Chief Minister Pramod Sawant finally launched the Goa Ujjwala Scheme on Saturday, under which eligible beneficiaries will receive financial assistance equivalent to the average cost of three domestic LPG refills in a financial year. The timing of such announcements ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival is hardly surprising. After four and a half years in power, the Sawant-led government has little to show for its performance on several fronts. Such schemes appear more like attempts to win public support ahead of the Assembly elections than solutions to Goa’s larger problems.
Despite the government’s repeated claims of ‘achhe din’, the reality on the ground remains very different for many Goans. The law and order situation has also become a serious concern, with robbery, murder, extortion and rape cases being reported regularly. The fact that those who allegedly fired shots at a businessman in Porvorim a week ago are still at large raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the police and the investigation.
Instead of repeatedly repackaging old schemes, the Sawant government should first focus on the basic issues affecting Goans. Improving law and order, ensuring women’s safety, providing uninterrupted water and electricity, building decent roads, creating jobs, controlling inflation and ensuring accessible healthcare and education should be its priorities. The LPG cylinder scheme may provide some relief to eligible families, but it cannot become a substitute for good governance. With Assembly elections approaching, Goans deserve more than election-time announcements and short-term political gimmicks.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
