PANAJI: The members of the House, particularly from the opposition, said that many schemes of the government were either non-functional or their benefits were not reaching the ‘aam admi,’ to whom they were intended, even as they said that the government has failed to keep its promises made to people during the last budget presentation.

Participating in the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address to the state assembly on the opening day of the first session of the year 2010, Mr Laxmikant Parsekar said that the cyberage scheme has not been implemented for the past two years as a result of which 25,000 students have been deprived of computers, they otherwise would have got.
He also brought to the notice of the House that the government has failed to keep its promise to the computer teachers about their regularisation, though they had put in about 12 years of service and had acquired all qualifications necessary for absorption in service.
Mr Parsekar also pointed out the failure of the authorities in preventing the foreigners from carrying out business illegally in the state. Citing an example, he said that at least 100 foreigners were carrying out business activities in his constituency of Mandrem as a result of which there have been conflicts between the locals and foreigners, which has resulted in some clashes and death of a person.
The BJP MLA also said that there have been reports of foreigners filing false cases to claim insurance. He went on to add that a number of people have sought permission for mining in his constituency even in places close to the seashore and warned that if permissions were granted the people would resist the mining activity tooth and nail.
Mr Ramesh Tawadkar, the BJP MLA from Poiguinnim, said that despite promises government has failed to rehabilitate the people who were affected by the flash floods in Canacona, adding that only a few have been given houses. He also said that the affected farmers were yet to get the promised compensation. He said that while the government was keen on executing ambitious projects like sea-link between Dona Paula and Vasco, many essential projects that would provide basic amenities and benefit common people were being ignored. He also said that the government has failed to fulfill promises to the Scheduled Tribe communities.
The Congress MLA from Quepem, Mr Chandrakant Kavlekar highlighted the good work done by the government, even as he said that it should take all steps necessary to solve the problems of the Kumeri cultivators.
Mr Dayanand Narvekar, Congress MLA from Aldona, said that the good schemes framed by the government were not percolating down to the common people and blamed the government officials of being insensitive to the needs of people and not acting as per the needs. He gave the example of people listed under Antodaya scheme (poorest of poor among the below poverty line) not getting benefit of gas connection scheme of the government while those listed in BPL getting the gas connections under government scheme.
He also said that due to ‘insensitivity’ of the government officials, over 10,000 applications made under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (mostly of the handicapped people), were pending. He also said that though the government had made provision amounting to nearly one crore rupees under various schemes for helping women and children, shelter for women and mahila mandals, not a rupee has been disbursed.
He stated that there was a big divide in the government as most ministers in the cabinet hailed from Salcete taluka and they were getting all the benefits, while the North Goa MLAs (including himself) did not get anything. He also wanted the government to make a single process of recruitment of government employees. He further said that new building of Asilo hospital was lying unused and that the government has incurred Rs 3 crore on its cleanliness. He also mentioned that the new hospital building did not have water connection. He urged the government to take action against drunken driving and prevent deaths due to accidents.
The BJP MLA from Siolim, Mr Dayanand Mandrekar said that many promises made in the last budget did not find mention in the Governor’s address to the state assembly. He also said that the government officials were not serious about their assigned jobs. He also pointed out the problems of people due to water shortage and government’s failure to provide water to the people. He also said that many illegal houses (numbering around 100) were being constructed on communidade land at Verla-Canca.