Do we really need a Government?This question may sound strange to many. But with murders, rapes, assaults, robberies, thefts, illegalities, etc. etc. going on unabated, with no steps at prevention, control or detection, leave alone remedy and conviction and not a word from Goa’s CEO, I often really feel that we could do without a Government.
By *Jose Maria Miranda* | 30 Aug, 2014, 07:30PM IST A- A+ Share on facebook <http://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/Do-we-really-need-a-Government/17857.html#>Share on twitter <http://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/Do-we-really-need-a-Government/17857.html#>Share on google_plusone_share <http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=300&winname=addthis&pub=ra-53198e0e08125ec5&source=tbx32-300&lng=en-US&s=google_plusone_share&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldgoa.in%2FEdit%2FOpinions%2FDo-we-really-need-a-Government%2F17857.html&title=Herald%3A%20Do%20we%20really%20need%20a%20Government%3F&ate=AT-ra-53198e0e08125ec5/-/-/5401ac58e23182b3/2&frommenu=1&uid=5401ac585b4ff7e7&ct=1&pre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldgoa.in%2FEdit%2FOpinions&tt=0&captcha_provider=nucaptcha>Share on pinterest_share <http://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/Do-we-really-need-a-Government/17857.html#>More Sharing Services <http://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/Do-we-really-need-a-Government/17857.html#> <http://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/Do-we-really-need-a-Government/17857.html#> 1 <http://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/Do-we-really-need-a-Government/17857.html#> In fact, it appears to me that with its helplessness in controlling unlawful activities and its persistence in not enforcing the law, the Government is leaving it to the people to tackle their own problems which could eventually lead them to taking the law in their own hands. However, what seems to be very much needed in Goa is a parallel Government to keep a check on the lawfully established Government – its malpractices, inaction, corruption and connivance of elected representatives and bureaucrats in wrongdoings. One of the greatest pains for the people of this country is that laws exist, but they are rarely enforced. And they are not, because there is no accountability on the part of law enforcers, thus encouraging inaction and recurrence of offences. Courts’ rarely pull up irresponsible officials who force people into avoidable litigations, wasting the latter’s money and energies and the Courts’ most precious time which could have been more profitably utilized. Some laws are deliberately kept either ambiguous or with loopholes, so that they can be circumvented or manipulated. Manohar Parrikar, who, last time, gave us ample proof of his caliber, dynamism and hard work has hardly shown any signs of his brilliance, this time around. His poor performance and the solutions he advocates for certain problems make many wonder what has gone wrong with the man at the helm of our affairs. When pointed out to an accident prone zone that needed correction, he replied that riders should wear crash helmets. Surely they should. But who is responsible for not enforcing this rule? Can crash helmets avoid accidents or only head injuries and deaths? For threatening anonymous calls, his solution is to change the SIM or keep mobile off. Surely, his answer to deaths on road accidents will be to ask people to remain indoors, to avoid road deaths. Elected representatives are suppose to serve the interests of the people, rarely do it and often serve only their own. People’s mandate and wishes are ignored to please the bosses or the powerful. Municipalities and Panchayats find TCP’s technical clearance a convenient shield and a mandate for granting approvals, against the interests of the inhabitants and ignoring Gram Sabha resolutions. In the infamous Curtorim hotel project it is now clear that the CM acted against his own averments that projects had to conform to Regional Plan 2001 and the proposed 2021 and infrastructure should be in place and not in paper. Approval to this project and many others are highly suspect and put a question mark to the so called CM’s zero tolerance to corruption. Mining illegalities got a boost by a complete absence of checks and controls – one mine owner reportedly confessed. And entire Goa suffered. But some, if not all, those responsible are now being rewarded with renewals. Instead of awaiting SC’s decision, Parrikar coaxed the leaseholders to pay stamp duty, possibly to strengthen their case for renewals. And now that the HC ruled in their favour he decides not to appeal against the order. Do we need to guess why? Recently, DGP Mohan referring to robberies defended himself by saying that he had already advised house and flat owners to have chowkidhars. Wonderful suggestion. But then, Mr. DGP, do we need you and the police? Why waste our money in paying salaries to you and your subordinates? NGOs and the National Green Tribunal, based in Pune were always anathema to Parrikar, who feels that his decisions are final and no one has the right to question them. He even wanted the NGT to be replaced by another in Goa. But now he wants to fund some NGO to take the question of diversion of Madhei water to NGT! Parrikar, who as LOP, was against casinos, not only allowed them to continue but even permitted a huge one of 1500 tables to replace one ten times smaller. Any guesses why? Illegal houses constructed in one’s own property are now being legalized through an Ordinance, when the Assembly has just concluded. Then why have construction licenses? What if a construction is detrimental to the neighbour or against environmental or infrastructure guidelines? Illegal gaddas and shanties, these without sanitation facilities, are multiplying by the day in Goa. Because the India Constitution, imposed on us, allows any Indian to settle anywhere, our small Goa is turning into a big slum, with no controls whatsoever. In Baina, huts reappeared after the demolition during Parrikar’s earlier tenure. They had to be demolished again recently. In Margao, at Monti Dongor, the slum continues on Communidade land, despite assurances and decisions to the contrary. Rehabilitation packages are always at hand, since illegalities were approved, encouraged or overlooked by the authorities/ elected representatives. Everything centres round the non-Goan vote bank. Very few Goans have the privilege of such facilities. Landlords have to submit information to the police about their tenants but the builders and slum dwellers are exempted, because they represent vote banks. Cannot terrorists come from amongst them? In property matters, the less I speak the better. Names are changed, land encroached or usurped and records are destroyed, mutilated, unavailable or illegible, making manipulations and forgeries easier. Cases in the courts are mounting by the day and do not get solved even after years. One could have easily written volumes on what is going wrong with the Government here. In fact, there is hardly anything right happening in this place. Our hopes of better governance have been dashed. If the Government is going to pander to vote banks and laws will not be enforced against them or the rich and powerful; if accountability is a dead word; if we have to go by the advice of the Police Chief to avoid robberies and of the CM to avoid threatening calls; if people do not prompt relief to injustice from Courts; in short if we have an insensitive and inactive Government that cannot make life easy and happy for us - do we still need one? 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