Posted on : 28-07-2020

It seems to have become a trend that priority issues that I had raised in a pre-emptive manner more than 2-3 months back with clear projections and solutions BUT PURPOSEFULLY sidelined by CMOs have now become critical issues with the Government having no clue as to what needs to be done despite the fact that I had brought each of these issues to the notice of the Government well in advance.

If a Government keeps turning a Nelson’s eye to the projections and suggestions of Elected Representatives, than what voice will the general public have and how can such a Government call itself as a democratic entity?

If the welfare of the people is not the main business of a Government, then I wonder what is its actual business?

To be more specific, WHAT IS THE BUSINESS OF GOA GOVERNMENT HEADED BY DR. PRAMOD SAWANT if not public welfare??

Coming to the point of Online Education, it may be appreciated that I have made my point much earlier to that the future lies in Online Schooling to tide over not just the pandemic times but also to keep up with the changing trends in education.

While the CM is still thinking of obtaining a database of those not having mobiles/laptops and net connectivity, I had already highlighted this problem 3 months back alongwith suggestions that a clear database need to be kept ready regarding this before we launched Online Schooling. I had also suggested that local self government bodies, panchayats, etc should be included in the drive to provide the same for those economically marginalised students who cannot afford a smartphone or net connectivity.

I am shocked to note that the Intranet Services that the Govt. could easily solve the problem of Online Schooling is still in the doldrums. Even now, I am ready to take the challenge to make it happen and I have committed myself to no less than the CM of Goa in the august presence of the Speaker and other members of Goa Assembly.

Educational Future of our children is a very serious matter but the CM and the Government seems to be treating it as a mundane affair with no seriousness. Teachers, parents and above all Students are being taken for granted and this rotten Government apathy will eat into an entire generation if not struck down at the root immediately.

Solutions should be permanent and long lasting in this field because Online Schooling is here to stay so temporary solutions and mishandled SOPs shouldn’t plague this sector as it is in all other sectors of the CMOs anarchy and ill-governance.

Whether the Government proactively reacts to my suggestions is a matter of doubt and hence, I take it upon myself to launch a “Spare a Mobile Phone Challenge” in my constituency wherein I urge anyone who can to donate a working smartphone to “Porvorim Rising” which will ensure a transparent transfer of the instrument to needy students in my constituency and also to the neighbouring constituencies as per availability.

I urge the CM to be clear with the directives atleast on this sensitive subject of Education because it concerns the very future of our children. We cannot fail them on this aspect.

I had prepared for a discussion on many other relevant issues but due to the arbitrary handling of the Assembly session I decided to raise my voice on the most sensitive subject of Online Schooling because this concerns the very future of our children which directly means the future of Goa.

It’s been but a non-constructive dialogue since the CM who’s also handling the Education portfolio was totally unaware of the problems plaguing this Department. He couldn’t offer any credible solutions to the queries and kept on harping that he will look into the matter and his usual stance that he’s studying on the subject. I am beginning to wonder who’s the real student of today. I am finding it difficult to find a line of connection between Education Department and CM as I hang my head in shame at such a pitiful state of affairs in a Department under the direct control of the Head of State.

The Shakespearean tragedy that began with the Accidental Elevation of Pramod Sawant to the CMs Chair has ended today with the last scene enacting the Murder of Democracy on the stage of Goa’s Assembly.

Corona pandemic has once again proved to be an effective tool for the Autocratic Doctor to suffocate the voices of the Elected Representatives as well as the people of Goa who were expecting relief on a plethora of issues ranging from Mollem, illegal mining, IIT fiasco, Electricity bills, monsoon related matters, rehabilitation of seafarers and expat Goans who have come back, providing rejuvenation packages to small and medium scale businesses that were either shut down or have lost business following the pandemic and above all, the stand of the Government on the terrifying and deathly Covid situation.

Instead of using the Assembly session to address such highly sensitive subjects and bringing in a sense of confidence and calm and discussing economic relief measures, our CM has gone ahead with his usual business of Autocratic imposition of his corrupt agenda…

If the CM was as clean as he wants everyone to believe then the Assembly was the most oppurtune stage to prove himself clear of all the scams and corruption levelled against him and his brood.

Today seems to be a day of Dark Records in Goa, in the first half the Autocratic CM passed a record number of bills in the one day Assembly Session gimmick after bundling out the Opposition from the Assembly which is considered the seat of Democracy and then by evening Goa today recorded the highest number of Covid cases per day by clocking 258 and also crossing the 5K active cases mark.

Sometime back I had said that if the autocracy of CM Pramod Sawant continues its present run then our present generation will directly experience Salazar’s dictatorial reign.

The Lokayukta had prophesied with much foresight “God alone can save Goa”.