MARGAO: Reacting to Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai for choosing not to address the ‘happiness index’ of Goa, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Yuri Alemao laid blame on successive BJP governments for neglecting important study reports that could have contributed to the revival of the State’s economy and administration. He pointed to ‘the sad state of affairs under CM Pramod Sawant’s government’, citing concerns raised by another Governor regarding administrative failures. After ex-Governor Satya Pal Malik openly spoke on corruption, now Governor Pillai raises doubts on the happiness index of Goa, said the LoP.
Alemao mentioned the formation of a committee under then Chief Secretary Sanjay Shrivastav in 2010 by the Congress government to draft the Manpower Development Report. Prepared with assistance from the Planning Commission of India, the report was shelved by BJP governments that came to power in 2012, according to Alemao. He urged CM Sawant to implement the recommendations of the Goa Vision 2035 document prepared by experts under eminent Scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, and work on implementing the Manpower Development Report to improve the well-being of Goans.
Alemao emphasised the need for Goa to develop as a knowledge centre to create employment opportunities for its youth, preventing migration. He advocated for a focus on spiritual development over materialistic development, asserting that a high happiness index would indicate the prosperity of the State.
