On May 30, 1987 Goa attained Statehood. But after 36 years the debate still rages whether our Goa has benefited after becoming India’s 25th State. Truly, there has been nothing to cheer about having achieved Statehood. In fact, Goans now realize the trap they got into by craving for statehood. An illusion gone awfully sour. As a Union territory, we were ably governed by 28 MLAs and a very small cabinet. Today Goa is totally mismanaged with 40 MLAs and a jumbo cabinet of 12. Goans were promised the moon with zero tolerance to corruption and good governance. But it has been only U-turns and rampant corruption all the way. Our Goa is sadly by the day getting disfigured and corroded beyond recognition. It should have now been the endeavour of those currently in power to at least salvage and safeguard what remains. But unfortunately Goa is being defaced at an electrifying speed. Statehood without delivering the benefits for all the people that the potential of our dynamic state of Goa promises is totally meaningless.
