Dear Averthan,
Goa needs a 'Systemic Change' in its Governance.
Goa Su-Raj has initiated it in its 'Road Map for Goa' and mostly in its
'disciplined' CONSTITUTION.
Further, in its by-laws, it is mandatory that the cabinet meeting be held
each working day from Monday to Friday for cabinet ministers to compare
notes. They can question each other on the working of various departments
through suggestions and down-right objections to things not liked. The name
of the game is CO-ORDINATION to work for Goa. Not to work for oneself as is
the case presently or in the past.
If you agree with this 'System of Cabinet functioning' pls accept it.
Ofcourse you may reject it at your own risk or rather Goa's risk.
BTW your write-up is well appreciated.
B/rgds
floriano
goasuraj
----- Original Message -----
From: "Averthan D'Souza" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Goanet" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 5:42 AM
Subject: [Goanet] Disjointed government.
Dear Editor,
The newspapers inform us that the Director of Tourism has
submitted an Affidavit to the High Court of Bombay at Goa in which he has
averred that "he has not been receiving cooperation from other departments
in taking action against illegal shacks. They have no problem in getting
electricity connection and permission to serve liquour even when Tourism
Department raises objection. Shacks can't serve food without permission
from FDA but there's no action when a shack operates illegally." If this
information is accurate, it exposes a very serious malfunction in the Goa
Government. It confirms the apprehension which citizens have had for a
long time, that each Department of the Government functions independently
of every other Department. For the Tourism Department to publicly
acknowledge this in an Affidavit is sufficient proof of this. What is
extremely disturbing is the fact that not only is there no coordination
among the different Departments, but that they actually work at cross
purposes with one another.
It is a sure sign of disintegration of government, when a
Department has to appeal to the High Court to bring about coordination
among the different Departments. What is the Chief Minister doing? Is
there no Cabinet which functions as the coordinating centre?
We have known for a long time that each Minister functions as a
feudal lord who is supreme in his own Department. There have been too
many instances in which one Minister has actually undermined the efforts
of another because he considered the project an 'intrusion' into 'his'
constituency.
The result of such disjointed governance is quite obvious to the
citizens - that one Minister works to undermine the works of another,
resulting in confusion and utter unplanned development. The supposedly
"Cabinet" form of government is a myth: it simply does not exist. This
is a serious failure of both the Congress as well as the BJP governments.
Coalition governments have made coordinated administration even more
difficult.
The only sign of hope on this dismal horizon is the grassroots
movements in the local Panchayats and Gram Sabhas which are beginning to
gain momentum.
Yours truly,
Averthanus L. D'Souza,
