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Goa's phone numbers change from Nov 10, 2002. Prefix old number with a 2. New numbers will be seven-digit 2XXXXXX (where XXXXXX is the old number).
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Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service
& circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network
(GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Goa's Taxi Mafia
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Citizens have been regularly complaining about Goa's transport
system like bad bus service and extortion by the taxi mafia.
In my view, none of them addresses the root cause of the
problem, which is a lack of corporatisation.
The state governments in India are very fond of unorganised
economic activity. Accordingly, buses, taxis and auto rickshaws
are offered to different individuals to run. When is the Goa government
going to realise that individual operators organised into unions
are much more venal and exploitative than a modern company
run by professional managers. The first thing the former do
is to get political protection and then go on to fleece
ordinary citizens in a manner which will put Shylock to shame.
While a company in Dubai or Singapore is worried about providing
good service, improving its image and increasing business,
an individual taxi or autorickshaw driver is only interested in
extorting the maximum since he is not going to meet the
passenger again. It is distressing to see private inter-state
bus operators having commission arrangements with restaurants
enroute to fleece their passengers.
The Goa taxi charges are the highest in India and the drivers
don't even carry a receipt book. Why is it that when the government
does any business, it organises itself into a company, but when
it comes to private enterprise, it favors a mass of disorganised
service providers? For improving service quality, the trick
is not to destroy organised economic activity but to
encourage professionally run private companies while at the
same time regulating them to protect customer interests.
The burden of providing good service then shifts from the
government to corporate management. As a start, this whole
army of taxi drivers, auto drivers and bus drivers should be
organised into co-operatives. And then licenses should be
given to two-three private companies to run these services
in competition with them. It should be mandatory for these
companies to offer their shares to the public so that citizens
get to share their wealth. Only then can we see drivers
with uniforms, two-way radios and electronic receipt books
providing inexpensive, professional service.
This is the only way forward. The mantra should not be petty
privatisation but privatisation with corporatisation.
ISABELLE COUTINHO, Alto Porvorim
in My View
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The Navhind Times 7/11/02
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GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE
Documentation + Education + Solidarity
11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507
Tel: 2252660 mailto:goadesc@;goatelecom.com
website: www.goadesc.org
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Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy
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What's On In Goa (WOIG):
Nov 06 Children's book exhibn opens, Walkabout, Anjuna... (all weekdays)
Nov 06 ArtHouse, Calangute: Chaitali's acrylics on canvas till 19.11
Nov 07 Revision of electoral rolls (till Nov 30) See schedule.
Nov 07 Creative science, for children, Goa Sc Centre (till 16.11)
Nov 10 Corporate summit on IT and biotechnology, Intl Centre (till 11.11)
Nov 17 Goan Engineers and Assoc meet, at Pickering, Canada.
Nov 20 Fr Agnelo's 75th death anniversary, Pilar
Dec 01 Two day conference, Goa Agenda. IT For Society. (Ends 2.12)
Every Sunday: Music therapy sessions at Moira, 5 pm. 278, N.Portugal
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