Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s Janata Darbar at Sanquelim may have provided citizens an opportunity to bring their grievances directly to the government, but I understand the real test lies in the outcome. Such public meetings serve little purpose if complaints are heard, assurances given and files subsequently buried in bureaucratic red tape. After hearing about the Janata Darbar, I visited it on May 19, 2026, to complain about the builder disconnecting water supply to my flat at Marcel. He was kind enough to hear my case in short and accept my grievance application. Unfortunately, I received neither a response from the CM’s office nor any action/investigation on my grievance, leaving me deeply disappointed. I believe the success of a Janata Darbar should not be measured by the number of people who attend or grievances submitted, but by how many citizens leave with their problems genuinely solved. Governance must deliver results, not merely assurances.
GREGORY FERNANDES, Mumbai
