PANAJI: Ponda Congress MLA and former Chief Minister Ravi Naik on Wednesday sought to highlight the lack of development in Valpoi constituency.
"Constituents rue that they are still backward even after 50 years since Liberation," he stated while speaking at Congress party meeting convened to discuss the upcoming bypolls to Valpoi and Panaji constituencies.
The senior Congressman has been campaigning actively in Valpoi for the Congress candidate and his son Roy Naik.
Referring to Congressman Pratapsing Rane and his son Vishwajit, who have represented Valpoi for decades, Naik said, "I am not blaming anyone for the lack of development. But when I visited the constituency, I saw that even basic amenities were absent in the rural hinterlands of Valpoi."
Naik argued that the panchayats of Khotode, Nagargao, Guleli, Usgao and Valpoi have lagged behind other rural areas of Goa since Liberation. "The development that should have occurred isn't seen on the ground and I am not saying this. People say this. Light, water supply, roads are narrow in the hinterlands," Naik said.
The former CM recounted his visit to a rather huge hospital located in the heart of Valpoi city. "It appears to be a big hospital from the outside but there are only 15 beds each for female and male wards, a total of 35 beds including give extra. There is no generator, no doctors, no specialists. This is the health minister's constituency," Naik stated.
Speaking about employment creation in Valpoi, Naik argued that the jobs sanctioned through Vishwajit Rane were created by Congress government. "All jobs were sanctioned during Digambar Kamat and Rane government. Now under Parrikar government, zero jobs have been given. People were given letters of appointment but no one has been asked to join yet," he pointed out.
The Congressman assured that upgradation of the quality and infrastructure in education sector of Valpoi will be prioritised if Congress is elected to represent it on August 28.
Meanwhile, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Shantaram Naik also argued along similar lines. "It is a totally neglected constituency. They will have to start from scratch. Although our machinery is not effective there, I have no doubt that Roy will get elected and see to it that he will change the face of Valpoi in a short span of time. I don't know why Valpoi is totally neglected.
Leader of Opposition Chandrakant"Babu" Kavalekar added to this observation and started that development can be seen only while entering Valpoi while not much has happened in the rural areas of Valpoi constituency.
"Constituents rue that they are still backward even after 50 years since Liberation," he stated while speaking at Congress party meeting convened to discuss the upcoming bypolls to Valpoi and Panaji constituencies.
The senior Congressman has been campaigning actively in Valpoi for the Congress candidate and his son Roy Naik.
Referring to Congressman Pratapsing Rane and his son Vishwajit, who have represented Valpoi for decades, Naik said, "I am not blaming anyone for the lack of development. But when I visited the constituency, I saw that even basic amenities were absent in the rural hinterlands of Valpoi."
Naik argued that the panchayats of Khotode, Nagargao, Guleli, Usgao and Valpoi have lagged behind other rural areas of Goa since Liberation. "The development that should have occurred isn't seen on the ground and I am not saying this. People say this. Light, water supply, roads are narrow in the hinterlands," Naik said.
The former CM recounted his visit to a rather huge hospital located in the heart of Valpoi city. "It appears to be a big hospital from the outside but there are only 15 beds each for female and male wards, a total of 35 beds including give extra. There is no generator, no doctors, no specialists. This is the health minister's constituency," Naik stated.
Speaking about employment creation in Valpoi, Naik argued that the jobs sanctioned through Vishwajit Rane were created by Congress government. "All jobs were sanctioned during Digambar Kamat and Rane government. Now under Parrikar government, zero jobs have been given. People were given letters of appointment but no one has been asked to join yet," he pointed out.
The Congressman assured that upgradation of the quality and infrastructure in education sector of Valpoi will be prioritised if Congress is elected to represent it on August 28.
Meanwhile, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Shantaram Naik also argued along similar lines. "It is a totally neglected constituency. They will have to start from scratch. Although our machinery is not effective there, I have no doubt that Roy will get elected and see to it that he will change the face of Valpoi in a short span of time. I don't know why Valpoi is totally neglected.
Leader of Opposition Chandrakant"Babu" Kavalekar added to this observation and started that development can be seen only while entering Valpoi while not much has happened in the rural areas of Valpoi constituency.
