With some of the expenditure details yet to come in, the Goa Government has already incurred an expenditure of over Rs 12, 60, 000 on the four day Global Goans Convention which was held at London from July 22nd to July 25th this year. This has been revealed in information obtained under the Right to Information Act.
The expenditure incurred includes a financial assistance of Rs 6, 11, 231 ( GBP 8500) given to the Goan Association (UK). An amount of Rs 1, 43, 957 was spent on the airfare of Mr. Eduardo Faleiro, Commissioner of NRI affairs from Goa to London and back. The airfare of Mr. U.D.Kamat, Director of NRI Affairs however cost Rs 45, 189. The authorities have been unable to explain as to why the airfare of Mr. Eduardo Faleiro cost the Goan tax payer three times more that that of Mr. U.D.Kamat. Mr. Eduardo Faleiro and Mr. U.D.Kamat were also paid a daily cash allowance of GBP 388.78 from 20th July to 27th July amounting to a total of Rs 28.533 each. They both stayed at a deluxe four star hotel Crown Plaza London - St James and the bill of their lodging and boarding there is still awaited. A dinner hosted by Mr. Eduardo Faleiro at London on 21st July for the office bearers of the Goan Association (UK) cost the Goan tax payer an additional Rs 19,162. An amount of Rs 2, 34,611 was spent on the lodging, boarding and transportation within London for the 14 member cultural group that was flown in from Goa. An amount of Rs 29, 930 was also spent on their rail fare to Mumbai and back to complete the UK Visa formalities. The airfare of this 14 member group from Goa to London was sponsored by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, New Delhi and the total amount of expenditure incurred on their Goa – London - Goa travel is still awaited. So also the expenditure incurred on the daily allowance paid to each of this 14 member group. While Rs 66,787 was spent on the airfare of a Guest speaker Dr Damodar Sardesai who had flown in from Los Angelos another Guest speaker Dr. Teotonio De Souza who flew in from Lisbon cost Rs 23, 620. The Goa Government also further incurred an expenditure of Rs 21, 508 on designing and decor of banners for the convention while the miscellanous expense amounted to Rs 6, 938. Most if not all the above expenditure was unnecessary and avoidable. One should not wine, dine and make merry at the cost of the State exchequer. In one way or the other it all amounts to Corruption. The moot question however is whether the Goa Government which does not have the money to fund the much needed garbage disposal plant at Bainguinim can squander money in lakhs. And that too while thousands of Senior citizens are queued up for their old age pension and are being told that the State coffers are empty. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
