Stability, CET, River Princess, SEZ?
Rane govt has huge task ahead
BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JUNE 12 -- The five-day Pratapsing Rane government which has
bounced back to power with much difficulty and continues to have
hiccups, has a long way to go to prove that the Congress government can
give good governance and a better administration to the people.
The stark reality is that the Congress government has several issues ?
new as well as pending ? to attend to. Besides, they will have to come
up with innovative people-oriented schemes and projects if they have to
make a mark for themselves before the next general assembly elections.
For more than four months, Goa hardly had a government that could take
decision as per the aspirations of the people. The hands of Governor S
C Jamir though he tried to some extent, were tied as no policy decision
could be taken under the President?s Rule. However, his ?sermons? to
the senior bureaucrats on being responsive to the people was not
reflected on the ground reality.
In this backdrop, the Rane government, considering that the BJP would
function as a vociferous Opposition, has a long way to go in delivering
a good system.
Among the burning issues, the government needs to resolve on priority
are common entrance test (CET), computer teachers? grievances, clarity
on IFFI, etc.
After the delay caused by the BJP government on CET, the administration
under the President?s Rule instead of correcting the situation,
aggravated it further. Incidentally, it was one of the former chief
minister Manohar Parrikar?s favourite bureaucrat, Vijay Madan who was
in-charge of the department that was responsible for GCET-2005.
Interestingly, Madan who was the development commissioner reportedly
asked for a transfer sometime back and has since been relieved.
River Princess is another issue which is also looking for government
attention. Besides
the issue of failure to remove the ship, the Rane government may also
to have go into what caused the delay and whether the company that was
given the contract fulfilled all the specifications and condition laid
down in the tender. Besides, the issue of accountability. Whether only
one officer was responsible for the entire operation or whether he was
made a scapegoat which seems to be the case, in order to protect the
interest of some senior bureaucrats.
Stability of the government, no doubt, would be the prime issue before
the chief minister. He would have to ensure that some kind of
discipline is maintained in the party set up so that wrong signals are
not sent out. This can hamper investment opportunities however best one
may try to attract industries to Goa. Political stability is what every
entrepreneur would like to cherish.
Rane has a difficult task to maintain a balance between the senior
politicians who have once again shown their true colours ? of grabbing
power ? instead of allowing new faces to get into the ministry.
Some of the other issues include preparation of the Budget for the
remaining part of the financial year. A vote on account for four months
was passed in the parliament in March. Then chief minister Manohar
Parrikar had just initiated Budget discussions when his government
collapsed after a major revolt in the BJP.
In a couple of months, the state government would have to be ready with
the proposals to be placed before the Planning Commission as well as
the Finance Commission.
If the government has plans to come up with welfare schemes or to
undertake developmental works in rural areas, the Rane government?s
main objective would be to effectively manage its finances. No doubt
some lessons could be learnt from Parrikar who could bring about
progress in the infrastructure sector and beautification programmes
mainly because he knew how to manage the state finances. Revenue
generation he managed was never seen in the past. Whether the same
trend would continue or not is to be seen.
The BJP government however, went in for huge loans and the debt burden
is quite heavy as of now. Rane government would have to work out ways
and means to reduce the debt.
On the industrial front, the government may have to take up on priority
is the decision on special economic zone (SEZ) which was announced by
the Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram. Decisions on Mopa airport,
Tillari irrigation project and Madei issue will also be keenly awaited.
It is the same concept which is pending before the government for long.
The Parrikar government kept it on the back-burner for reasons best
known to then chief minister. The only thing that happened was that it
was transferred from one department to another and the other was
identification of some areas.
BJP-led NDA government was in power until a year ago but the situation
didn?t change. If the Parrikar government had to put in even 25 per
cent of the work it ?invested? on IFFI, SEZ might have been a reality
by now. It would be important for the Rane government to take the
local people into confidence before going in for the new concept -- SEZ
? as it would be the first one in the country.
In short, the Rane government has a gigantic task ahead ? in not just
managing a ministry full of former ministers and chief ministerial
aspirants but also reaching out to the people. Maintaining the age-old
communal harmony and re-strengthening Goa?s social fabric is also very
important.
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Will Rane deliver as Parrikar did? Or will he be too busy in managing
his power hungry MLA's?
Regards,
Carlos
