Is the work pressure taking its toll on Goan politicos? Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar who is shifted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai after a brain stroke is the latest addition to the list of legislators who have suddenly developed health issues.
Besides Madkaikar, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida suffered a paralytic stroke in March this year before being shifted to Kerala for treatment, while former St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh suffered a cardiac arrest in 2016 forcing him to cut short his political career.
Call it work pressure or falling prey to the intense social media outrage which they have been exposed to, politicians of late have appeared to be very vulnerable to the scrutiny and the constant hostility that is thrown at them. They have fallen to a scrutiny which has no geographical boundaries, with Goans spread across the world spewing venom over every possible decision that infuriates them. It’s an age where questions are raised and debates are made in split seconds with none sparing a thought for the man in question.
At times even the families are not spared, like in the case of Madkaikar. The online juggernaut rolls on ruthlessly. It’s here where politicians are put to severe questioning and more than physical fitness, the mental acuity to stand up to these challenges are put to test.
Madkaikar’s brain stroke comes a day after he faced a barrage of criticism from across Goa over power outages on June 2 and 3, when the capital city and several other places faced a blackout while a builder was given the luxury of shifting his high tension line.
On the flip side politicians are expected to be thick-skinned to stand up to pubic challenges. They are answerable to the people they represent and are expected to justify their decisions on which they have been questioned. However, there are times when taking criticism in their stride makes more sense rather than trying to swim against the tide. It all boils down to the finesse an MLA shows while handling work pressures.
That being said, fitness has always been a huge question mark among the political class, both physical and mental. Our world yoga day has been a one-day showpiece where politicians happily pose in all sorts of asanas and breathe like Baba Ramdev, only to forget it the next day. Fitness challenges thrown on social media have become more of publicity gimmicks. Periodic health check-ups including routine psychological tests are paramount for the current-day politico.
While there is huge wave of resentment building up against the establishment, people must show tolerance and exercise restraint on impulsive outbursts while giving every legislator a fair chance to explain his actions. We wish all our ailing politicos, not forgetting chief minister Manohar Parrikar, a speedy recovery.
