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International Cuisine Conference on Traditional Asian Diet
Panaji, Goa, September 2-5, 2007 - http://www.indologygoa.in
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With political compulsions the basis of Digambar
Kamats government, Goa is definitely in for a spell
of political uncertainty. With everyone clamouring for
Ministerial berths and all eyeing exclusively for plum
lucrative portfolios, it only confirms that these MLAs
have not embarked on a mission to serve the people but
to help themselves and make the best while it lasts.
The Chief Minister has an arduous task in trying to
accommodate all the ruling party MLA's and
rehabilitate other politicians some of whom were
rejected at the recent assembly election.
Digambar Kamat has attempted to astutely dodge the
Victoria Fernandes cabinet exclusion by re-assuring
her of all round development of her constituency. The
real issue was the non-representation of the lone lady
MLA in the cabinet. One does not have to be a Sarpanch
or MLA or even a Minister to nurse the constituency.
Mr. Chief Minister, we all know you are walking a
tight rope, which is by the day tightening around your
neck.
After dishing out all posts and positions, Digambar
Kamat would have to get down to attending some of the
serious issues confronting Goa and Goans.
The Chief Minister has to ensure that Goas new
regional plan is prepared in consultation with all
concerned by ensuring that only technical experts are
appointed on the Town and Country Planning Board.
We need to have Goas planned development with an
environmental vision by first improving Goa's
crumbling basic infrastructure while tackling serious
issues like garbage and vehicle parking in cities on a
top priority. The Planning and Development
authorities (PDAs) need to be scrapped and facilitate
the planning work by assigning a Town Planner to sit
at every Municipality. There is an urgent need to
enact necessary amendments to the Town and Country
Planning Act to ensure that land use is not
manipulated at the whims and fancies of those in
authority
Goa needs to set up a "Lokayukta to ensure public
accountability of Ministers including the Chief
Minister, Members of the Legislative Assembly,
Municipal Councilors, and the Chairman, Vice Chairman,
Managing Director and Members of Boards, which are
subject to the control of the Government.
Independence of the police force is a must and
Ministers & MLAs should stop controlling police
stations. Powers to transfer police personnel should
vest only with the Chief Secretary and Director
General of Police.
To protect the interests of Goas educated unemployed
Government should revert the retirement age of
government employees to 58 and revoke the blatant
extensions in service and contract appointments being
given to retired government officers. Digambar Kamat
needs to ensure transparency in recruitment of
government staff by entrusting the selection to the
Goa Public Service Commission. All government jobs
should go only to people of Goan origin and 80% jobs
in private and other organizations for people who are
domiciled in Goa for at least 25 years. All Government
Corporations should be headed not by politicians but
experts in the field related to the subject matter of
the Corporation.
There has to be a check on corruption, indiscipline
and abuse of authority in Government offices.
Information sought under the Right of Information Act
has to be made more accessible to the public by
possibly having a centralized call centre in the State
to handle all applications for information under the
Act.
The Chief Minister must look into the illegal migrant
vote banks set up in most constituencies by certain
politicians. All bogus voters from the electoral rolls
of Goa need to be deleted as they are existing voters
in their parent state too.
There is need of a law to regulate sale of land to
persons not of Goan origin. Communidade land has to be
protected for the purpose it was envisaged by taking
deterrent action against large-scale encroachment and
land use violation of Communidade land.
So much needs to be done but with Sonia Gandhi and
Margaret Alva set to virtually decide and run Goa
Chief Ministers agenda, this will be a very
exorbitant added burden to the tax payers of Goa if
the CM and his squabbling Ministers keep on
air-dashing to Delhi. With modern technology at hand
Digambar Kamat should set up video-conferencing
facilities so that he can discuss all his vows with
the High Command in Delhi whilst sitting in Porvorim.
Aires Rodrigues
Ribandar
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