------------------------------------------------------------------------ * G * O * A * N * E * T **** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S * ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GARCA BRANCA VACATION ACCOMMODATION LOUTULIM, SOUTH GOA. For R&R; modern/clean amenities; serene, healthy and wholesome location
Visit http://www.garcabranca.com for details/booking/confirmation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ <I SAT ON MY balcao, the other day, and pondered as I pluckedthe petals off a flower ... "Will SEZ really go?" "Will SEZstay?" "Will it go?" "Will it stay?"> I thought "Here we go again, Oscar, (of the alphabet soup school of writing)" but was surprised to find that this one was more sober. Keep it up, doctor saheb! But what do you make of this analysis? <According to a HT editorial, one of the major reasons theCongress bit the dust in Himachal Pradesh recently was this:"The erstwhile Congress regime proposed giant ski resorts,mega hydroelectric power projects jeopardising people's livesand the environment. The people in the area, which wereaffected by the projects, roundly rejected the Congress androoted for the alternative, the BJP.> Juxtapose this with: <Chicken xacuti and beer can take you this far. A vision for Goa and genuine pro-people policies will help you ride a star.> It is clear that when push comes to shove, dotor is for the latter (beer and sorpotel or whatever). Now take a look at this from Economic Times: <Citizens' agenda, 2008 10 Jan, 2008, 0143 hrs IST,Kiran Karnik, (The author is president, Nasscom) .. let us anchor the dreams to reality, and focus on practical, immediate and no-cost (or low-cost) ideas that could make a difference in the life of the ordinary, non-privileged citizen. This is the attempt in the crystal-ball exercise that follows....The government may set up an independent body, structured along the lines of the Election Commission, to monitor and evaluate all projects involving an investment of over Rs 1,000 crore. This will not look at issues of financial propriety and adherence to procedures, ... instead, it will focus on the strategy, structure, managerial processes and outcomes of projects... Quality of Life Mission will be initiated, aimed at ameliorating everyday problems. For example, in every city in India, pedestrians have to wade through water at the slightest rainfall. With minimal effort, such water-logging can be easily avoided, at least at bus stops. While new drains - requiring time and investment - may be needed, in many cases it is only a matter of ensuring timely desilting. Power cuts are another major irritant. Again, large investments and long lead-times are needed to solve the basic problem of shortages. However, the simple procedure of planning load-shedding, and disseminating information about what time this will happen in each area, will help people plan their activities and greatly reduce disruptions caused by sudden power cuts of unknown duration....Better information systems - especially for things like delayed arrivals/departures, or platform from which a train or bus will arrive/depart - will make a huge difference, and cost little. ...there are "soft" facilities: those that make one place more attractive than another. These include parks, playgrounds, museums, swimming pools, restaurants, good schools, hospitals and - most important - law and order, which can be translated as safety...It will also bring art and music into the community, by getting local governance bodies, corporates and voluntary groups to work together to get top artistes to perform or display their work in public places, accessible to all at no cost...do away with commission on money-orders for any amount below Rs 10,000. This will be of immense benefit to the millions of people (especially in Uttarakhand, Bihar, Konkan and rural areas elsewhere) who are part of the "money-order economy" and depend on remittances from family members working in distant places..... > To put it mildly, Oscar needs to flesh out his vision for the aam Goan aadmi a bit! Cheers.