Goa Diary

Polls under a gun's shadowThe public indifference poses a big danger to the Assembly polls in Goa, which is expected by end of May. Or so...

Polls under a gun8217;s shadow
The public indifference poses a big danger to the Assembly polls in Goa, which is expected by end of May. Or so one thought.

The Central Government, which is administering India8217;s smallest state, has mobilised 18 companies of Central Reserve Forces to prevent any untoward incidents. Local media reports state that the forces would be divided equally among the State8217;s two districts. But what certainly raised eyebrows is the plan to deploy them in sensitive8217; constituencies.

Clearly someone up there is unnecessarily paranoid as this is reportedly the biggest contingent of Central troops since the State8217;s liberation in 1961. And to think that there has not been a single riot in the State!

Luckless lottery
The oldest lottery in the country, Goa8217;s Provedoria, founded by Goa8217;s erstwhile Portuguese rulers is likely to fall victim to the Central Government guardians of morality.

The lottery, sponsored by the Institute of Public Assistance, has financed manyschools and shelters for the poor and downtrodden. The institute also provides dole for the indigent people of the State.

And unlike some reported instances from North India, no one from Goa has gone bankrupt trying their luck on the Rs 2 lottery. Perhaps the Government should take a closer look on the non-banking financial companies NBFCs which swindled crores of rupees from the investor by promoting dubious schemes!

Lesson in integrity
Theindian politicians who think nothing of forcing our missions abroad to pay for their jaunts in foreign lands, should learn a thing or two from this French Parliamentarian holidaying in Goa. The Senator walked into the offices of the Alliance Francaise at Panaji and requested use of the telephone. After placing a long call to his wife back home, he produced a thousand franc Rs 7000 note.

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He went on to ask the staff to keep the balance to buy books for the organisation!

Copped out!
Faced with a financial crunch, the Goa state police have tothink of some imaginative ways to provide service with a limited budget. For instance, the state does not have traffic police. Clad in their white and blue designer uniforms, it is the lot of regular cops who regulate traffic as well.

With routine policing calling for more hands on the deck, some resourcefulness is called for. Borrowing a leaf from their counterparts in Delhi, Goa police are planning to enroll students in traffic management. Free labour, wot?