Congress leaders listening intently at an interaction with citizens on the preparation of election manifesto.
MARGAO
Outlining the broad parameters of the party election manifesto, the Congress on Thursday promised to provide a modern, forward looking, progressive, science-based and technology driven and people involved government to the people of Goa if the party is elected to power in 2022.
The party leadership also made a fervent plea to the people to give the party full authority and majority to implement the manifesto, with Congress election observer P Chidambaram further asserting that only a majority government can do many, many more things than a fractured coalition.
“You must elect representatives, who will implement our manifesto. If you accept our manifesto, but elected some other parties, we cannot implement the manifesto. If you accept our manifesto and elected multiple parties, who can never form a government or can only form a quarreling government, we cannot implement the manifesto. Hence, I appeal to you that if you accept and believe in our manifesto, give us the fully authority and majority to implement the manifesto”, Chidambaram said while addressing an interactive program held by the party to kick-start the exercise to prepare the party’s 2022 election manifesto.
“Goa is a small territorial area. Unlike states with 25 crore population, Goa has only 18 lakh population. Here, we can provide a modern, forward looking, progressive, science-based and technology driven people involved government”, he said.
Reassuring the people that preparation of the manifesto is not an one-time exercise, Chidambaram said the party will come back to the people after two or three years, seek more suggestions, go for course correction and rectify mistakes and seek news if the party returns to power. “This must be a continuous process of consultation. I promise the Congress will hold this process every two years if the party comes to power”, he reassured.
He added: “If we form the government, we will come back to the people and ask them what we are doing is right or wrong and whether the party is implementing the manifesto in the manner you like it or whether want correction. If the party forms the government, I will come back to the people with the Chief Minister and Ministers for further consultation”.
During the interaction, the party received a host of suggestions from the participants. City-based businessman, Datta Damodar Naik called for the scrapping of the 16-B amendment to the TCP Act, saying the provision has turned out a big source of corruption and has converted zones. He offered suggestions to promote micro enterprises, address solid waste and work out schemes for tax recovery.
Hotelier Dixon Vaz suggested measures to incentivize locals, including seamen, in business activity and strengthen public transport.
Savio Ferreira called for a permanent pension scheme for the seafarers and reservation of plots at the Industrial estates for the local youth.
A resident of Nuvem and Congress leader Everson Vales suggested streamlining of the issuance of Krishi cards to the farmers to benefit farmers, who are not the landowners. Royla Fernandes called for boosting the economy given the rising debt, pegged around Rs 20,000 crore.
Olencio Simoes said bringing the no development zone to 50 meters will spell doom for the environment and expressed concern over dredging of the nationalized rivers.
Velim Sarpanch Savio D’Silva called for a provision to provide underground cabling in Velim constituency to tide over the power issues.
Former Rachol Sarpanch Joseph Vaz called for implementation of the 73rd Amendment in the state by devolving powers to the Panchayat Raj institutions.
Mario Moraes and many others put forth their suggestions before the congress leaders, including Manifesto Committee Chairman Ramakhant Khalap, vice-Chairman Elvis Gomes, GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar, leader of opposition, Digambar Kamat, MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, MP Francisco Sardinha, working president Alexio Sequiera and others.
