Today 1st July, 2007 was the turn of "Madganvkars" - Parishioners of Our Lady of Grace Church Margao to felicitate "Digu Bab" Shri Digamber Kamat on assuming the onerous office of CM of Goa.
The poorly attended hour long function (11.20 a.m) held at Our Lady of Grace Church Hall Margao ---less than a hundred and fifty persons mostly women and children (coming after their cathechism classes) were treated to an impressive Indian costume attired performance of a "prayer - candle dance" as the inaugural item by students of Fatima Convent which received a thunderous applause for its presentation to perfection. The "flowery speeches" by Mr Nick Colaco and Ms Inez Cotta Carvalho in praise of achievements of "Digu Bab" ---who was seated on the dais with wife Ms Asha Kamat in tow ----over a) his attaining the stature of being the longest serving Minister for Power? in the country, b) the U turn the power sector in Goa has made in profitability --earning Rs 150 crores p.a, c) the Ana Fonte Spring Garden and d) his accessibility to the voters did attract some applause from the audience. It was however the speech of an young seminarian turned teacher now at a school in Sanvordem and a parishioner of Margao Mr Elliton J A Fernandes of Margao who left the CM dumbfounded though he managed a sarcastic smile. Mr Fernandes in his impeccable Konkani, in a written speech congratulated the CM on his assuming office but the fear of losing his seat and the "political compulsions' which will decide his tenure - is a matter of concern he said. A four term MLA since 1994 "Digu Bab" would now as an elderly statesman preside over the destinies of not only Margao but the desitinies of fourteen lac odd people located in 3705 sq Kms of the State. Giving a point by point listing of the demands of Goans. GARBAGE (KOCHRO) - is littered all over in this beautiful state. He cited a case in point in the capital city near EDC complex -- what impression will it give those visiting the State? POWER (viz)Despite receiving 300 MW of power from Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh by the time it reaches Goa via Maharashtra and Karnataka we get a poor quality transmission of only 120 MW- why not we use our own "Ocean" and "Solar" energy resource? WATER (UDOK) despite being a rain drained State the Government announces in May this year a shortfall of 15% supply in availability of water-- but private tanker operators supply 1000 litres of water at Rs.300/- is this not confusing? TOURISM (poryotton) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII ) has stated that 80% of those employed in the hospitality industry are non Goans --then why build hotels that would usurp our land mortgage the lives of Goans to the nuances of Russian mafia drugs sleaze and sex he wondered. Would not the MOPA AIRPORT on becoming a reality relieve us of the scourge of commercially exploited tourism? EDUCATION (xikxonn)Under the centrally sponsored "Sarva Sikhsa Abhiyan" this year the school going students would be given a Rs.1000/- worth dictionary -- why indulge in this wasteful expenditure when an OXFORD ADVANCED LEARNERS dictionary with a CD is available for Rs.500/- Why extend the age of superannuation of teachers to sixty when most feel bored of teaching at fifty? would it not be worthwhile to access their suitability every two years and then retain those suitable? Money for school infrastructure is not directed towards the genuine requirements of latrines, benches school boards laboratories computers etc -- Inspectors of education department are kow-towed to appease the pliable schools in th distribution of funds-- would it not be worth to link it to performance in academics? There is a need to bring about changes in the medium of instruction in Konkani and his report needs to be perused he appealed to the CM. PLAYWRIGHT'S ACADEMY (Tiatr akademi) "Digu Bab" needs compliments for coming out with a cultural policy -- Would the Government now look into starting the "tiatr akademi" as promised and the opening of the Ravindra Bhavan at Fatorda EMPLOYMENT (Rozgar) --according to the Indian Labour Report 2006 there will be around 211 million unemployed in India and based on 2001 census in Goa 55.4% of unemployment will the CM pay atttention to this our grave concern. In his reply to the felicitations surprisingly in English, the CM made it clear that he never aspired for CM post -- having indulged in confabulations with the High Command observers he left for Ponda -- late night he was summoned back to Panaji and he was asked to shoulder the onerous responsibility. He assured the people that he believed in doing justice to whatever portfolio was entrusted to him. Be it the power sector which was in the red -- had turned a new leaf for all his policies were centred around the "consumer" as a CM he would now concentrate on "aam admi" the other CM -- common man-- therefore anything that would bring cheer on the face of a common would reflect the success of his government. In the power sector while all other states indulged in privatisation and corporatisation of the power sector it was only in Goa that it is being run by a Department of the Government on a profitable basis in the last 6- 7 years under his stewardship. He has always ensured that the staff in the Government Department are motivated to perform. To cite an instance a week ago when power supply was suddenly disrupted for well over 8 hrs he personally visited the site behind to Carmel College at Nuvem to supervise the restoration of power supply as two trees had caused extensive damage to the power distribution lines-- while people felt it was to sabotage his post CM tenure. On his shedding important portfolios of Home Power Finance he said that it was the wish of the High Command. He assured the people of Goa that the administration would be people friendly within SIX months (8th December, 2007 )public oriented government Departments were to give a detailed report on the functions attended to by them and Mamlatdars (Heads of Talukas) have been directed to attend to public needs within 48 hrs a lethargic bureaucracy would be a thing of the past. He retained the Department of Art and Culture so that schemes formulated would reach the indignant artists. He spoke of the pathetic conditions of artists who have turned into paupers while in their sunshine days they regaled audiences in Goa. The fund constituted would help every member of the musicians family ( a la provident fund ). The cultural policy formulated was the first of its kind in the country and is recommended as a model for other states to take note. It was clear from the tone and tenor of his speech that the CM was weary of his completing his full term. Having shed the important portfolios and now the appeasement of other MLAs demanding some of the lucrative 17 corporations of the Government of Goa the next week ; the demands of Ms Victoria Fernandes and the curtailed monsoon session as the Ministers have yet to come to grips with their portfolios, the damocles sword hangs on the "puppet CM" who is controlled by the High Command as stated by his own admission. Fr Cleto Pereira expressed happiness that a parishioner Mr Digamber Kamat had now been catapulted to the position of CM. A touching reference was made to the demand of burial ground and beautification of the open space in front of the Church at Government cost. A shawl and citation was presented to Mr Digamber Kamat. There was no mention of the sensitive demand of cemetry for the parishioners of Grace Church -- it may be recalled that this elections a sizeable number of parishioners either did not caste their vote in favour of Mr Kamat and instead vote for the Save Goa Front nominee. For Mr Kamat was believed to have pandered to the demands of the Moslem community -- viz expansion of their existing cemetry atop the hill at Pajifond while evading the Christian burial ground issue. Ironically the power supply failed just at the end of the function and every one laughed at the sarcasm of tall claims made on the power sector .. One elderly women complained of fear of high BP the moment the light bills come -- yes domestic consumers pay an exhorbitant bill --despite all the talk of profitability and power failures have never been the things of the past in the last six seven years. The Margao Cultural troupe too regaled the audience with two skits which had the audience literally thomping their hands and feet. GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send free SMS to your Friends on Mobile from your Yahoo! Messenger. Download Now! http://messenger.yahoo.com/download.php