Being a NRI, I often travel all over the world and when I see other countries and their infrastructure, including their airports, public transport, roads and other amenities, my thoughts often come back to Goa, and India and I wonder when will Goa become like Shanghai, Singapore or Hongkong.

I wonder where today’s politicians are leading Goa due to absence of any master plan or any foresight for Goa’s development. Large scale land conversions, deforestation, corruption, a pathetic transport system, roads which are death traps, housing beyond the reach of the common man, rampant mining, a police force controlled by phone calls from politicians, an ill equipped public health system accessible only to the privileged few, electricity supply at the mercy of the weather and the linesman who switch on and off without any notice, a directionless education policy without any guidance to the youth. No wonder hardly any Goans opt for IAS, IITs and MBAs. Today’s youth seem to prefer lucrative jobs on passenger ships and in EU countries on Portuguese passports rather than pursuing higher education.

While Goa is being converted into holiday homes by the elite, real estate has become out of reach for the common man. Cost of land, houses and apartments have shot up dramatically, mainly due to the demand for holiday homes in Goa. Money is being pumped into Goa by real estate developers and property is bought and sold by aliens in blatant violation of existing rules. While mega housing projects are being approved without even a site inspection, ordinary Goans dreaming of having their own houses are being harassed unnecessarily when it comes to plan approvals.

Why can’t our politicians wake up and do what they are elected to do. Why can’t our politicians compare our Goa with the rest of the world and see at least where we can improve. We cannot afford to wait and watch while our dear Goa is being plundered and raped by today’s politicians, land mafia and bureaucracy right. Our actions today will decide what the future holds for our children in the generations to come!