Over the last three years Manohar Parrikar kept fooling the people of Goa by falsely claiming that the State coffer was very healthy with nothing to worry. However that the State exchequer was heading towards bankruptcy was always an apprehension and it is now official.
The very casual recent office memorandum issued by the Government on economy measures and rationalization of expenditure is no solace or solution to the deep financial crisis the State finds itself embroiled in. Fiscal accountability and responsibility has to be an ongoing sustained process and cannot be a short term measure. The Government needs to start with slashing the very exorbitant fees of eight lakhs a month being paid to Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni by bringing it on par with other states to a maximum of one lakh. Instead of the current jumbo cabinet of twelve, Goa can be well governed by just five Ministers. With the bureaucracy already over bloated there needs to be a total ban on any further recruitment. The services of unnecessary consultants and advisors appointed with a plum salary in various departments must be terminated. Needless public functions should be avoided as there is no need of one to lay the foundation stone or inaugurate drains, culverts and public toilets. Wasteful expenditure on newspaper advertisements must also stop. Quality control in all public works must be strictly ensured to avoid recurring expenditure. Government departments including Ministers must use modest budget cars instead of the current swanky and expensive ones. Those government schemes which have ended up being vote bank gimmicks cannot be allowed to burden the tax payer. Pointless Corporations created to rehabilitate politicians need to be wound up. The use of existing government owned buildings needs to be optimized before hiring private premises. Government owned vehicles should be first put to utmost use before without reason hiring private ones. To elicit suggestions and opinions from the people on the way ahead to pull Goa out of this financial disaster, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar should have an open public interaction at each of the 12 talukas. Due to the follies of the government we have landed in this fiscal upheaval, however now it is the duty and responsibility of every Goan to work towards restoring Goa back on the road to economic prosperity. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires