Special Issue Panjim | Saturday | April 24, 2021 INDOMITABLE & FIRMLY IN From battling one crises after another, he appears to be the matters in detail, and consulting the right persons is extremely lone battle-clad THE warrior on his indefatigable horse,SADDLE fending fruitful. Prime News Weekly caught up with Dr Pramod Sawant off obstacles with determination and sheer grit. Ever since and quizzed him on the important issues of governance and how he took over the reins, he has emerged as a leader in his own he has been able to tide over them. right, keeping the determined Opposition at bay, and using his PRIME: How’s the current financial position of the state ? indomitable reflexes to cough up solutions to the immutable Dr. Pramod Sawant: “To run any state, Heads of government problems in his way. Yes, we are talking about the Chief have a big responsibility. The state has to be run in tune with the Minister of Goa Dr. Pramod Sawant, who took oath saying ‘spread your legs, as per the size of the bed’. The Central in March 2019 and carried the heavy responsibility Government and the Central Finance Commission have already of taking forward the legacy of his predecessor drawn the financial credit limit (Lakshmanresha) for each state. late Manohar Parrikar. Since, that memorable We are witnessing that the loans taken by the Goa government day, Sawant has come a long way and emerged are limited. Opponents are conveniently turning a blind eye to as a clear winner, a leader in his own right, the fact that now that our government is raising funds by selling inspite of few blips here and there. bonds, we have to repay the debts of previous governments. Government is always a continuous process. Also our debt will Even though his party --the BJP did not have to be repaid by the next government. have the numbers, late Manohar Parrikar If the BJP government wants Rs 300 Crores per month, our juggled the numbers by roping in a borrowing will be Rs. 300 crore, but we are also paying the debt section of the once vicious opposition of Rs. 300 crore on a regular basis. If the previous government and formed a government. But to the had not let us the burden to repay their loans, we would not credit of Dr. Pramod Sawant he did a have had to take new loans. In doing all this calculation, we fantastic surgery, when he took over, should not fall short anywhere in terms of development, and by dropping those pressurising him we should not miss the salaries of government employees. The and taking on board 10 MLAs by previous governments used to take loans even when the mining puncturing the single largest party business was in full flow and got billions of rupees from it. Now status of the Congress and running we are facing ban on mining in the state and also short on other a stable government with an revenue resources. As a result, the state is borrowing, so there is overwhelming majority since then. a huge difference between the two. Dr. Pramod Sawant, has been PRIME: Covid-19 has affected the process of development in credited with achieving good every state and the country, how do you think it will affect Goa, governance with a visionary as a state? resourcefulness for the DR. SAWANT: Corona pandemic has placed an additional overall development of the burden on the government’s functioning over time, but state. Dr. Sawant has not currently, the state is moving in the right direction. Goa will not only been able to satisfy go for a lockdown as the decision will disrupt the economic industry, but also left his activities. We stressed upon vaccination and COVID-19 mark on the masses. appropriate behavior to tackle the spread of Coronavirus. Without many stars in Imposing a lockdown was and is not a solution to bring down his Cabinet, Dr.Sawant COVID-19 related cases. Lockdown is not a solution. We do not has been able to almost want to disturb people. After the last lockdown, we had to start singlehandedly lead labour camps and the economy had dropped to zero. Revenue the State towards what collection had dropped. Lockdown will not lead to reduction in he and his party think Corona. The solution is vaccination, social distancing, wearing of is a developed and masks and exercising precautions. prosperous Goa. Mining ban and restrictions on tourism have affected the Since assuming the state’s revenue. Impact of Corona has also led to an increase in post of Chief Minister, costs. Now we have to spend funds on solid waste management, he has been able to think for which there is a separate account. Although the Central out of the box and carried government provides funds for development works, the state forward governance with government has to put its hands in the coffers for current the consent of his cabinet infrastructure development. At present, tourism is the only colleagues, industry and working and lucrative sector, so it cannot be neglected. Goa is simple clear thinking. Add an important tourist destination on the world map. If we are to this his ability to study not serious about the betterment of tourism, other states and relevant other small neighbouring nations will leave us behind. PRIME: Being a doctor by profession, how do you manage Page 2 health sector, especially keeping in mind asked by journalists, I use friendly nature to I am looking forward to completing the work crore for the construction of basic facilities for the unimagined crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic? respond, however aggressive the other person by mid 2022. I always review the work of the national sports game. DR. SAWANT: The government has succeeded may be. A smile and humor always help in tackling construction by holding frequent meetings. Once PRIME: Education is the one sector which in maintaining healthcare facilities in Goa. I am the situation. I always welcome constructive the construction of the bridge is completed, it is dear to you, so you kept the portfolio with assisted by the constructive approach of the criticism, not criticize just for the sake of criticism. will definitely be a tourist attraction in the state. yourself. Any specific reasons ? Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane. The healthcare PRIME:. What In addition, it will DR. SAWANT: After taking over the Chief facilities available in Goa are world class and Goa are the important be a boon for Ministership in March 2019, nobody was willing has a respectable position in health care among development The BJP has already decided those traveling to take the Education portfolio. So, I immersed all states. Due to availability of high tech health projects which between Panaji myself in the Education sector of Goa. I am always facilities, patients from Maharashtra and Karnataka were or are being to ride into the Goa Assembly and Margao, of view, that students from Goa should get a come to Goa Medical College and Hospital. The executed in the Elections 2022 under the by reducing good education from primary level to higher decision taken by me in consultation with the state during your the traffic professional education. My government has been Health minister and experts in the fields, before tenure as chief leadership of Dr Pramod congestion. The successful in improving the quality of primary the onset of an epidemic like ‘Covid-19’ proved minister? Sawant, which again is a huge Zuari Bridge will schools in rural Goa. With more than 100 primary very successful. By tackling the issues that arose DR. SAWANT: be the second schools in operation, we have trained teachers during the difficult times, we showed everyone With the Mopa challenge. That is ample proof largest bridge in through online workshops for teacher recruitment that citizens need not be afraid of the pandemic. Airport coming up that the Cabinet and the party the country after and online education. PRIME: As a chief minister, many people, in Goa, the name the ‘Vidyasagar PRIME: Center has provided the state with Rs organization or even oppositions are coming to of the state will be organisation has full faith in Bridge’ in Kolkata. 100 crore, for celebrating with 60th Anniversary of you to express their views or demands. How do firmly engraved on his leadership abilities and The construction the Liberation of Goa. How do you plan to spend you manage to tackle them ? the global horizon. of the bridge will it ? DR. SAWANT: I’ve always kept the doors Due to the 8 lane his ample resourcefulness. cost around Rs DR. SAWANT: Goa is one of the premier open for all to discuss with me. Goa’s lifestyle is road from Patradevi Needless to say Chief 1,400 crore. One tourist destinations in India. We have also done changing rapidly. In such a situation, everyone to Polem, along Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant of the features of well in agricultural and food technology. I am needs to come up together as a team to imagine with the new 8 lane this bridge is the paying special attention to these sectors and I Goa for the next 25 to 50 years. Many of the Zuari Bridge, will is indomitable and yes, he is 125 meter high am determined to take the emphasis of the state issues facing Goa that can easily emerge from be a spectacular firmly in the saddle. tower. Galjibag- beyond the “sun, sand and sea” image. Today, the discussions, need to be discussed on the development Talpona bridge many development works are being carried out in table.