Positive suggestions welcome to take Goa forward: Vijai

Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai took the platform at the Goa Liberation Day function to hold an olive branch to citizens saying the government is ready to talk to anyone and everyone with positive suggestions to take the state forward and make it golden Goa, even as he asserted that the coalition government has taken a host of steps to ensure reverse migration of Goans.
"There's a need to introspect where's Goa heading from now. Goans are susegad, but they are also wise. This government is ready to talk to anyone with positive suggestions, but there's no room for pessimism. Let people say we need a certain policy and vision, but they cannot say they don't want anything," Sardesai said, while addressing the people at the Goa Liberation Day programme at the South Goa District Collectorate on Tuesday.
In an apparent bid to allay apprehensions over his party's move to support the coalition government, the TCP Minsiter said, "We are the voice of the voiceless. We are there to take up the cause of people in the cabinet while seeking cooperation of all sections of Goans to take Goa to greater heights."
Touching on the contentious issue of migration of Goans for employment abroad, Sardesai said the government is ready to take steps to ensure reverse migration of Goans. "Goans are progressive in nature, but are susegad. We have to shed this susegad image when Goans are becoming a minority. We should ensure that Goans make their future in Goa and not by leaving their homeland and country. We should establish this thought and ensure reverse migration," he said, while exuding confidence that government's start-up policy and provision to give incentive for industries employing 80 per cent Goans will help in creating employment opportunities for the local youth.
Paying tributes to the memory of martyrs and freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom, Sardessai said, "One cannot forget the sacrifice of freedom fighters. It is due to their sacrifice we are enjoying today's freedom and informed that youth should always learn and remember history."
Collector South Goa District Anjali Sehrawat (IAS), Superintendent of Police South Goa Arvind Gawas (IPS), Margao Municipal Acting Chairperson Tito Cardozo, senior officers in the administration, freedom fighters, prominent citizens and large number of students attended the Liberation Day celebration.