Panaji: The monsoons have been weak in Goa this year. But the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly transacted a wealth of legislative business in what has been officially described as the longest session in the history of Goa.
The passing of the Goa investment promotion bill, 2014 is probably the most important business accomplished in the 21-day long session that began on July 22 and concluded on August 21. In all, 13 government bills were passed.
The investment promotion bill aims at setting up the Goa investment promotion board, which is an extension of chief minister Manohar Parrikar's Goa investment policy. The Goa investment promotion board, among other things, will facilitate single window clearances to new projects in Goa. All this is supposed to help realize the government's target of bringing Rs 25,000-crore in new investments to Goa in the next five years. And 50,000 jobs to Goans in the same time.
Crucial amendments to two other acts - Goa Mundkars (protection from eviction) (amendment) bill and the Goa agricultural tenancy (amendment) bill - were also passed. Deputy chief minister Francis D'Souza, who is also the revenue minister told TOI that the two amendments will end tenancy and mundkar cases in Goa forever due to the sunset clause of three years in both bills. There is pendency of about 5,000 tenancy cases and about 2,800 mundkar cases in Goa.
Changes in the tenancy bill will also enable landowners to lease their farms to contract farmers without fear of losing ownership of the fields. Hopefully, contract farming will take off in Goa and agriculture will grow.
The bill on Goa's medium-of-instruction policy, the Goa school education (amendment) bill, was referred to a select committee of the House. But two crucial bills which were expected were not introduced. These are the Goa police bill and the Goa Panchayati Raj (amendment) bill. Considering their importance, they are being held back for further study.
Speaker of the Goa legislative assembly Rajendra Arlekar described the session as a "success" but openly called upon legislators to raise the quality of their questions and debate. He also told members, that having reached the halfway mark of their tenure, they ought to take stock of their contribution as Goa's lawmakers. Arlekar is responsible for making the Goa legislative assembly the first paperless assembly (or e-assembly) in India but he disallowed two congratulatory motions to honour him.
The 11 cabinet ministers answered quite well. But as usual, the chief minister was literally on his toes, defending all and beating down all opposition with aplomb. So much so, he often sat on his chair's armrest causing others to mimic him. The Speaker had to warn them all to sit properly.
Opposition leader Pratapsingh Rane is a gentle man. But he did embarrass the ruling side by questioning why Parrikar's and Dilip Parulekar's photos were on the sanction letters of the Griha Aadhar scheme. Do you pay from your pockets, Rane asked, forcing Parrikar to quip that this will be considered. Rane also reminded Parrikar that he had failed to keep his promise to appoint a Lok Ayukta and finalize the regional plan. But he seemed overly keen on getting high quality semen from Canada to impregnate Goan cows which will then give 40 litres milk per day!
The fire to irk the ruling side came from the independents. And some from Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco. Vijai Sardesai and Naresh Sawal can be aggressive, articulate and acerbic. Rohan Khaunte seemed well prepared too and raised several important issues. But they were all fighting against an army - of one man.
Thanks to speaker Rajendra Arlekar, the mother tongue now rules the Goa legislative assembly. The entire session was conducted in Konkani. Habitually English-talking legislators like Glenn Ticlo and Mauvin Godinho are now using many classical Konkani words. Despite the long assembly session, a few crucial issues like regional plan and Lok Ayukta remained as 'aashvasana' (assurances).
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Achievements-and-assurances-of-longest-assembly-session/articleshow/40713674.cms
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