This is how the Environment and Forest minister, Alina Saldanha made her political debut with the statement that impressed not only the people of Zuarinagar, but even people from the opposition were led to believe the new MLA of Cortalim who had promised to keep her husband’s magic alive by carrying forward his legacy.
This was the first appearance she made before the special people of Matanhy after getting elected as the dreams of slum dwellers remained alive. The community were promised a wide road in the area, a 2-mtr-wide footpath and shops, besides a garden/park, toilet facilities and flats and various other projects including a health centre and market complex.
Ironically, these promises were like repeat telecasts (only before elections) in the last three years. Leaders like the former chief minister, Manohar Parrikar too made assurances when he visited the area along with Alina in July 2013.
“In the last three years, we had many visitors who came to give doles. Now we are tired and disappointed because if we speak against non development or against any leaders, then we are targeted and people threaten us with demolitions. Anyway, three years down the line, Alina is more alien to Zuarinagar slums and her late husband’s legacy remains irreplaceable,” said a Panch member from Zuarinagar slum ward.
Today these people feel that there is nobody to champion their needs and fight for their rights. They are disappointed because this is happening despite Matanhy’s wife on his chair, who is still making promises to complete his unfinished dream of providing better facilities to the people.
“Alina Saldhana swept into power unopposed. However, if there was an election, she would have got the majority of votes from Zuarinagar because people here used to look at Matanhy as a messiah. Many of us have his picture placed next to God. He was like one amongst us, but today the situation is reversed and if there is an election tomorrow then the situation would be different,” said Ramesh Chawan, resident of Zuarinagar.
In the narrow lanes of these slums, the words lonely, betrayed and orphaned resonate in a multitude of langauges- Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and so on.
There is no sign of a health centre that was one of the late man’s priorities. The market complex exists only on paper. Garbage scattered all over makes the life of residents more miserable. A water pipeline passing through nullahs is what has become the identity of this slum that was supposed to be developed three years backs. “Nothing has changed; the only thing that is different is the level of issues that have grown. 90 percent of people including large number of women still use open grounds to answer nature’s call. All this because sites have been identified for building toilet facilities but no work has been done. Because of all these reasons we feel that Alina has failed to match Matanhy’s legacy,” said Shivappa Lamani, another resident of Zuarinagar.
People have complained that they are not even getting the support of their MLA for the disbursal of government schemes. A panch member informed Herald that few months ago, one of Matanhy’s closest supporters went to Alina’s office in Cansaulim with a few papers for DSS schemes but he had to face embarrassment as he was told not to come to the office again. “The incident left us in deep shock as the insult was to a panch member of Sancoale Panchayat. Since then, he and others are approaching other MLAs to get their signatures on the papers to avail government schemes,” said a panch member from Sancoale Panchayat under the condition of anonymity.
Herald contacted a few MLAs asking whether the allegation is true and whether they are signing DSS and other papers to avail government schemes and they confirmed in the positive. “People come to me and I am doing it for them,” said Dabolim MLA, Mauvin Godinho who was formerly representing the people from Zuarinagar slum.
The former Sancoale Sarpanch, Ramakant Borkar said, “We have not seen a Matanhy like charisma in her. She visited Zuarinagar twice but on both the occasions it was either some kabbadi or road inauguration but the discussion on basic amenities were neither discussed nor have they materialised”. For Alina, getting down to the grassroots is a call that she has to address if she needs her husband’s magic stay alive. To be fair to her she cannot be another Matanhy Saldanha.
