*By Lionel Messias, Independent Journalist, Ex-Mid-Day, The Pioneer, Indian Express, Economic Times, Gulf News.*
*Making a meal of it.* Hungry for power only? Right, but not entirely. Our politicians are also hungry for chow. The adage, do you live to eat or eat to live, takes an altogether new flavour with our politicians who appear to devour as much food as they give you excuses for their existence or simply being around, always mind you, for the good of Goa. Here's food for thought. Do you think they left behind any tips because I can't see them paying for anything from their pockets, considering Digambar Kamat, currently Goa's CM even billed us for Rs450 for refreshments he offered an unnamed central minister at Dabolim airport. Food and flying abroad obviously play a big part in the lives of our politicians. Maybe, it's because of all the hard thinking that goes into poring over construction plans or planning the colossal markets, bus stands, government buildings, panchayat ghars and bridges that collapse (read as new ways to make moolah) that they have to ceaselessly binge even if it means splurging tax payers' money. In a way these facts reconfirm Goa as India's entertainment capital, the only difference here being the Goan taxpayer has to bear the financial brunt of entertaining, for god's sakes, even probationary IAS officers to Parliamentary Committees for crying out loud,to every visiting Tom, Dick and Jane, whom how do we know could be here on a holiday, but use the Old Boys' school technique to get a free meal and gifts.(could, for all you know, be here on a holiday, but use the Old Boys' network to get a free meal and gifts. Even members of the Planning Commission ostensibly here to determine how much financial assistance Goa needs for its development apparently need to be fed before they exercise their brain cells. And as I will show you in the next few weeks, entertainment for our poor politicians too who can't seem to afford a meal and, or apparently loath home cooked food. Alas, one yearns for the return of the old-fashioned tiffin that wives filled with homemade goodies before hubby left for work. Study your politician's food-spend sheet below and you are made to believe they have dedicated their lives to literally perform between 5-star meals while working up an appetite for the next, all for the sake of Goa's development. Why, it needs a dinner even, over which the 2005 budget was discussed(to discuss the 2005 budget). But why in August, I guess you will never find out. Read more about your munching MLAs in the next few weeks. *Digambar Kamat * 12.07.04 –dinner for delegates, Elect. Dept. officers –Nova Goa –Rs7,405; 25.10.04 -dinner for invitees – Mandovi –Rs11,160; 18.08.05 -dinner for budget discussion –Nova Goa –Rs10,540; 02.12.05 –dinner for sub-jr. National Kabaddi Championship players- Damodar Restaurant –Rs25,000 (Rane also spent Rs35,000 on 03.12.05 for the same cause); 14.12.05 –dinner for Nagaland, Mizoram cultural troupes –Kadam Plaza –Rs40,095; 23.12.05 –dinner for visiting culture/art writers –Shetye Caterers –Rs71,600; 28.12.05 –dinner for Harish Saxena, president, IYHF –Furtado's –Rs6,250; 15.02.06 -lunch for ruling MLAs -O' Coqueiro -Rs20,510; 02.03.06 -dinner for Nehru Yuva Sanghatana –Kadam Plaza –Rs34,000; 21.03.06 –lunch for minister and MLA –O 'Coqueiro –Rs17,770; 03.06.06 –dinner for union power minister –Cidade de Goa –Rs95,068; 21.06.06 -refreshments for a minister –Dabolim Airport –Rs450; 11.07.06 –lunch for ruling ministers, MLAs –O 'Coqueiro –Rs16,225; 13.07.06 –dinner for Electricity, Mines, Art & Culture depts. –Nova Goa –Rs20,152; 25.07.06 –lunch for ruling ministers, MLAs –O 'Coqueiro –Rs28,814; 25.08.06 -dinner for chairman, member, West Zone Cultural Centre –Cidade Goa –Rs64,964; 29.09.06 –dinner for West Zone Inter State Badminton Championship officials –Luan Caterers –Rs18,000 (Rane also spent Rs18,000 on 30.09.07); 28.11.06 –dinner for chairman, Central Board for Workers Education –Cidade de Goa –Rs11,362; 25.01.07 –dinner for students, lawyers –Benaulim –Rs50,700; 09.02.07 –dinner for International Indology Conference –Barclento cruise boat –Rs1,33,885; 16.02.07 –dinner for Kashmir interstate exchange programme –Nanutel –Rs48,740; 03.03.07 –dinner for Youth Hostel Association of India –Nanutel –Rs21,625; 17.03.07 -dinner for Sushilkumar Shinde –FABR –Rs1,29,622+3,300 gift; 10.06.07 –dinner for MLAs –Cidade de Goa –Rs31,856; 15.06.07 –lunch for Minister, MLAs –Sher-e-Punjab –Rs16,200; 21.06.07 –dinner for visiting ministers –Noah's Ark –Rs2,19,420; 02.07.07 –lunch for minister –Sher-e-Punjab –Rs13,365; 11.07.07 –lunch for minister, MLAs –NH17 –Rs27,455; 16-31.07.07 –lunch for ministers, MLAs during Assembly session –O 'Coqueiro/Kebab Center –Rs28,762+2,43,460; 06.08.07 –dinner for ministers, MLAs –Cidade de Goa –Rs62,175; 13.08.07 –dinner for ministers, MLAs –NH17 –Rs29,800; 18.08.07 –lunch for national awards recepients –Fidalgo –Rs80,686; 8,14,17,23.08.07 –dinner parties at his residence –Yatri Caterers –Rs49,840; 30.08.07 –dinner for Prithviraj Chavan, MOS -Park Hyatt –bills awaited; 01.09.07 –dinner for editors –Cidade de Goa –Rs40,683; 05.09.07 –dinner for select journalists –Cidade de Goa –Rs59,074; 10.09.07 –lunch for minister, MLAs –Kebab Corner –Rs27,175; 26.09.07 –lunch for minister, MLAs –Kebab Corner –Rs32,675; 7&26.09.07 –lunch party at residence –Yatri Restaurant –Rs26,040; 01.10.07 –lunch for minister, MLAs -O 'Coqueiro –Rs16,945; 04.10.07 –dinner for Justice GN Ray, members, Press Council of India –Santa Monica –bill awaited; 05.10.07 -dinner for Task Force Committee O 'Coqueiro –Rs7,603; 06.10.07 -dinner for Ravindra Kelekar –Cidade de Goa –Rs2,03,926; 12.10.07 –dinner for Jusice Swatanter Kumar, chief justice, Bombay High Court –Goa Mariott –Rs31,279; 25.10.07 –dinner for Kamal Nath, others –Park Hyatt –Rs1,93,362; 26.10.07 –lunch for ministers, MLAs –O 'Coqueiro –Rs19,263; 11.11.07 –lunch for ministers, MLAs –O 'Coqueiro –Rs19,263; 15.11.07 –refreshments for Diwali milan –Shree Foods -Rs96,959; 19.11.07 –lunch for ministers, MLAs –Kebab Corner –Rs23,600; 20.11.07 –dinner for delegates, cashew seminar –Cidade de Goa –Rs1,20,129; 22.11.07 –lunch for member, Task Force Committee –O 'Coqueiro –Rs9,228; 23.11.07 –lunch for member, Task Force Committee –O 'Coqueiro –Rs9,304; 24.11.07 –lunch for ministers, MLAs, officers –Kebab Corner –Rs27,850; 06.12.07 –lunch for ministers, MLs –Kebab Corner –Rs24,200; 16.12.07 -dinner for delegates, DD Kossambe centenary celebration –Santa Monica & NH17 –2,14,925; 02.01.08 –lunch at Cabinet meeting –NH17 –Rs14,375; 04.01.08 –dinner to celebrate Christmas, New Year –NH17, Saishree Florist, Sai Flower –Rs7,01,500+8,000+12,000; 04.01.08 -tea, snacks served at residence –Dhuri Caterer –Rs5,200; 24.01.08 -dinner for ministers, MLAs –Kebab Corner –Rs36,230. *Total spent on entertainment was Rs36,47,744, of which entertaining Goa's ministers and MLAs cost Rs7,77,968 between July **2004 and January 2008.* *(For more of his articles, read his blog freebirdingoa.blogspot.com)*
