Govt committed to work for poor, says Governor

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-02-03
PANAJI- The Governor, Dr Shivinder Singh Sidhu has said that the government would do its best in its endeavours to accelerate the pace of development in the state and ensure the welfare of the common man with all sincerity and dedication with the cooperation and guidance of the members of the state assembly, even as he stated that Goa has strong potential to emerge as model state in the country.
In his customary address to the state assembly on the opening day of the first session of the New Year on Monday, Dr Sidhu said that the government was also committed to work for the poor and common man. “While the developmental priorities of my government are well defined, the underlying constraints to speedy attainment of the objectives have to be overcome through dedication, commitment and sustained effort,” he told the members of the House.
The Governor also told the House that the government has envisaged to achieve a fast and more inclusive growth with greater emphasis on social security, enhanced quality of education and improved health care facilities, modernisation and upgradation of existing infrastructure and creation of additional infrastructure.
He further said that the overall law and order situation and crime rate in the state remained well under control during the year 2008 and that the state by-and-large remained peaceful and there were no untoward incidents of serious nature and all the major events like the IFFI, the Christmas and the New year celebrations passed off peacefully. Besides, the anti-narcotics cell of the state police was keeping strict vigil over the activities of suspected drug peddlers in a bid to crack down on drug trafficking.
Stating that agriculture was a major economic activity generating sizeable income for the rural population of the state, he went on to add that the government has taken all the steps to protect the agriculture sector against the fluctuating market prices and that the agriculture department was implementing various schemes/programmes in order to make it more remunerative and sustainable in the long run.
Dealing on the topic of industrialisation and employment generations, the Governor said that there was tremendous potential in the industrial sector to act as a catalyst for economic growth of the state and for creating sustainable employment opportunities for the people of Goa.
He further said that one of the primary aims of the government was to alleviate the economic conditions of the poor people living below the poverty line and various steps have been taken in that direction. He also said that the list of people below poverty line has been finalised and target will be achieved by providing assistance for livelihood through self-employment and shelter for 6,947 families identified as BPL.
The Governor also said that the government has accepted the draft Regional Plan 2021 submitted by the Task Force and the same was notified for 90 days period under provision of TCP Act, 1974 for objection/suggestions before its finalisation. He said that though the last day for inviting objections and or suggestions ended on January 13, the same has been extended up to February 15 to give people time to make their suggestions. The process of public participation in the finalisation of the Regional Plan 2021 was under way, he said.
Stating that Goa was one of the best performing states, keeping in view the key health indices, he said that the government has taken the decision to enhance the limits for financial assistance in respect of various medical treatments such as open heart surgery, kidney transplant, neurosurgery, etc. He also said that efforts were being made to start a Regional Cancer Centre and to start cardiac centre with facilities for open-heart surgery and other non-invasive cardiac procedure.
Highlighting the importance of tourism and its impact on all sectors of the state’s economy, the Governor said that the government has continued its emphasis on its development by providing the necessary infrastructure required for its sustainable development in the state. A special tourist security force named ‘Tourist Security Organisation’ has been proposed, in order to provide additional protection and guidance to the tourists visiting the state, he added.
He urged the members of the House to have fruitful deliberations and take important decisions towards shaping the destiny of the state and expressed hope that the business of the House would be conducted smoothly with mutual understanding and co-operation, preserving our democratic traditions and legislature norms. He also expressed satisfaction at the peaceful manner in which the by-election to the Pale assembly constituency was conducted.