The Goa Government has extended to February 10th the date for submitting
public suggestions for the proposed year long programmes and activities to
mark the 60th year of Goa Liberation Day celebrations.
In the given circumstances and the current very turbulent times that the
State is facing, the one and only realistic suggestion that any sensible
person can make is that the government should not further squander even a
single paisa on this needless proposed pomp and gaiety.
The State coffers are empty with even the Comptroller and Auditor General
of India (CAG) warning the government of a debt trap. It should be a matter
of great concern that the State’s outstanding financial liabilities has
galloped by 47% from Rs 13,877 crores in 2014-15 to Rs 20,412 crores at the
end of financial year 2018-19.
In such a precarious financial state it is surprising that the government
has the audacity of even thinking of celebrations. Rigorous austerity
measures is the only way ahead to protect the State from further financial
disaster.
As custodian of the state’s coffers, every paisa must be judiciously spent
by the Government. In the current pandemic the health and wellbeing of the
people has to be the only priority. The government would be also well
advised to desist from embarking on its politically motivated ill thought
plan of recruiting over 10,000 more government employees. This will only
land Goa into a further financial mess.
The current economic and health situation does not warrant any celebration
and nor can it be justified. We can all rejoice when Goa is truly liberated
from the shackles of a failing economy, an uphill struggle against a raging
pandemic, inadequate medical facilities, the environmental challenges and
the daily menaces of corruption, poor governance and dire infrastructure
like dangerous potholed roads, bad drainage and the lack of collection and
treatment of garbage.
Far from a celebration, this year should be a year of long overdue action
to rid the state of these age-old ills. It must not be a cause for
squandering our money on vanity projects and photoshoots, which may be good
for the camera but disastrous for the economy and the well being of our
anxious and suffering citizens.
Ironically the Goa Government which had sought 100 crores from the Center
for this year long celebration has been generously doled out a whopping 300
crores which the government should instead sensibly use to pay back the
State’s mounting debt.
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
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airesrodrig...@yahoo.com
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