Regarding the news article dated 8 Jan, I appreciate Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s assurance that his government will act in line with public sentiment, following the submission of the “Citizens Charter” prepared by a people’s movement led by Justice (Retd) Ferdino Rebello. Isn’t this the fundamental expectation from an elected government? That is to design projects after consulting the people?
Each region elects a representative (MLA) to propose its requirements and discuss them in the Legislative Assembly. Instead of focusing on pressing issues, discussing “Vande Mataram” raises questions. We respect patriotic songs, symbols, and freedom fighters, but Legislative Assembly sessions aren’t the platform for this. We pay taxes for governance, not displays of patriotism.
The CM’s statement, “We will do what the people want,” is reassuring, but shouldn’t this be the norm? Had this been adhered to, protests like those by Chimbel villagers against Unity Mall, the Citizens Charter, families of the Birch fire victims, and those against deforestation, and mega housing projects wouldn’t be frequent. The government should genuinely prioritise people’s concerns and ensure discussions in the Assembly address these issues.
