Lopsided priorities of CM Parrikar
By Nisser Dias
nisserdias at gmail.com
SMS to 9422437029
It has been two and half months since Manohar Parrikar has been sworn in as
the chief minister of Goa. People of this small state had very high
expectation of this man as he did a pretty good job of exposing the wrong
policies of the than ruling coalition in legislative assembly. Goans seemed
to have been convinced that Parrikar was a changed man compared to 2002 and
gave the administration in his hands. He did start on the right note but as
today he seems to have got his priorities all entangled.
From the day and time he was sworn in he has been promising he would find an
amicable solution to the Medium of Instruction issue within two weeks.
Sadly, we have reached the threshold of a new academic year and chief
minister Manohar Parrikar is still dilly-dallying over the matter. He ought
to know that future of the state and the country lies in the hands of the
children and should have given top most priority but his focus is more on
having a new airport at Mopa. MOI issue had to be decided long time back
because the syllabus has to be drawn up, text books have to be printed,
orientation and training of teachers have to undertaken and completed before
the new academic year commences. But that does not seem to the immediate
priority of the chief minister.
Even if chief minister Parrikar decides to stick by the old policy of grant
in aid only to those schools who adopt mother tongue as MOI, then other
stake holders or parents should have been given time to knock on the doors
of the High Court to resolve the issue once and for all. But given the stand
of Manohar Parrikar along with BBSM his ‘please all settlement’ is likely to
be one-sided and those parents demanding English as medium of instruction
are likely to be left in a lurch atleast for another year.
Then parents of unaided schools have been trying to seek an appointment with
the chief minister who also holds the Education portfolio to explain to him
how managements of these schools are fleecing them by charging unapproved
fees, how progress cards of students of protesting parents are being held
back for non payment of illegal fees but Manohar Parrikar does not have the
time to give an appointment to hear the aggrieved parents. Of course he has
the time to meet Dabolim MLA’s supporters wanting to join the BJP.
Secondly it has been noticed that chief minister Parrikar tom-toms about
continuous governance very selectively. When it comes to airport at Mopa, he
says the process and procedures were put in motion by the Congress before
2002 and for the last seven years it was kept alive again by the Congress
led coalition government and he is only carrying it forward. But Congress
government had also mooted sea-link between port town and capital city which
he has scrapped as not viable in a true Manohar Parrikar style - one man
show. He has also cancelled PPP project as it is not in the interest of the
state and its people and this was also a decision of the former government.
In case of Mopa airport hundreds of people have voiced their opinion
opposing it. Even the expert committee report have widely delved into why
Mopa is not a good site for an airport besides other observation like two
airports are not feasible for a small state of Goa, but still he wants to
bulldoze all opinions, endorse his views and do his will.
While on the aspect of airport at Mopa which according to the chief minister
will take almost five years to be commissioned, Capital city of Panjim,
commercial capital of Goa Margao are crying for bus stands. The current
situation at these bus stands is pathetic. The sheds are leaking during
rains. Illegal activities like prostitution, accepting matka bets are taking
place. There have been cases of robberies and even murders at Panjim bus
stand. There are no proper toilet facilities, people and cattle alike
blatantly urinate and defecate inside the premises. But chief minister does
see any urgency in repairing, renovating or constructing new bus stands and
bringing about much needed discipline for our own people. Here he might hide
behind his budget saying that he has made provisions for it. Ironically that
is not enough for us, we need its implementation. We the people of Goa need
relief.
Chief minister is least bothered in bringing about a change in the
functioning of Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) which has become a bane
and a pain for office goers. Chief minister is yet to apply his mind to
bringing about a change in this sector. Similar is the case with the health
sector, there are no sufficient beds and linen to cover our sick, there are
no medicines to be given free of cost to the needy. Manohar Parrikar’s
government is moving at a snail’s pace over these issues.
Our markets all over state lie in an unhygienic conditions, encroachments on
pavement are galore, drains are clogged, there is no system to clear and
dispose garbage. Truck terminus in Margao set-up by the previous government
is in a state of decay. Waste waters are directed into natural water bodies
like ponds and rivers but this government is yet to decide on bringing about
or enforcing cleanliness in these areas.
Chief minister should have made these issues his priorities before even
thinking about pursuing to have an ultra modern international airport at
Mopa. Manohar Parrikar should have alleviated the hardship and pain of the
common man, parents and students for the first two years of his term and
shown results. But immediately venturing on his pet project has made Goans
vary of him and his lopsided priorities. (ENDS)
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First published in Gomantak Times, Goa - May 17, 2012
