Panaji – Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat today wrote a letter to Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant demanding that the 60th year of Goa’s Liberation must be celebrated by helping the needy with 100 Crores Economic Revival Package & involvement of local Artists, Groups and Institutions. He has also stated in his strongly worded letter that Government must focus on Visionary Plans for Betterment of Goa and refrain from incurring huge expenditure when the State is in bad financial condition and people are suffering due to Covid Pandemic.
I object to the act of the Government to send the meeting notice to members of the Organising Committee of 60th Year of Goa Liberation constituted by the Government just on the previous day of the scheduled meeting. I received the notice of the meeting fixed on Tuesday 1st December 2020 at 4 pm at Porvorim on Monday 30th November Digambar Kamat has mentioned in his letter.
I would also like to place on record that I was neither contacted nor informed about inclusion of my name in the committee constituted by the Government. It appears that the meeting convened on Tuesday, 1st December 2020 is just a formality as the Agenda of the said meeting clearly indicates that Government has already made up its mind to Approve the proposal submitted by the Nodal Department viz. Department of Information and Publicity for the Celebration of 60th year of Goa’s Liberation. I am also placing on record that the proposal is not enclosed with the meeting notice. This makes it clear that the meeting is a mere formality to fulfil the procedural requirement Digambar Kamat has stated in his letter.
I have been contacted by some Freedom Fighters, Social Activists, Teachers, Artists and others from all across the State who have raised apprehensions about the proposal of the Government to spend huge amounts for organizing these celebrations during the on-going Covid Pandemic and its effects on the Economy of the State.
The Chief Minister himself has gone on record stating that the finances of the State are in bad condition. The Government is continuously borrowing money to meet with its revenue deficit Digambar Kamat wrote in his letter.
The Government has discontinued with the House Building Allowance Scheme due to financial constraints. The local Film Producers have not received any financial help for producing the films for almost 8 years. The beneficiaries of the Social Welfare Schemes like Gruh Aadhar, DSSY, Senior Citizens, Persons with Disability, Seafarers have not received their monthly pensions for last 6 months. The beneficiaries of the Laadli Laxmi Scheme are also awaiting Government to release their assistance pointed Digambar Kamat in his letter.
After the outbreak of Covid Pandemic and collapse of Economy due to unplanned Nationwide Lockdown, the marginalized sector has suffered the most and has come under huge financial burden resulting in collapse of every household budget. The Common man is looking for financial help from the Government to cope up with the current situation claimed Digambar Kamat.
I had submitted a “Road Map for Immediate Economic Revival of the State” vide letter no. LO/ERP/2/20, dated 14/5/2020 to the Chief Minister with a request to announce an Economic Revival Package of Rs. 100 Crores for Goa. Unfortunately, the Government has not taken any initiative to reach out to the marginalized sector whose suffering continues till date Digambar Kamat said.
I strongly feel that the real tribute to all those known and unknown Freedom Fighters who sacrificed their lives and fought for Liberation of Goa will be by extending helping hand to the needy. The Government must curtail expenditure on celebrations and focus on providing basic facilities to the Common man, especially during these testing times Digambar Kamat has urged.
Pointing out that during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Goa in 2011, the government constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of renowned Scientist Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, comprising of experts in various fields to prepare the “Vision Document -2035” to mark Golden Jubilee of Liberation of Goa in 2011 and the said Committee submitted its report to the Government in 2012. Unfortunately, no action has been taken by the Government to implement the said report till date. I urge that, present Government must immediately implement the said report which will help the State to overcome the current crises and will also be a step towards making Goa a Model State of India in this 60th year of its Liberation, Digambar Kamat wrote in his letter.
Digambar Kamat has also pointed out that his Government had given grants to the Municipalities and Panchayats as part of Golden Jubilee Celebrations to create Signature Projects in 2011.
The Goenche Daiz Scheme initiated by Congress Government is kept in abeyance since 2012. The said scheme was made to help small occupationists like Fulkar, Kakankar, Khajekar, Render, Poder, Motor Cycle Pilot, Gold Artisans etc. Today, when we mark 60 years of Liberation it is important that these occupationists are given help. I urge that Government must immediately implement the said Scheme stated Digambar Kamat.
I appeal to the Chief Minister to ensure that all the pending applications of Children of Freedom Fighters are cleared on first priority, which will be a real tribute to the Freedom Fighters of Goa, Digambar Kamat said.
State Level functions can be organized in association with Freedom Fighters Association, Department of Art & Culture, Goa Konkani Academy, Goa Marathi Academy, Institute Menezes Braganza, Goa University and various Social and Cultural Groups of Goa to mark the 60 years of Goa Liberation strictly with the participation of the local Artists & Groups and by engaging the services of the locals with minimum budget Leader of Opposition wrote.
The Government must also focus on Visionary Plans for Betterment of Goa.
