister Subhash Phal Dessai said that he has requested Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take the right decision in the ferryboat toll fee issue.
Stating that Sawant had asked clarification from him over the issue, Phal Dessai reiterated that the decision was taken in the interest of the State, to plug revenue leakage and provide improved ferry services. He said that the file regarding the new fares was earlier routed through the Chief Minister.
“If CM feels we (people) cannot pay Rs 150, he can withdraw. I don’t have any issues,” the Minister said, adding that he had tried to convince the MLAs supporting people protesting against the hike as to how the new fares were justified.
Phal Dessai further said that through the ferry service the government was earning revenue of Rs 70 lakh but was spending Rs 40 to 45 crore on the service.
On the other hand, the Aam Aadmi party (AAP) demanded that the government should generate revenue from casinos and not from common man. It submitted a memorandum to the RND demanding to withdraw the notification increasing fare for ferryboats operating on 18 routes across the State.
