Doom's 100th Day !

100 DAYS...and we have already begun to starve the poorer section of our society.

So much for the tall claims of our saffron brigade who were hell bent on wiping our corruption in Goa! Within 100 days.

100 days are the 144,000 minutes of confusion, soul-selling, state-pimping, political swindling, bureaucratic-partying-and sacking tales of chicanery. Make that 2,400 hours wasted in unproductive meetings and decisions, gambling away precious seconds in trying to turn history and historical monuments into a rubble of memories.

The end of 100 has been equal to 0, Zilch. 

We are where we started off from.

I don't know whether we have reached the stage where population outweighs the supply of food grains in Goa. But what I do know is that corruption has far outweighed the basic requirements of the people of Goa. 

How else does one explain the sheer waste of essential food grains, to the tune of 1750 metric tonnes of rice, that were hoarded for almost six months, and then allowed to rot? Instead of making the same available to the poorer sections of our society, who have to scrape through their meagre incomes to buy rice from the markets at high prices. 

And in the same breath, we are talking about giving generously towards the Government sponsored earthquake fund!

I have heard that charity begins at home. Surely, the same yardstick should be applied to our montri fellows also, otherwise tight-fisted about letting even a penny escape from their fat fingers. But this is absurdity! There are no other words to describe this sheer wastage caused on account of human callousness and disregard. No excuse handed out to justify this mismanagement of food distribution can nullify the crime of withholding basic supplies meant for the poorer of the lot. Not that the government is particularly bothered in letting these people eat healthy rice. 

Channeling, as they have been, low quality grain and bug infested gunny bags in all the Public Distribution Systems of Goa.

I remember not so long ago visiting our local PDS along with a neighbour who was picking up her fortnightly supply of rice and wheat. A look at the godown had me wondering whether my clueless neighbour was aware what she was getting her family into. 

The gunny bags were open and rice strewn on the dirty floors. 

And not so far away from the pile of grains was, presumably, last night's excreta of the dozen or so rodents who might have had a dinner feast of sorts.

The tins of oil lay open with a filament of dust and grime covering the measuring tools while you were sure to taste sand in a spoonful of sugar. Our family domestic further enlightens me that often she has to feed her children stone infested rice that are hard to detect. 

And complaining to the local distribution centre does not help. Instead she has been often told by the authority in charge to go and buy rice from the shops, if she thought she deserved any better. 

Since then she has been doing just that. Because everybody, poor or rich, has the right to a dignified way of living, within their means.

But then, why do I get this feeling, and I'm getting convinced by the day, that the government is not really interested in getting to the people who live in the doldrums of poverty; Or making schemes available, meant for the poor, and drawn out in their name (at least on paper) within their reach?

On second thoughts, why should I even bother to give these daylight thieves the benefit of the doubt. 

Because, chief ministers have come and gone, and their actions have always spoken louder than words. Each one for himself, rotting rice for all.

Of late, I have often found myself getting worked up seeing the direction in which we have been heading. Not to forget the novel ways devised by people to mask their hypocrisy and mediocrity. There is a certain section of these folks who mouth words of generosity, weaving ideas and tales of how they propose to help the government in helping others. 

Most often, I have found, to my dismay, that they are only looking for ways to make more money, whilst making everything sound so charitable and legal.

Lofty plans, more press coverage, more suckers looking for opportunities to milk their fortunes. No wonder that India boasts of a distinction of having several corrupt governments in succession! Goa, perhaps, tops the list of bringing to power successive 'educated' corrupt governments. What an honour then to be a contributing member of this 'thriving' looting State.

Of course, some of us still live under the garb of being citizens of a peace loving State. Sure. We are peaceful as long as nobody steals our coconuts, or as long as everybody makes the same share of the loot. We are unpeaceful only when somebody breaks the mould of docility and spells out a Spade from a pack of cards.

Like a German couple, I was having lunch with at a South Goa resort, who commented that we were too busy minding our table manners while somebody was eating the best of grilled lobster with his fingers.

Get the drift?

Ethel Da Costa
February 11, 2001

Ethel Da Costa  is a senior Goan journalist and editor of Insight and Mirror, both magazines  of the Goa Herald.  She also covers Goa for  Femina, India's premier magazine for women produced by The Times of India. Ethel writes that she loves her work and finds it to be fun, writing about issues she believes in..

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