By Rajan Narayan

AND a few stray thoughts for yet another Saturday. For a Saturday following the week when the rift in the Pramod Sawant government became wider. For a Saturday following the week about the miserable performance of Goans in the sporting arena. For a Saturday following the week on a new scheme for helping engineering students meet the relatively high fees charged by private engineering colleges in the states. For a Saturday following the week when the electronic media refused to respect the privacy of the medical college rape victim in Kolkata. For a Saturday following the week when filmstar John Abraham attacked Bollywood’s top stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan for promoting pan masala.
AND a few stray thoughts on the rift in the Pramod Sawant government became wider. The rift first surfaced when Revenue Minister Babush Monserrate objected to changes in the Panaji and Taleigao outline development plan (ODP). Town & Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane granted conversions in Panaji and Taleigao without consulting Babush Monserrate.
Subsequently, when Vishwajit Rane introduced an amendment to the TCP Act there were strong objections from Babush Monserrate and Rohan Khaunte. Vishwajit had sought to place conversions out of the purview of the courts. When Vishwajit came on the attack in the Legislative Assembly, he shifted the blame to Law Minister Alexio Sequeira. Vishwajit Rane was forced to withdraw the amendment to the TCP Act and other bills relating to the Health department.
The controversy took a new turn and twist with Calangute MLA Michael Lobo expressing concern over the divisions in the government. Michael Lobo pointed out that the government could not get bills passed even though it had a majority in the house. The public washing of the dirty linen by Michael Lobo invited a sharp response from BJP president, Sadanand Tanavade. Tanavade objected to party MLAs attacking Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant. Tanavade is also upset that differences in the party are being made ventilated publicly. The party president pointed out that the BJP is a disciplined party and not a dharamshala where MLAs could openly fight with each other.
Law Minister Alexio Sequeira who is under attack disowned any culpability and responsibility. Alexio is accused of illegal conversions and construction with his own properties in Carmona and Colva. It is now clear that there is a major split in the Pramod Sawant government. Pramod Sawant himself has no control over leaders like MLAs like Vishwajit Rane and Babush Monserrate. Babush has always been independent and even Manohar Parrikar had to keep him happy. Clearly, the various top leaders of the BJP are flexing their muscles for a change in leadership.
Vishwajit is keen on replacing Pramod Sawant as chief minister before the assembly elections. The Catholic MLAs who were part of BJP are under pressure to give equal status to Romi Konkani as the official language of the state. They are also nervous about getting re-elected on the BJP ticket.

SPORTING ARENA
AND a few stray thoughts on the miserable performance of Goans in the sporting arena. Forget about performance at international sports events, Goans do not feature even at the national level too much. Before Liberation several Goans were part of the Indian Olympic hockey team. But since Liberation the only sports promoted in Goa is football. Football thrives in Goa, not because of the government but the support of the big mining barons in the state.
Cricket in Goa was killed by greedy politicians like Dayanand Narvekar. Cricket is yet to recover from the cricket ticket scam. It may be recalled that the Goa Cricket Association under Narvekar printed double tickets of the capacity of the Fatorda Stadium. This was for a 1-day match between England and India. The only cricket player who made it to the national team was Dilip Sardesai, who is now better known as the father of Rajdeep Sardesai.
The only business house which has been consistently been supporting sports persons is the House of Dempos under owner Srinivas Dempo. Srinivas extended support to Goan swimmers and badminton players. But none of them lived up to their early promise.
The tragedy is that athletics and sportspersons get support only when they have achieved a medal at the national level. There is no encouragement for sports at the school level. This is in sharp contrast to countries like Brazil which have football schools where young people get formal schooling as well as exposure to football. In China sporting talent is identified at a very young age and all facilities are provided. This is why China equaled the number of gold medals won by the United States in the Paris Olympics.

ENGINEERING COLLEGES
AND a few stray thoughts on a new scheme for helping engineering students to meet the relatively high fees charged by private engineering colleges in the state. Goa has half-a-dozen private engineering colleges besides the Goa Engineering College. We have the Birla Institute of Technology, the Indian Institute of Technology and the National Institute of Technology which are top engineering colleges in Goa.
Besides we have the Padre Conceicao College of Engineering College in Verna, the Don Bosco College of Engineering in Margao and the Shiroda engineering college.
Never mind that there are no jobs for those who get their engineering degree from Goa. All their graduates have to go to Pune or Bengaluru to get a decent salary. It has become difficult for Goan students to study in private engineering colleges. With the result, 40% of the seats in the four private colleges remained vacant. The state has increased the income limit for government subsidy of the fees in private engineering colleges. The limit had increased from Rs5 lakh to Rs12 lakh. What this means is that students who join private colleges will receive help from the state government.
Even in private colleges engineering students will only have to pay Rs1 lakh per annum in the first year, Rs1.10 lakh in the second year, Rs1.20 lakh in the third year and Rs1.30 lakh fourth year. The difference between the fees of the private colleges and government engineering colleges will be paid by the state government. This will encourage Goan students to enroll in private engineering colleges. This applies to students born in Goa or domiciled for more than 15 years in Goa.

PULL UP ELECTRONIC MEDIA!
AND a few stray thoughts on the electronic media refusing to respect the privacy of the Kolkata RG Kar Medical College where the most heinous rape of a doctor took place on August 9 early hours of the morning. It may be recalled that the senior resident doing her post-graduation was studying late when police civic volunteer Sanjay Roy walked in and brutally tortured, raped and killed her.
The 31-year-old doctor was doing nightshift and was found dead in the seminar room in the dawn hours. It was a most horrific scene and as the rape details unfolded the electronic channels like India Today mercilessly revealed gruesome details of the rape. The electronic media detailed various injuries inflicted on the victim including injuries to her private parts. Are there no rules on protecting the privacy of a rape victim? The manner in which details are revealed with glee is unwarranted and insulting the victim post-death. It is unforgivable that small details of the horrific rape should be made public and no human rights or women’s groups protesting.
Post-mortem report is shared with family and those who are investigating the case, like the delegation of doctors who are protesting about the lack of any safety rules put in place for women resident doctors working through night duty. Even the electronic media has to be more sensitive about rape details in their reporting which is akin to glorifying the rapist at times. What is even more disturbing is the attempt by the principal of the college, Dr Sandeep Ghosh, to suppress and white-wash the ghastly rape and kill incident. Dr Ghosh is actually trying to pass it off as suicide.
Needless to say the Kolkata high court has blasted the Mamata-didi government for protecting the principal of the medical college. The HC has now handed over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. While doctors all over the country have been protesting against the brutal rape in Kolkata, doctors in Goa seem to be in a coma.
Resident doctors in Goa also work on night shifts where they may face threats from outsiders as security can be very lax or inadequate. None of the security staff posted in the GMC have any training or experience in recognizing trouble or dealing with strangers trying to make their way into hospital spaces for hospital staff. Just putting a uniform on a young employee from Sattari does not make him a security guard.
There is no control over excess to hospital wards even at night time leave alone during the day. Doctors in the GMC and district hospitals have to be provided with enough security to allow them to work without fear. Goan doctors should seek adequate protection being put into place from Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.

PAAN MASALA HEROES
AND a last stray thought on filmstar John Abraham pulling up Bollywood’s top stars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan promoting paan masala brands. These paan tobacco products are banned and “gutka” is sold openly in the country. In a case of surrogate advertising for gutka and paan, “masala” (tobacco) is endorsed by the top film stars — though these brands of gutka and paan masala are injurious to health.
John Abraham points out that the top stars are endangering the life of children by promoting paan masala which is cheap enough for working children of the streets to buy. Electronic channels are equally guilty and as defaulters they show top film stars endorsing paan masala products. Newspaper advertising also promotes banned paan masala brands like “Rajnigandhi,” “Paspass,” “Tulsi” and etcetera, for it is big advertising revenue. Who gives a damn about the children of lesser gods? For most working children a wad of gutka tobacco in the mouth kills hunger pangs, they cannot afford real food to fill their bellies.