HEART 2 HEART - JULY 17, Herald
BY ETHEL DA COSTA
100 crores, or no show?
Dear Mr Pratapsing Rane,
Good to see you crack the whip, though I understand the hot plate is
heating up with too many trying to short fuse your circuits. But shrewd as
you are, its time to hold to your horses, keep the stable in check and let
the credits roll. But first, what's your deal behind the 100 crore bid for
supari? A new hold-the-state-to-ransom attempt for attention? What's your
MLAs cut from the booty? How much are they pitching their worth for this
gold pot? What exactly do you intend to do with these monies in your kitty?
Are you, like the Saffron brigade, planning to take Goa for a ride again?
A representative of the State is answerable to his people. So, are you
going to build more bridges that are destined to collapse? Are you going to
fly down jaded celebs and item girls, with nil international cinema
presence, to make us watch their starry tantrums as they binge at our cost
(while our politicians leach and grope) at the song and dance parties
hosted at five-star hotels? Are you planning more Page 3 cocktail dramas on
the Mandovi, Zuari and Aldona bridges to outdo Parrikar? When the traffic
system breaks down for hours on end and no one gives a damn the
inconveniences caused to the public, will your starry-eyed babus deploy
ferries from Panjim to Betim, Brittona to Sinquerim, Cortalim to Dona Paula
to tow screaming pedestrians and commuters to their offices and homes? Or,
will you tell us, like Parrikar, that you do not wish to talk to us because
we are not intelligent! Sure, Nirmala Sawant would happily build more
ferries for you if you generously give her five crores. That would take
care of the traffic jams. With out of town cockeyed event managers hired
from Mumbai, Goa could host a Mardi Gras along the streets of Campal, drag
queen parties at the Francisco Luis Gomes and Ambedkar gardens, Spanish
bullfights at the Nehru Stadium and Panjim Cricket Club (with a little help
from the Spanish charters and Goa's own burly matador, Mickky Pacheco), and
Bollywood stunt designers to conceptualise mock gunfights along Miramar and
Dona Paula, so people stay indoors when electricity cuts drench the city in
total darkness. Oh, and don't you forget to give the schools in Goa an
early Christmas break since parents (along with govt officers) would want
to flock to the beaches to watch free movies.
Make no mistake Mr Rane, I endorse the film festival. I am completely
supportive of the event. But, we not going to endorse, tolerate, support
and turn a blind eye to acts of bad planning, arrogance, chaos, lack of
logistics and back up plans when a government in power breaks, violates,
throws to the wind, laws, rules and common sense under the excuse of a film
festival. There will be no more violation of environmental laws, cutting of
trees, pulling down heritage properties, building of bridges that sink. No
more ridiculing the concerned voices of citizens who are today left to bear
and suffer flooded streets, choked drains, sinking roads.
The common man will not be held to ransom. Let's get this straight and
clear right now.
Yes, Goa needs the International Film Festival of India. Let's wake up and
smell the coffee, because this is reality. Goa needs IFFI to consolidate
her identity in the international and national tourism market by promoting
quality event driven tourism. Goa has the pre-requisites to make her an
ideal resort destination. We have to capitalize on these assets and make it
work for us. Goa needs IFFI to help bring about an upgradation in the
quality of infrastructure by attracting quality tourists and professionals
to boost economic growth. This in turn will uplift the quality of services
offered to the common man. Goa needs a goal driven, vision oriented
government to consolidate long term plans to re-position the State with
state-of-the-art facilities. We must work towards NRI investments. IFFI is
a wonderful opportunity towards getting to this goal, which can be wisely
used to direct development for the benefit of the State and her people. Goa
needs a 'Think Tank' of experts and professionals to plan these goals. They
need to identify areas that need to be strengthened. Goa needs to take
stock of her unemployment issues by generating employment opportunities in
realistic terms. Goa needs an IFFI to help draw upon the abundance of
talent in music, art and dance by creating platforms to represent the true
culture of the State to the world. Goa needs an IFFI to help consolidate
capital in order to upgrade her public services in health, education, water
and electricity that percolates down to the common man. Goa needs IFFI to
attract foreign, local and national big bucks which will happen only when
the government takes stock of current needs to develop future growth plans
for a State. All this with direction and proper planning.
You will agree with the people of Goa that we do not need a repeat of last
year's IFFI tamasha. A film festival is not about street fairs and musical
circuses. It is about movies and the business of movie making. It is about
packaging and showcasing the talents of the State to the world. So, let's
get serious and start planning the show in earnest. NOW. Let's start by
strengthening current infrastructure that works, instead of patchwork jobs
on creating new shoddy infrastructure that collapses. Let's get the
government to draw plans in ensuring that the common man is not held to
ransom stuck in traffic jams, tolerating electricity cuts and sound
pollution. Invite local talent to participate with ideas. Draw an invitee
list of celebrities and stars Goa would be proud to host for their
contribution to international cinema. Market the film festival
internationally to attract world class film-makers (and travelers) who will
look at Goa as an ideal destination to holiday and make world-class movies.
Goa does not need cheap tourists. Goa does not need sex tourism currently
flourishing around the coastal belts. Goa needs a touch of class and a
balance of glamour, to position the State as the 'Cannes of the East.'
Market her lifestyle through cuisine, wine, music, art, fashion, craft,
sports and hospitality. We urge you to draw upon her assets by drawing
inspiration from her history and her peoples. Without biases of caste or
creed, religion or favour, take the people of Goa into confidence. Listen
to their voices, seek their opinion, and make them truly participative of
progress that will take the State smoothly into the 21st century. If you
achieve this, you would truly have set a benchmark.
So, will you let us know what you want to do with the 100 crores? Time to
practice what you preach, mate.
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