the goan I network
PANAJI
Speaking during the condolence motions on the passing away of several eminent personalities, including former Goa Chief Minister and daughter of Goa’s first chief minister, Shashikala Kakodkar as well as several freedom fighters, footballers and tiatrists, Parrikar sang paeans to the work Shashikala accomplished during her tenure in Goa’s politics.
Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">“Not a single minister asked me to allot them the education portfolio. But I’m happy because I didn’t want to give up this portfolio at any cost. I wasn’t going to give up finance and education at any cost,” Parrikar said.
He pointed out that at a time when most governments were setting aside less than 5 per cent of the total GDP for education, Shashikala was setting aside as much as 17 per cent of the GDP for education.
“Experts suggest that even 6 per cent is more than enough,” Parrikar said.
Parrikar said that Kakodkar believed in quality in education and that quality was more important than language. “If education is good, then children will absorb knowledge like a sponge,” Parrikar said.
Among the names of the 31 personalities who were remembered included Sanyogita Rane Sardesai, Shivaji Kudchadkar, Parmeshwar Godrej, Peter Gomes, George Menezes, Om Puri, Guilhermina Leitão, Dilip Padgaonkar, etc.
The motion brought out the differences in the government over the language issue, with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party’s Manohar Ajgaonkar pointing out that it was Shashikala Kakodkar who was at the forefront of the fight, not just for the mother tongue but also for the
Marathi issue.
Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemão also recalled his association with Shashikala Kakodkar and the days of the PDF government which allowed him to become the Chief Minister of Goa, if only for a few days.
He also recalled Shashikala’s advice to the ramponkars during the days of the agitation, offering them a subsidy to purchase trawlers and mechanise their operations.
“It is because of her that today many trawler owners are ramponkars,” Churchill said.
His views were echoed by Dabolim legislator Mauvin Godinho, who said that he was also offered the Chief Minister’s post but
he declined.
The legislators also recalled the memory of diocesan priest Fr Francisco Caldeira, with Churchill Alemão reading out a brief note on his life.
Lobo displays uneasy calm, says he will be dy speaker till govt lasts
the goan I networkMAPUSA“Politics changes on a daily basis…and if the developments in the State are of any indication, it changes every hour…” Lobo told The Goan. A day after blowing hot and cold on his party’s decision to nominate him for the post of deputy speaker, a more malleable Lobo said he was a party man and therefore had to toe the party line. “I have filed my nomination as per the directions issued by the party to me,” he said, and vowed to…
