TARA KERKAR

The master executor, the master planner and face of the masses was what he was called in the past. Now his own supporters are not too happy with him.

Right from the day when Manohar Parrikar took charge of the state, the expectations were high. He might not be the ultimate ruler, but certainly, he had made a mark for himself during his earlier tenures. 2012 saw Parrikar riding the wave of popularity and winning the election. What is interesting is that the speed and intensiveness in which he came to power. Then, with the same speed he left for Delhi.
The election of 2017 saw the expected results as few of the BJP Ministers were outrightly rude, unjust and failed to deliver. The corruption was high and people’s issues were pushed to the corner.
Being a part of social activist movement through my NGO ‘Savera’ my encounter with the politicians and police is not new. I have been regularly travelling on my two-wheeler across the length and breadth of the state. I can certainly say that Savera is one amongst the few NGOs which is active and can bank on for taking the cause to its logical end.
Before we actually sum up the achievements or failures of Parrikar-led government over last 100 days, I have to place my thoughts at the backdrop of Parsekar rule.
Keep aside several agitations that I led to give justice to the people due to which I even landed in a jail, the latest one is about the issue of policemen who were served bad food on the duty during BRICS.
I was instrumental in moving applications under RTI and nail the culprits. I had even handed over the letter to the then Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar who did nothing. I am sure, now when he went home after defeat, he must have carried back such several letters which were addressed to him and he systematically ignored.
There are several such issues which were raised before the BJP government but they did not get any response. This is perhaps one of the reasons why BJP’s strength came down from 21 to 13. And mind you, 13 is lucky number of Parrikar.
That 13 number made the usual trick for him and with the help of Goa Forward party, MGP and Independents he came sliding down from Delhi to Porvorim to be the Chief Minister of the state.
I know that 100 days is usually a very less time to judge the performance of any government. But certainly, it is not such a less time that nothing can be judged. The initial actions of Parrikar do not mirror the charisma that he had during 2012. He is no more working like a Chief Minister of the masses.
The master executor, the master planner and face of the masses was what he was called in the past. Now his own supporters are not too happy with him. So also the organisations like us.
Government is a continuous process; hence Parrikar cannot just wash his hands from what he has inherited from Parsekar. I am writing this article after going through the common minimum programme which he launched recently.
The most striking lie that one can nail in common minimum programme is about off shore casinos. Parrikar who had assured to move out off shore casinos from river Mandovi had mentioned about his assurance but has not put up any deadline. So there is nothing new in it. Parrikar during his earlier tenure has been bargaining for time on off shore casino issue, but every time he used to give another deadline. This time too he has done a smarter thing, the deadline is infinity.
One important issue that we have been following up is about inefficient Goa State Women’s Commission. The commission has not done anything for the women in the state. They have been sitting on a heap of complaints. The paper tiger body was exposed by Savera by bringing the real affected women who were not entertained by its chairman Vidya Tanavade.
If Parrikar was actually serious about women’s issues he would have changed the commission and not let the rut continue. There has to be efficiency in the women’s commission. He should not allow those so-called social workers who enjoy perks of the state government and do nothing.
It has been 100 days and Parrikar did not get time to meet any of the NGOs. He should understand that NGOs are important part of the democracy and governance. We have been doing the semi-government work, helping the needy. Our views should also have been reflected in the common minimum programme.
To sum up everything, I feel that it is difficult to expect any big achievements from the current government, considering the fact that there is no political unanimity in it.
The issues of the people will linger for next five years. I would be happy if the day comes when people will not have to come to a NGO and their work would be done by government machinery. The day should come when NGOs should search for the cases and cases should not come to them. This seems to be difficult and with over two decade experience of working with the people, I have left no hopes from Parrikar-led government.