Not an Inch of Land will be Surrendered, Nor a Drop of Blood will go in Vain, is the stand of our PM and every Indian should fully support it.

Cutting across political differences I pledge my allegiance to the PMs cause of India’s Sovereignty and Integrity.
We stand as one today against the aggressor who’s challenged our borders.
Every son/daughter of India looks upto the PM who gave a fitting reply to Pulwama and I trust that Galwan too will be avenged.

We expect the PM to find a permanent and surgical solution to the border skirmishes that keep taking the lives of our Jawans because we have been soft pedalling the issues for decades for the sake of peace in the region but this is being taken as our weakness. It’s time that the PM gives a free hand to the military to assert itself and make the enemy realise that we will no longer be complacent and that we shall not refrain from retaliating with force on a larger scale.

At this juncture I am not a Politician but just a true blooded son of Bharat Mata who believes that the Leader of the Nation will ensure the sanctity of our borders… That the sacrifices of our Bravehearts will not go in vain… That no aggressor will dare again to challenge our Motherland.

It is my duty to Bharatmata that I stand with the PM because a United National Spirit is the need of the hour and I expect the PM to show the enemy and the world that we will not tolerate any attack on our sovereignty… That the life of each Jawan is worthy of an allout war.

Our Armed Forces have time and again proved thier mettle.

Be it the fitting reply in Uri, combating terrorism or providing relief during natural calamities, our Bravehearts have always stood by its countrymen and now it’s time for each one of us to Stand as One India in support of those who are guarding our borders.

China’s purpose in these border skirmishes is to halt the economic progress of India.

The rising economy of India is a threat to China’s plans of total economic control of the world.

It wants to put a stop to India’s march ahead as a Super Power and with USA taking a backseat, the real contender to China’s world dominance is India, so it wants to thwart our surge by diverting our attention and resources.

The move to revoke contracts to Chinese firms should be immediately implemented and we should push further not just boycotting Chinese products but Making in India so as to defeat the Chinese at their own game.
Atmanirbharta has become equally important as Atmabhiman for realising our dream of becoming a Strong Nation with a stable and self sufficient economy.
It’s time for every Indian to be a soldier in his/her own small ways and fight not just the Border Incursion but also the Market Incursions by China.

India’s ascension on to the World scenario and elevation in the UN Security Council are all a setback to China’s dream of controlling the world.
We have a sad history of our neighbours repeatedly putting impediments in our stability and growth.
It is also indeed a shame that even now within India, certain elements are opposing the PM and questioning the actions of our Defence Forces when the need of the hour is to stand together against the common enemy. Any person or party that expresses its dissent now is the real Enemy within.
The nation expects the PM to come up with a decisive plan of action to follow up his strong statement and it is the duty of every Indian cutting across all socio-political differences to give TOTAL SUPPORT to the PM and our Soldiers.
The message should be loud and clear that United India is Powerful India and that we are in no mood to compromise but will surge ahead Powerfully… That our resilience is for Peace but if challenged, we are capable of crushing any enemy knocking at our borders.
It’s time we showed the world that we are capable of catching the Chinese dragon by its tail and taming it down.

Jai Jawan… Jai Hind!

The Government of Goa under Murkhamantri Pramod Sawant has dealt another blow of ungratefulness against the Covid Warriors of the state by increasing the interest rate on House Building Allowance from 2% to 7.5% thus putting our Govt Servants in financial crisis. It is these very Medical Staff, Policemen, Firefighters and all our other government employees who have given their very best in small/big ways in the fight against Corona and instead of showing gratitude, this CM and his Govt has going to break the morale of the Government servants. They have been risking their lives to ensure healthcare, smooth administration and disaster management but our CM has proved once again that non of his policies are pro-Goan activities but only anti-Goan. No Leader in his good sense would take such steps that demoralise his army but then we don’t have a Leader but a Pappu leading Goa and Pappu’s are famous for their nonsense, yet its sad that this time around it is our Covid Warriors who have become the target of his nonsensical administration. Our Covid Warriors have already contributed to the PMs/CMs salary challenge and are facing DA freeze upto January 2021. The dream of a roof above ones head is not a luxury but a basic necessity yet the CM in his Arrogance finds it necessary to shatter the dreams of our Government servants who have planned for their little abodes of happiness. The increase in interest rate of HBA (House Building Advance) is going to topple the slim balance that the Government servant is maintaining between his salary and expenses and most will be either forced to stop the construction of their homes or resort to more loans which result in further financial burdens on them. On one side the CM speaks of reviving the economy and on the other hand he increases the rate of HBA, what stupid logic is this ? If he really means to revive the economy and provide a livelihood to the marginalised population then the first thing he needs to do is revive the concerned industry and even a Pappu in his limited intelligence should realise that lowering HBA interests is one of the best ways to boost the sector & the economy…But since he’s doing just the opposite, I doubt whether I am causing insult to the word “Pappu” because our CM doesn’t seem to have the minimal intelligence of even a “Pappu”. Any Administrator worth his salt would realise that this is the most inopportune time to lock horns with government staff as this is the time to gain all forms of support in the war against Corona but then our CM seems to be more interested in his proxy war against Goans as each of his actions show, whether it be the SOPs, his blind support to Michael, the unpreparedness for online schooling, inaction in containment of hotspots or this decision to increase the HBA, all these reflect an anti-people attitude… It is these decisions of the CM and his Government that promotes me and every self-respecting Goan to think that there really is some hidden agenda to destroy Goa in every possible manner but the WHY is not clear and I think its time the CM either clears his stand or clears the seat of the CM…

It’s absolutely shocking that Goa has gone from 0 to 464+ in less than a month and I am forced to recall the fact that whenever I warned the CM and this Government of this imminent scenario, I was blamed for creating undue panic BUT atleast now I hope that those who were barking against my projections will stop barking, put their tails between their legs and scoot away so that some real action can now be taken albeit very-very late to save Goa from a macabre scene of death all around… The present community spread scenario could have been avoided if the Government had heeded to my appeal to stop trains bringing in non Goans or to put it more precisely Quarantine Tourists to Goa… When my repeated appeals were unheard by the CM, I took the initiative on 17th May to write to Shri.Piyush Goel because our CMs ears were filled with the venomous lead of Michael Lobo’s Quarantine Tourism and he could only hear the sweet ringing of coins in lieu of the money bags received from the Casino lobby… It’s not out of any personal animosity or political motives that I have been vocal against Michael rather it’s only because the highly unethical and dangerous practices that are going on in Calangute under his patronage in the name of Quarantine Tourism, will be catastrophic for entire Goa… He’s blatantly misusing his powers and proximity to the CM to misguide the CM and the Goa Government to fill his coffers and it’s very sad that the CM is hand in gloves with him… With the direct support of the CM and kickbacks from the Hotel lobby, Michael Lobo is becoming No.1 threat to the wellbeing of Goa… We can expect the worst of unexpected from this epitome of Greed and Corruption and the way he changes his colors will put even a chameleon to shame… And he dares to keep doing it because he’s got the full support of Dr.Corruption and both of them are upto thier necks in muddy mix of Quarantine Tourism, Illegal Mining, Labour Scam, Ration Scam and every other imaginable opportunity to make money… You’ll know that I have made continuous efforts to bring to the notice of the CM and Government that it’s methodology in handling the Corona crisis is inefficient and now sadly I have been proven correct…it’s indeed sad that despite my best efforts, I couldn’t avert this situation… Way back on 25th May, I had raised my concerns regarding the efficacy of the haphazardly formulated SOPs of COVID control…I have been repeatedly pointing out the loopholes in the testing system, need for preparedness in wake of opening up borders but sadly, my voice fell on deaf ears of Ignorance & Arrogance… On 3rd June I seriously projected my anxiety of Community transmission following the Mangor Hill incident and even before that I have been expressing my genuine concern for the wellbeing of Goenkars by opposing the halt of trains in Goa that did not carry Goans, influx from the porous borders of Maharashtra, the callous attitude of CMs office to increasing numbers of COVID cases etc.. I have been very loud in bringing to the notice of the Administration that Goa is going from Green to Red but nobody seemed to listen as everyone was more interested in following the example of the CM and his partner Michael Lobo making money out of the relaxations… This finally forced me to write to the Prime Minister on 8th June followed by a Reminder on 10th June and I am hopeful that this time around, the Centre will put party politics aside and think in terms of the safety and wellbeing of Goans… I have left no stone unturned in highlighting the difficulties faced by our most dedicated Medical Fraternity and have done whatever possible within my means for thier welfare and I again remind the Government that with the rapid increase in positive cases, our small Medical staff will not be able to handle the situation and it’s time to seek the help of Army Medical Corps and also requisition Isolation Coaches from Railways failing which our COVID patients will have to be dumped on the streets, I have already projected this in my letter to the Prime Minister… I would also like to recall my request to Prime Minister for deployment of Central Security forces to ensure total containment in hotspots like Vasco, Chimbel etc because our Police personnel are too stressed out and over-worked beyond thier capacities… Goa has lost the advantage of Lockdown-1 due to the foolishness of the CM, his nonsensical SOPs and the greed of him and his cohorts in exacting their profits of sin by taking advantage of the relaxations by MHA… And because the CM and Goa Government failed to maintain the Green status with stringent measures, we’re now in the middle of Community transmission and heading towards Lockdown-2… I request on behalf of every Goenkar to put aside their sinister games and give priority to the life of Goans…it’s my most vociferous appeal to give importance not to Preserve Livelihood but to Preserve Goan Life… Every step that this Government takes henceforth should be based on ensuring that not a single Goan life is lost to Corona…

While it’s quite evident that in these pandemic times, regular schooling wouldn’t be advisable and that e-schooling or Online Schooling is the next best alternative, there are many hurdles in implementing online Schooling…

The Education Department should study the scenario and moreover take inputs from the teaching community, parents and students before going ahead with the plans…

The SOP for Online Schooling should not be like the ones issued and and re-issued for Corona control…

Kerala has already been witness to the first victim of Unprepared Online Schooling…

Devika, a class 9th student committed suicide on the very first day of online classes as she couldn’t partake in the online class since the TV in her poor home wasn’t repaired for want of money and owning a smartphone was a luxury beyond her parents capacity…

We should take a lesson from this and ensure that no budding life in Goa is lost due to the non-preparedness of the Education Department…

This calls for a well planned strategy to ensure that every single student is included in the online classes from day one…

Network issues, bandwidth, accessibility to internet service, uninterrupted power supply are some of the few things that need to put in place before launching Online Schooling…

We have a lot of talented students coming from impoverished families who cannot afford a TV or smartphone and the Government machinery and funds needs to be put to honest purpose of providing the means for online schooling to each student…

We also need to be prepared for monsoon related problems like network disruption and power outages while planning online classes…

If need be, access should be provided to the computer’s, laptop’s, projectors etc available with Panchayats and other local bodies so that those children who don’t have the facilities in their homes for online Schooling can depend on the facilities available with Panchayats/local bodies…

I don’t want to be a critic on this sensitive topic but at the same time I am afraid from precedence that this Government will mess up the online schooling process just as it’s done with everything else…

I appeal with a very humble heart to the CM and his Government not to bring politics atleast into this subject nor try to find opportunities for corrupt practices of making money in supply of online materials…

This concerns the future of our children and the future development of Goa…

Our children are looking upto us for providing them with a good education, safety of life and a better future…

This subject needs a better understanding and should not be treated as a mundane government task because failure in this task is failing shamefully in the eyes of children who are of the future of Goa…

As a parent myself there’s another serious concern that I would like to share with all the parents of Goa…Please keep a strict watch on the online activities of your children otherwise the access to internet for online schooling might be misused by the children and lead them down the wrong path…So as parents, let’s all be more vigilant about the internet access of our children and keep them safe from the dark side of internet….

Now, I would like to diverge from Online Schooling just to keep reminding that total containment of hotspots is the need of the hour…the situation in Chimbel is very alarming because the entire labour for Tiswadi and the neighbouring areas comes from Chimbel and if total containment is not implemented then it will spread like wildfire and our capital Panaji will be like the national capital or Mumbai…

CM and Goa Government seems to be adamant on carryingon with its stupid nothing to worry attitude and its quite evident why….the money bags from Casino Lobby, Hotel lobby etc are showing their weight even in the desperate situation of community transmission…

That’s why the Goa Government is downplaying it as just local transmission…

This wordplay doesn’t change the fact that more and more people are being infected…when the house is on fire, you don’t debate on whether the candle or the lamp started the fire, the priority is to put down the fire…

Instead of immediate large scale testing, total containment, imposing strict vigil on quarantined persons and taking up with the Centre for continuance of Total Lockdown and closure of borders, our CM and his alter-ego Michael Lobo are more intent on keeping their unholy promises to those from whom they have taken money bags to Unlock Goa at the earliest….

Michael Lobo never cared for Lockdown and used his position to bring Goa to this stage by pushing Quarantine Tourism, issuing passes left and right to freely come in and go out of Goa, of course for a price…

While Goans are squirming in fear, he’s holding grand parties…

All this with the most UnHoly blessing of the CM….

Our Dotor CM in his inglorious medical ignorance is downplaying the true facts and delaying the official announcement of Community transmission thus repeating the mistake that WHO did…

If WHO had declared it a pandemic much earlier, many a nation’s would have put preventive protocols in place and saved many more lives…

And now our CM is perhaps trying to revisit Goa’s Latin connection by enacting Jair Bolsonaro, the Butcher of Brazil who has taken Brazilian’s to thier doom with his nonsensical approach to Corona…

Just like the Favellas(slums) of Rio de Janiero that have become the most concentrated hotspots of COVID in the world, very soon our own slums in Chimbel, Fukatwadi, etc will also follow suit…

It doesn’t take much intelligence and capacity to absorb suggestions to understand the brewing of an infectious spread of uncontrollable proportions…

There’s an urgent necessity to undertake swab testing in the hotspots which will reveal the grim reality or we can take the deadly wait and watch stance of the CM and face the fatalities very soon…

Why is it that Goa Government wants a few deaths before it takes the drastic actions necessary, this isn’t a political fight…this is the fight for our existence…

For some very sinister reasons the ratio of testing is purposely kept very low to hide the high level of community spread in Goa…

The lethargic attitude of the CM and his Administration is beyond understanding and perhaps our Doctor Fraud, should share his medical wisdom with us so that we too can understand why Goans shouldn’t be worried about Corona while the entire world is trembling in fear of Corona…What is the special immunity about Goans that our Dr.CM has discovered in his laboratory of macabre experiments that makes him so careless about COVID in Goa?

It seems that Dr.Jekyll is conducting horrific experiments alongwith his sidekick Dr.Michel Lobo, on the people of Goa and if not a vaccine then definitely thier experiments kill all Goans like lab rats…

The Administration in its vanity has decided to go ahead with UNLOCK-1 but the fact remains that it’s we humans in our ignorance that have decided to unlock, BUT CORONA HAS NOT…

Governments are looking at the economic disadvantages of lockdown ignoring the first clarion call given by PM Modiji of “Jaan hain toh Jahaan hain”.

Our Dr.CM has gone one step ahead to tell us that there’s nothing to be afraid about Corona and that “ALL IS WELL” in Goa, maybe he has seen the movie ‘3 Idiots’ too many times or maybe with such kind of a macabre attitude being adopted by the Senapati, we Goans are doomed and our future is in God’s hands now, reminding me of the Lokayukta’s comment that God alone can save Goa from such corrupt and imbecile government headed by our Pappu CM….

Our SOPs seems to be like some Doomsday Philosophy wherein all caution is thrown to the winds in the belief that everything will either be doomed or will correct itself automatically by some miracle…Yes, in the present scenario, Goa does need a Miracle but for that we need a Miracle Man and our Mr.Pramod Sawant is definitely not that person because his lackadaisical attitude reflects either an Anti-Goan stand or that of a Buffon, either way, he is no more the Leader of Goa…

Every State has the freedom to decide whether to implement Unlock-1 and with the Damocles Sword of Community Transmission hanging over our heads, it’s absolutely anti-people to go ahead with Unlock-1 when the need of the hour is a total containment of the hotspots and total lockdown of our porous borders…

There is a need to undertake an emergency repatriation of all Goans outside Goa fixing a target date after which the borders should be sealed tight to fight it out with the virus and emerge victorious like New Zealand, we Goans can surely do it but sadly there is no political willpower to take the right decisions…

Open Groupings following Unlock-1 are going to be the breeding grounds for the spread of the virus and it is my humble appeal to the people of Goa that although the Government is issuing relaxations on the lockdown, this is not the time to give up on the healthy practices that we have been undertaking…we are already seeing people moving around without masks, not using sanitizers or not maintaining the requisite social distancing. We should remember that unlike non-adherence to Helmet rule where only you will be killed here non-adherence to Covid Protocols will result in us becoming killers of a multitude of people…

By believing our foolhardy CM and his administration, we will only be giving a free ride to Corona to every nook and corner of Goa and of course into our homes…

Unless there is an absolute emergency do not avail the relaxations and take back Corona into your homes…it is time we applied our minds and started taking care of ourselves instead of believing in these dimwits…

We Goans are now forced to go into war with Corona without the Senapati and his Captains because they have proved themselves as a bunch of imbeciles unfit to lead the army of the Goan Janata…

And while we Goans are fighting Corona without a Senapati, I implore the Government to prepare themselves for a bigger flareup as predicted by WHO/AIIMS and take urgent action to increase the bed strength by tying up with Private Hospitals, ensure a steady supply of test kits, undertake large scale testing and provide all assistance to the already over-worked Medical Fraternity…

I also call for relief measures to be undertaken on a war footing to those economically marginalised population in whose name the Government is trying to bring in relaxations. This is not the time to think about providing employment opportunities, rather it’s time to provide an opportunity to remain Alive…If the Government cannot take care of its marginalised population by providing them with food and other basic facilities in times of strife, then what good is a government for them…Its time Goa Government stopped thinking in terms of Revenue Loss and started thinking in terms of Loss of Life…

And meanwhile, let us take charge of our lives and remember that while we are just a number for the Goverment, for our Family, we are the world and each one of us has to take care of ourselves and our fellow citizens by adhering strictly to Covid norms…I pledge my full support to every Goan in this fight for our existence…

I wrote a letter to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting his intervention in managing the spread of COVID 19 in Goa. Given the callous attitude of Goa’s CM, this was a necessary step we needed to take!

As if the accusations being leveled against the CM and his cohorts by the Opposition, Environmentalists, and others weren’t enough, now the Lokayukta which is the most Impartial Authority in the Country has directly alleged abetting of Corruption by the CM and his Co-Respondents.

By declining to follow the directives of the Lokayukta, the CM has taken Corruption to a level never seen before.

This has forced the Lokayukta to present the inaction of the CM before the Governor.

Every Goan is put to shame by the action of their CM who has failed to adhere to the directives of Lokayukta, an Authority which was formed to uphold the Principles of Democracy.

But then what else can we expect from this power-hungry Autocratic CM for whom Democracy is a hurdle to his Greedy and Power Hungry dreams.

For people like him and his cohorts who follow ‘Corruption Dharma’ the Lokayukta is their biggest Enemy.

It’s a Black Day for Goa when the Leader of the State is compared to Dhritrashtra by Lokayukta.

Mr.Pramod Sawant who became the Accidental CM has to definitely show “PartyMoh” and go by the Central dictates so that he can continue in power and fill his coffers.

This modern-day Dhritrashtra is blinded by the color of money and his only aim is total control of every illegal activity that will bring in money whether it be Quarantine Tourism or Illegal Mining.

He who keeps vouching by honesty as if he’s Dharamaraj should have immediately acted on the directives of the Lokayukta but if he acts honestly on Mining Scam-2015, then how will he mint money in Mining Scam-2020.

I have repeatedly stressed that the ultimate aim of Mining Approval 2020 is Illegal Mining after this last and final season of  Illegal Mining Games our Sundor Sobit Goa will look like a barren lunar landscape.

But surely the CM has met his match in the Lokayukta. His refusal to act upon the directives have made the intentions of this corrupt autocrat very clear to the Goans.

The Lokayukta is the People’s Power in a Democracy but Autocratic rulers have never accepted people’s power and our CM whom I have been comparing to Stalin from day one is the epitome of the most Corrupt Autocrat that Goa has ever seen.

His total disregard for the Lokayukta is just another facet of his anti-Goan stand shown by his disregard for the safety of Goans from Corona.

It’s a clear indicator of the coming times and it’s high time we ouster this Accidental CM before he lays Goa bare with his Mining Scam-2020.

If we still fail to see through the murky politics of this Accidental CM and keep silent then the destruction of Goa will not be Accidental but Murder by Silence as Goa and the Goan Entity will die a ghastly death by a virus more dangerous than Corona i.e. the virus of Corruption being spread by Mr.Pramod Sawant who aims to be the CM of Red Zone and Corruption Zone, simultaneously.

We have just had our Goa Statehood Day last week, let’s take a pledge to Save Goa from this CM who’s Corruption Personified.

If we don’t catch this Corrupt Bull by its horns then it will gore down our hills and forests and leave our beautiful Goa bleeding to death.

He’s truly Dhritrashtra who remains silent while his sons(partners in crime) disrobe Goa and leave it naked.

Its time for Dharmyudh, to save Goa for our future generations by ousting this Adharmi and his Kaurav Sena.

This blatant act of ignoring Lokayukta, the People’s Power is going to be his Waterloo because Goans have already borne the impact of Mining Scam-2015 and are in no mood to become mute witnesses to Mining Scam-2020.

It’s time the people of Goa turned this Dotor into a Fator in the forsaken mines and bring back Democracy and Transparent Governance in Goa.

It’s time we stop being lead by a Dhritrashtra because we don’t need a  blind man leading Goa into the blackness of Corruption and Corona.

He should immediately resign if he has any moral left in him, as he has failed in the Mahayudh against Corruption and Corona.

Porvorim MLA Rohan A Khaunte has written a letter to the Hon’ble Minister for Health Vishwajit Rane regarding the subject of Medical Fraternity- An Army of God’s Angels

Even though Temple’s, Churches, Mosques and other places of worship are shut down for last 2 months, God Almighty is still very much within us and God’s Army is fighting Corona for us in form of Our Medical Fraternity caring and saving lives.

When the world is shaking in fear for dear life, this Medical Fraternity is risking dear life to serve humanity.

They too have families which many haven’t seen for days/weeks because for them the patients in their care have become family and protecting the lives of those under their care has become the mission of these Angel’s of God.

They’re working 24×7 without break under tremendous pressure because while COVID cases spiral upwards our Angels are not increasing in numbers and it’s truly a Miracle of God that they’re still managing so wonderfully.
The willpower and dedication of the Medical Fraternity is beyond compare and it’s time that we the people of Goa, represented by our Government takes concrete steps to address their concerns failing which the rapid increase in COVID cases will burn the Wings of these Medical Angel’s.

An Army needs rest and recuperation to keep up the fight…Motivational Support and Gratitude of the people for whom they’re fighting is what gives an Army the strength to overcome all odds and win the war…Just so does our Medical Army need rest, recuperation, support and gratitude.

I request the Goa Government to formulate a Committee to look into the problems faced by them and provide for a package which should not be a relief package but a bouquet of genuine gratitude from the Government and the people of Goa.

The Goa Government’s decision to hold the 10th & 12th school exams from 21st March is a perilous decision that will put nearly all of us in harm’s way.
Hasty decisions have been made and then overturned even faster leading to an all-out confusion and panic amongst citizens. The initial few days of lockdown, when we all stayed locked in without the essential items and paramilitary forces around street corners are a stark memory of how ineffective decision-making effects each one us. Despite this, we have all stood as one with the State Government and cooperated to make sure we defeat the COVID-19. The threat of a COVID-19 outbreak isn’t over and with every fallacy of our Esteemed Leader, we are being pushed into the clutches of this deadly virus.
While people appreciate a leader with a spine, people love a leader who stands up for the right causes instead of serving narrow political gains. Playing with the lives of the children and seriously threatening the spread of community transmission amongst Goenkars is condemnable. While the entire world is actively following social distancing measures and the Central Ministry of Home Affairs has made it clear that schools should stay shut, it is difficult to fathom why the CM is toying with such a foolhardy idea. While Goa University exams can be pushed to a later date, what is the rush in conducting board exams?
It is shameful that parents have to knock on the Court’s door for protecting the lives of their children at such times. While it is obvious that this is the most inopportune time to hold the Exams, our Esteemed Leader doesn’t seem to think so. We had a golden corridor to hold the Exams between the time that Goa was declared a Green Zone and the influx of people from other states and countries. Ineffective administration and a chance political low blow kept the CM from taking a decision at that time. The Central Board has announced the date for their exams which will be conducted much later and with all the necessary arrangements in place.
Every waking day we learn or rather unlearn what we thought was the pattern of the virus. Asymptomatic carriers are aplenty and they may not even know it, the virus is spreading faster than we are catching up to it. Developed countries across the world and other states in India are still struggling to get a hold of treatment protocols and containing the outbreak. So many questions and doubts come to mind about how the infection could spread.
How do we know that one of the kids attending the exam hasn’t been infected through people coming in the state from outside Goa? Multiple people who traveled on trains along with COVID 19 positive patients, there is a possibility that they might have contracted the disease now. For that matter, the bus drivers and conductors ferrying the students could have been infected and it is so easy for another outbreak to occur. One of the teachers or examiners, who have been selflessly serving in household surveys could be an asymptomatic carrier. There could be so many ways of the infection spreading in this second wave and it is unfathomable that we are willing to expose our children, the most vulnerable among us. Not just our children, but teachers, parents, the common man, and entire neighbourhoods will be at risk if we enter the phase of community transmission. In the last 3 days, the number of active cases has jumped to 41.
In this scenario, it is impossible to conduct examinations in a completely sanitized manner. And anyone who believes otherwise is irresponsible and reckless or living in an alternate reality.
My son is in 10th grade and I too want the exams to be over quickly but not at the risk of my son’s life. With a heavy heart I ask, what good is the exam whose results might not be in a mark sheet but in the number of body bags? My dear Goenkars, I am not raising this issue with our Esteemed Leader – the Chief Minister of Goa as a politician but as a parent just like anyone of you. I am just a father appealing to the leader of my state to be democratic and considerate rather than be the modern version of Stalin. The way our Goa CM is disregarding parents’ appeal and planning to go ahead with the exams is as good as threatening to forcibly take our children from homes and thrust them into the face of certain peril.
A decision like this to portray an illusion of normalcy to the rest of the world while turning a blind eye to people’s sufferings is a classic sign of a fascist leader indulging in political one-upmanship. The need of the hour is a leader who can lead us through this crisis not a politician who wants to score brownie points with body bags.
When the right to live is openly violated by a State order it’s time we remember dastardly leaders like Joseph Stalin who subjected citizens to cruel hardships, just because he could.
I am sadly reminded of Stalin and the Chicken episode wherein just to make a point to a journalist, the hedonistic Father of Russia cruelly plucks the feathers of a live chicken and then feeds it grain with the same hand that had inflicted so much pain to the chicken minutes before.
I really hope that the Chief Ministers listens to the voice of the people and revokes the decision to conduct exams in such a hurry.

47 days into the national lockdown and a week after Dr. Pramod Sawant hastily declared Goa COVID-19 free, today we stand at the cusp of a unique opportunity. We are the first state to be marked completely green and the entire country is watching how Goenkars are taking on life in the post COVID world!

For the last few weeks, I have been voicing out how we need to jump-start our economy and get our education system back on track. Our approach to the schooling system must be fundamentally different. The safety of the teachers, students, and the other staffers needs to be a cornerstone of how we design our education policy. “Health is wealth” is an English idiom often memorized by children in schools, the policymakers could benefit by learning this mantra by rote as well.

Multiple flip flops on the dates of exams have left children and their parents confused. With repatriation efforts underway, there is a possibility of fresh cases of COVID-19 in the state. It is extremely foolish for the government to conduct exams at this stage and risk exposing the children and in turn their parents. Dr. Pramod Sawant seems to be ignoring the mantra of “Jaan hai toh Jahan hai!”

Children from class 3 to 8 can be promoted without exams, priority is to keep them engaged and focus their energies on learning at this time. Foundational literacies such as basic Math concepts and languages can be enriched. Our teachers should be actively involved in finding solutions to teach virtually by leveraging technology. 

Maximizing learning and minimizing physical presence while using the latest technology should be our goal! 

During my tenure as the minister for IT, we made several efforts to boost the internet connectivity in each household of the state through the Fiber To Home initiative. While physical infrastructure still needs to be put in place, that cannot be a handicap at such times. We MUST adapt quickly to the changing times! 

There are existing E-Learning Apps and Platforms that many students across the state use free of cost, the government should explore collaborations with these providers proactively!

Other states are using innovative techniques such as Interactive Voice Responses along with older, time tested technologies like Radio and TV to reach out to students. Some schools have independently started sending Physical training workout lessons to keep their students fit while staying indoors. If our best minds – from educators to eminent professors and teachers can work on this problem together, I am confident that Goa can be the next Education Hub!

Currently, our government seems to be making a lot of committees and coming up with stop-gap solutions every now and then, but these are pointless and a complete failure if the larger vision is lacking. 

The same appears true when it comes to jumpstarting the economy of the state.

The central govt has so far announced an aid that corresponds to 0.8% of our GDP! This is woefully inadequate if we are to even survive with a reduced growth rate this year. With the BJP government in the center and the state, Dr. Pramod Sawant should start Dhan ki Baat with PM Modi and secure funds for Goa.

Goa Government must step in immediately and offer relief to the different sections of the people that are suffering. Before being hit by the Corona Crisis, we already had the highest unemployment rate in the country. This number is expected to go higher unless there is a serious intervention from the state and central governments.

Temporary relief measures like deferred payment on Electricity and Water bills, a moratorium of at least 6 months on loans to self-employed, unemployed, and small businesses will go a long way in boosting consumption locally. Of course, the state government can’t take all these calls on its own, but if there is enough willingness, they must talk to the Centre and get it done.

Small and Microenterprises, that employ a significant number of people, paying salaries and utility bills are basic concerns in times of no cash flow. Interest-free loans to pay salaries should be provided. The government can reimburse the base interest to banks at the base rate. 80% of salaries to employees of Goa-based enterprises should be reimbursed for the next three months. In my tenure as the IT minister, we had offered a similar incentive for startups in Goa and it had proved to be quite effective in generating employment. 

Presently, we have talented IT professionals and entrepreneurs who can contribute to the state with a focus on the health sector as well as resolving the unemployment crisis. 

Medium and larger enterprises should be offered low-interest loans for working capital in the next few months. It is imperative that the consumption doesn’t drop any further and unemployment is contained!

The Chief Minister has been making statements about bringing industries from China to Goa, but not a single word on how the existing industries that are suffering can be helped! Such knee jerk reactions appear to be only for the sake of grabbing eyeballs instead of a long term vision. 

Tourism, one of our major sources of revenue has been affected, and given global trends, it will stay low for the next few months. Taxi drivers, shack owners, small business owners in the coastal belt have taken a big blow from the lack of tourism. Tax relaxations for all stakeholders in this sector are key. One can’t expect a shack owner or a taxi driver to pay license fees and RTO fees right now. Providing relief in times of external crisis is a fundamental role of the government and it must not fail the citizens at such times!

Looking beyond the next three months, we should plan with the intent of raising revenues in the medium to long term. Tourism needs to be bolstered while making sure that we don’t inadvertently import COVID 19 cases into the state. Goa government must actively look at measures such as travel bubbles, lowering VAT on ATF, COVID Free passports, and ramping up medical facilities for inbound tourists. As a beach paradise, we are very well poised to be an attractive tourist destination with enough social distancing measures in place.

It is time for us to focus on new economies and revive traditional occupations like Pisciculture and Agriculture that used to fare so well in the Portuguese era. Presently, we are dependent on Belgavi and produce from other states to feed our people. Now is the time for the government to prove that they mean business with khare Goenkarponn and develop these crops in Goa. In the last few days as Revenue Minister, I had proposed two bills about Ban of sale of agricultural land for Non Agricultural purposes and contractual farming. These bills are still pending action, and also any intention of clearing it.

To paraphrase a recent op-ed in Washington Post by renowned filmmaker Christopher Nolan, “in uncertain times, there is no more comforting thought than that we’re all in this together” And together we shall overcome these times!

Editorial by:
Rohan A. Khaunte
MLA – Porvorim Constituency
Ex-Minister for Revenue, IT, Labour & Employment, Planning, Statistics & Evaluation