Unqualified And Unwothy Ministers And Chairpersons The Chairman of GIDC and Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar has been in the news for the last couple of weeks, but for all the wrong reasons. Most of our present MLA’s and Ministers have been shining examples of the rags to riches phenomena and Babu Kavlekar has not been any different. Most of the dedicated and highly qualified people in Goa have to struggle for a long time for financial success, sometimes even for decades, some in the end get lucky, others don’t, but for our lesser or nil educated politicians in Goa, becoming a MLA or a Minister is a jackpot, thereby attaining financial success overnight. I am sure by now most, if not every Goan knows the secret behind this success.
The Goa Vidhan Sabha at present is a vivid and appropriate example of this incredible phenomena and most of the millionaire veterans are now all set to launch their sprouts and spouses legal or otherwise in to the money spinning machine called Goan politics. No education nor history in anti social activity is bar in Goan politics as we have a number of ministers who are not even eighth standard pass and some tainted personalities even with underground connections shoving Law and policies on to us. Babu Kavlekar’s “madka” connection is no secret and now it in the news that he too will be launching his better half into the quagmire of Goan politics, as though one Kavlekar was not enough. On a number of occasions and on a number of forums I have previously written about the shady deals and frauds by the GIDC with regards to the Canaguinim Food Park and Auxiliaries Services, where disproportionate amount of land has been acquired without any explanation nor planning in the name of development and against the wishes of the people of that locality who are strongly opposing this anomaly. Babu Kavlekar had promised that the Food Park and the Auxiliary Services project would be scraped but unfortunately even after strong opposition from the people the same Project along with another anomaly called the Marinas has been imposed through the RP2021 on the people. Obviously there is only one explanation why Babu Kavlekar has been promoting real estate through the GIDC. The policies of our Government to appoint party men and well wishers, who are ill-equipped, unworthy and unqualified, as Chairpersons and Presidents of Public Corporations and Public bodies instead of professionals is utterly flawed and that is the reason that these bodies are non-performing and obviously defunct. Even though it is specified that the post of the GIDC Chairman should be given to a person with specific qualification, for reasons best known to him, our CM, Digambar Kamat offered the unqualified Babu Kavlekar the Chairmanship of GIDC, who has no special or appropriate qualifications for the post. As is customary in Goan politics the MLA’s who have the money power and who are the loudest, are given the more affluent and commercially viable Ministries and the rest are dolled out Chairmanships of public corporations, either way it’s the “modus operandi” to siphon the exchequer. Each one taking advantage of their political clout to enhance their own personal fortunes, this is the only reason that they have joined politics and now, they are all ready to make Goan politics their family business and fiefdom. Salazar may have been forced to leave Goa in 1961 but our Goan Czars, who are worse than Salazar, are now bleeding Goa to death and if we want to save Goa, now is the time, be alert and watchful, elections are just round the corner, if we are “Niz Goykars” together we can do it, together we can save Goa, but the only question is do we want to save Goa ? Do we ? Freddy Agnelo Fernandes