MARGAO
The Government’s Tika Utsav moved into Fatorda constituency on Friday where both the Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai and BJP leader Damu
Naik tried to score some brownie points by putting their own arrangements in place to get the people to take the anti-Covid jab.
The two camps, however, should go into an introspection mode whether the game of one-upmanship has in any way helped the vaccination exercise with hardly 100-odd citizens turning up for the vaccination.
Unlike Margao, where the Congress and BJP supporters nearly came to exchanging blows, there was no untoward incident at the multipurpose school complex, Borda, the venue of the two-day Tika Utsav vaccination.
The day, however, did not pass without any controversy. After Sardesai complained to the District Collector, South that rival Damu has plans to put up his photo to take selfies with the citizens coming for vaccination, the authorities were on the job to verify the complaint, but did not find any evidence.
Sources said that the district authorities passed on a message to the Margao Urban Health Officer, Dr Anju Kharangate, who was heading the health team, to verify the complaint. Health care workers manning the vaccination centre tried to verify the complaint, but they could not find Damu’s photo anywhere around the centre.
Earlier in the day, the Goa Forward Chief accompanied by his group of newly-elected councillors as well as workers walked into the vaccination centre and discussed with Dr Kharangate the facilities put in place for the vaccination. A couple of his councillors and supporters sporting blue T-shirts were found swarming around the vaccination centre, while there were others around to ferry the people to the centre.
Before leaving, the Goa Forward Chief left a message with his councillors to make all the arrangements for snacks and refreshments for the healthcare workers.
BJP leader Damu Naik, on the other hand, was more to be seen on the ground. He and his team tried to mobilize citizens for the vaccination at the Borda centre.
Damu informed that he has arranged a pick-up and drop service for those who have difficulties to travel. There were as many as six autorickshaws, besides four four-wheelers to transport citizens to and from the vaccination centre.
By the end of day one of the Tika Utsav in Fatorda, only 100-plus citizens turned up for the vaccination for 45 years and above age group and another 100 for the vaccination meant for the priority groups.
A doctor termed the response to the vaccination during the Tika Utsav at Fatorda as below par when the politicians jostled to score brownie points over mobilizing the citizens. “It is surprising that only 100-plus citizens turned up for the vaccination on day one of the Tika Utsav when politicians were on the ground mobilising support for the drive,” remarked the doctor.
