Dr Joe D’Souza
It was my intention to write in detail about health in Goan society and what the Happiness Index has to say about Goa and Goans in particular. However, I would concentrate on the two budgets presented by the state and the central governments in the past week and its impact on the happiness of the people at large. Thereafter, I will relate the financial implications of the budgets on the health of our people in general. Putting it as “killing the two birds in one stroke”, as both these two branches of science-economics as well public health are of prime importance, as well as of relevance to our society at this point of time.
Of course, for us Goans, the last Parrikar budget was neither exciting nor encouraging in view of the health status of the government of the day, as well as of those holding the reins of power of the state government. It can be said that the budget was a pale reflection of the stagnant state of health and the local economy. There was a symbolic increase in the budgetary allocations to health, education and agriculture. However, whether these increases in allocations would fuel the engine of our Goan economy is questionable.
All our political leaders are seeking treatments for their ailments in hospitals outside our state. The Chief Minister cannot keep the cake or eat it too. Goa is rich in natural resources; excellent marine resources, there is abundance of water in our underground “aquifers” which is recharged each year during the monsoons and available perennially. Why isn’t Goa sustainably using them?
The richness of our solar energy with lots of sunshine hours can fuel our economy by encashing on our available solar energy and exporting our clean and clear mineral water supply.
We have allocated funds for agriculture but at the same time we cannot also dance to the tune of those who raped and ripped the “Mother Earth” with a series of illegal and unsustainable scams, centred around destroying the water table, flooding the fertile fields, orchards and horticultural crops with “toxic rejects” and “over burdens” deleterious to human health, sustainable agriculture and dairy farming.
The copious amounts of dust in the air and the slurry of the mineral resources has not only damaged crops, fruits and vegetables but inflicted respiratory infections, enteric ailments and cancers.
Parrikar’s symbolic grants to agriculture, health and education does not fully spell out as to how his government is going to address the basics of proper utilization of the funds allocated towards good health, availability of pure water and clean air.
Goan society may seem to be wealthy but it is truly unhealthy and extremely unhappy. Distinguishably, the successive governments in power promise Goans 24X7 pure water supply, uninterrupted power, uncontaminated food supply, free of adulteration, but nothing concrete is done.
Sadly, the capital of Goa is starved of water which is supplied intermittently for an hour or two each day. Often Panjim goes without water for days together.
By heavy borrowings, the government of the day is leaving future generations of Goans the burden of loan repayments as well as stress of a degraded environment. No doubts Goa is seeing lifestyle diseases increasing by leaps and bounds, together with suicides, depressions, crime, legal wrangles, etc.
Parrikar has neglected research, science and technology, environment protection and upgradation giving absolutely nothing in his budget. Goa University is an “abandoned ship”. No retired professors are called upon to offer help, guideance and afford directions to make research at Goa University and its colleges, essentially relevant and Goa centric.
Political bhakts find their way into institutions of education and research through political appointments.
No doubt, all case data related to Goa be it on the river water sharing issue, or harnessing of solar energy, sustainable forestry, fisheries and tourism comes to a big zero and the Goa government seems to be losing every battle in the courts of law as advocates representing Goa do not have solid scientific data to support their submission in Courts, in the interest of the state.
We, the people of Goa, by and large are gullible and a lazy lot and seem to swallow anything those in government tell us. For example, the “jhumla” of the central government of giving relief to taxpayers in income tax upto Rs 5 lakhs is essentially a rebate for one year only, and the tax structure and thus the slabs remain unchanged.
But newspapers and BJP proponents gave a false understanding to the public that one need not hereafter pay taxes on incomes upto 5 lakhs; which is in fact a carrot for the gullible Indian voter and not a change in the slab; which still stands at Rs 3 lakhs and not Rs 5 lakhs as is widely believed and disseminated.
Sadly, again Goans seem to care too little about their health and entirely concentrate on immediate monetary gains. Nobody ever told the truck or barge owners to buy dozens of vehicles, involving themselves in the loot and plunder of resources during the days of mining boom.
Gambling, illegal extraction of sand, promoting alcohol or drug abuse should not be at the cost of society in the form of budget allocations.
The mood of Goan society is directed to paltry gains or comforts.
There was an extremely informative talk held a few days ago on “Dysthanasia” - Delay the process of Death, at Club Vasco da Gama, Panjim. Being a Goan settled in Lisbon, Dr. Jose Filipe Monteiro, explained the relevance of technology to delay the process of death.
The excited audience consisting mostly of senior citizens, asked questions related to the Goan scenario. However this seems to be a challenge worldwide, as the process of deterioration of health and challenges of inevitable death is a universal phenomena.
The purpose of informative lectures on environment, health, technology agriculture must be encouraged by the Goa government.
Last year Nobel Laureates visited Goa and infused scientific temper.
Parrikar’s contribution to this effect was recognized. Sadly, for over a year we have not had scientific lectures, just cultural and social events to regale the sagging Goan temperament which needs to be pegged up amidst the certainties of Goa’s gloom and doom. Goans need
to reflect upon and move forward to make Goa a better place for the generations to come.
