With Goa government already grappling with so many issues facing the state it has now another serious matter pertaining to the non-availability of beef on its platter of woes.
The Goa Meat Complex plant despite having been renovated and refurbished at a whopping cost of 9 crores has not been functioning for the last many years. This is inexplicable and the authorities should come out clean on the exact reason why the factory is non-functional. There can be no room for beef politics. The Goa Meat Complex factory at Ponda and its head office in Panaji together have over fifty staff who have been idling with no work to do. What a criminal waste of public funds. The Government must take immediate and swift measures to ensure that the Goa Meat Complex becomes fully operational so that the public get good quality and hygienic beef at reasonable prices. There should also be a probe to investigate why the Goa Meat Complex has remained shut for so long and the forces responsible for it. Governance at all times must ensure fairness and inclusiveness and there can never be room to favour or target any particular section of the community. I have friends from all creeds and communities who relish beef and pork. Rightly it should be one’s discretion what one would like to eat. It is an irony that after 73 years of our independence and as the world’s largest democracy the government wants to dictate and control as to what we should eat, drink, wear, read and speak. This is in rank contradiction to the very preamble of the Constitution of India which speaks of securing to all citizens social, economic and political justice besides liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship along with equality of status and opportunity. The Government must intervene and take immediate action to ensure the supply of beef within the state is restored urgently, as the shortage of beef especially during this festive season will adversely impact domestic consumers and tourists, restaurants and hotels at a time when the demand is sky high. The economic consequences on meat traders and other businesses dependent on the meat trade who are all forced to close their businesses will be catastrophic. The Government cannot ignore the plight of a significant number of its people. May those in power govern our country with leadership and integrity, with a common purpose to unify the country with a broad based vision rather than promoting any skewed and divisive agenda that fragments our society. The need to satisfy the needs of all people must always be paramount. Unity in Diversity must continue to be our hallmark. Mahatma Gandhi had rightly observed that ‘our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and test of our civilization’. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com