It seems the much-hyped Digital India movement might just be a flightless bird, as reports emerge suggesting that online complaints to government departments never get the attention it deserves.
A little bird of activism, known for wearing the plumage of truth, recently chirped that officials seem to have developed a remarkable talent for ignoring digital cries for help.
"They're so adept at avoiding online complaints, they could probably win a gold medal in bureaucratic gymnastics," quipped the avian activist.
It seems that in the brave new world of Digital India, the only sure-fire way to grab the attention of government departments is to go old-school and submit a physical, hardcopy complaint.
Critics are calling foul on the Digital India movement, accusing it of being nothing more than a glorified nameplate.
"It's like slapping a 'high-speed internet' sticker on a carrier pigeon and calling it progress," scoffed one disillusioned observer.
As citizens grapple with the frustrating reality of digital deafness in government circles, one thing is clear: when it comes to navigating the labyrinthine corridors of bureaucracy, it seems the pen is still mightier than the pixel.
Anxiety may take toll on candidates
in long wait till June 4
The period between election day on May 7 and the day fixed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for counting of the votes from EVMs across India on June 4 is indeed a long wait for the candidates who contested the two Lok Sabha seats in our State to get to know their fate: one day short of a month.
God knows what thoughts are haunting the contestants, but it is unlikely that any of them will be spared the anxiety attacks, especially not the greenhorns of electoral politics, and, we had quite a few of them in the fray here.
Take for example the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate for South Goa, Pallavi Dempo, an outright 'outsider' in the political arena, although, given her profile as a corporate head-honcho, that too from an industrial house of the stature of Dempo's, brushing shoulders with top politicos and members of the highest echelons in the 'babu'-dom could perhaps be an everyday story. For her, this long wait to know the result until June 4, could be excruciatingly stressful, even if she told us she is "back to work" and busy with clearing up the backlog of 'pending work' in all the verticals of the vast Dempo empire she is in-charge of.
Next, is the case of Dempo's main rival, Captain Viriato Fernandes of the Congress, who may be better placed given his Naval background and experience, to take the rigors of this long, 4-week wait to know whether he will make it as the next South Goa MP or not. Interestingly, the ex-serviceman seems hungry for more, on-ground political work and is said to be touring the constituency without a break ostensibly to thank the people who worked and supported his campaign.
Up in the North Goa seat, we had two of Goa's most experienced politicians vying with each other -- the incumbent Shripad Naik of the BJP and old warhorse Ramakant Khalap of the Congress. This duo must have lost count of the number of elections they have fought what with careers in mainstream electoral poltiics spanning four decades and five decades, respectively. Yet, it is unlikely that they are immune to the pangs of anxiety owing to the long wait until June 4.
Of the others in the fray, the two candidates of the Revolutionary Goans Party -- its President Manoj Parab in the North and Rubert Pereira in South Goa -- and the number of their loud and boisterous supporters will be the most anxious to know the outcome of their first foray into Lok Sabha elections on June 4. For, they are aware as much as we journos and political analysts are, that their performance here could define the contours of the journey forward for their fledgling regional party.
Nonetheless, it's not just the candidates, the leadership and workers of their political parties but all and sundry engrossed with this, one of the largest democratic elections in the world, who will have to wait to know exactly which way Goa's electorate went this time, for June 4. Until then, happy psephology!
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Another year of turmoil
for Panjimites
If people living in Panaji and those who do business in the city or visit it often thought that their woes commuting within the city will end on May 31, think again. For, this deadline set by the Bombay High Court at Goa which took up two PIL's questioning the chaos inflicted due to the execution of the 'smart city' projects is inevitably being overrun.
Worse, with the weathermen predicting that the monsoon will arrive earlier than it normally does this year, Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) and its contractors are unlikely to get the additional dry weeks they got last year when the monsoon arrived only in the last week of June. Wrapping up could therefore be a huge challenge for them and Panjimites will have no choice but to be up for another shock: more 'smart city' work and more mess for a third year in a row, post the monsoon to finish the undone work.
