Creation of a 3rd District would only serve the Political Masters of Goa, not common citizens.
In the General Election year, the news of creation of a 3rd District is just to galvanise the voters towards ruling party. While the TRUTH can be found in today's news.
Government of Goa has constituted a 8 member panel to consider formation of a new district, a third one in the state. The panel headed by Principal Secretary is to submit it’s report within 3 months and by all means, is going to recommend the creation of it, despite the smallest state of India, reeling under a massive debt of more than Rs.24,000 cores.
The carving of a new state or reorganising an existent state of India, by forming new districts, which are the basic administrative units of the country is done for reasons such as the population growth, administrative convenience, or the need for improved public services.
The last census of Goa was done way back in 2011 and its fixed population was around 1.6 million; since then no doubt the population has increased many fold.
Here we shall deliberate whether the formation of a new district, would alleviate the every-day pains of a common Goan or is going to serve only political masters?
Population Growth:
One of the primary reasons for creating a new district is the significant growth in population within an existing district. As the population increases, administrative demands also rise, and dividing the area into smaller districts can enhance the efficiency of governance.
Majority of the population or densely populated areas are in the Coastal belt, with sizeable floating population or migrant population. But as per the plan under consideration, the new district won’t be carved out from the Coastal belt and hence in no way, is going to impact the most over-burdened areas of Goa demographically.
Administrative Convenience:
Creating new districts can improve administrative efficiency by reducing the size and workload of existing administrative units. Smaller districts may lead to better coordination, quicker decision-making, and more effective implementation of government policies.
This is the reason why, a new district has to be carved out from the coastal region of the state, which are heavily over-burdened; but the geographical limitations of the existing district; does not allow it.It is anybody’s guess as how many people from the interior areas of both districts, which are sparsely populated, away from the coast, would benefit, from the formation of a new district? The 2011 Census data would be paltry and there has not been any substantial increase in the hinterland areas.
Geographical Considerations:
Large and geographically diverse areas may be challenging to govern effectively from a single administrative center. Creating new districts can help in better managing and addressing the unique needs of different geographical regions within a state.
Goa is the smallest state of India, barely 100 Kms in length, from North to South.While the Talukas such as Ponda and Dharbandora , which would probably form the part of new district lie far away from the District HQs, by Goa standards; the towns and villages are not so much far an inaccessible for existing state machinery to deliver effective governance and public service, if the intent is right. But, it is a big question in itself.
Improved Service Delivery:
The formation of new districts is often aimed at enhancing the delivery of public services to citizens. Smaller administrative units may result in more localized and responsive governance, leading to better services in areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
The state of existent infrastructure and public services in the state, is due to lack of effective administration or sheer laxity of governance, is something which could be easily answered. If a particular geography is lagging behind the rest of the state, in terms of utilities and services; then it is surely a fitting candidate for a newer administrative district. But when almost all the geographical units and the people therein residing are bearing the same pain, how can the formation of a new district would solve the problem?
Equitable Development:
To ensure equitable development across different regions, governments may create new districts to focus on specific developmental needs. This approach allows for targeted planning and resource allocation to address local challenges.
Equitable development involves creating equal opportunity for all the citizens of the state, irrespective of their geography. While Goa which survives mostly on tourism and then mining is deeply divided between “Haves” and “Have Nots” in the existing 2 districts itself. Those who have the means and resources to exploit the opportunities available are in pink of financial health, while those who are poor, remain to be poor. The increase in deep divide is ample in so called even prosperous or well to do areas. How the creating of a new administrative district would benefit the citizens residing there is anyone’s guess. A like minded governance, would have already ensured development of all, and not just the cronies.
Enhanced Political Representation:
Creating new districts can also lead to increased political representation for the residents of the region. It may result in the establishment of new legislative constituencies, allowing for more localized representation in the state legislature.
Goa all of 2 Districts have already 40 Members Of Legislative Assembly. The areas from which the new districts would be carved out are well represented in the state legislative assembly. If we compare the well to do areas of coastal region and hinterland; there is no indication that elected representatives of prosperous areas have been better at job, just because of administrative ease. The mindset to work for people who have elected them by posing their faith in them, is completely absent, all throughout Goa. MLAs and Ministers are known to work for their own wellbeing, rather than people who elect them.
Improved Law Enforcement:
Smaller districts may facilitate better law enforcement and maintenance of public order. Local police forces can be more effective in addressing and preventing crime when they are focused on specific geographic areas.
Law Enforcement in Goa is in shambles, least to say. The state of state’s Police and other LE agencies are reflected amply in everyday’s news and lesser said is better. Carving a new district, would lead to further dilution in the already meagre strength of Goa Police, which is barely 6,000 for a state which has almost 8 Million tourists visiting every year. The recruitment of even simple constables are always reeking in nepotism and corruption. And most of the criminal activity happens in the prosperous areas along the coast and major city centres under the nose of District Police Officials.
Strategic Development Planning:
Governments may create new districts as part of a strategic plan for regional development. This allows for targeted initiatives and investments to address specific challenges or opportunities in different regions.
A like minded governance would not wait for the creation of a new district, to kick-start the process. Development in Goa simply means, building more Hotels, resorts, Guest Houses and restaurants. While this has worked greatly along the coastal belt, the same model cannot work in the hinterlands, because there are no parties and no psychotropic substance cocktails available there and hence no tourist want to go there. We are not discussing the rickety infrastructure here. these regions are under-developed because Government of Goa is completely lost on how to develop them, apart from promoting hinterland tourism and Home stays. Beyond this, they are fumbling and creation of new district won’t solve it either.
The fact of the matter is that creation of a new 3rd District would in no alleviate the problems of citizens of existing districts; or for the matter the citizens of the forthcoming districts.
People Welfare and Public Service, with effective governance is a mindset; which is severely lacking among those in state government. And providing, a 3rd district is just an election gimmick, to raise people’s hope and give them a flip of confidence.
What people has to realise the same set of MLAs, Ministers, Politicians and Bureaucrats are going to preside the affairs of the 3rd District; in such a scenario, how the things would change for better?