PANAJI
As the winter session of the Goa Legislative Assembly wrapped up on Friday, concerns were raised over the tendency of political parties and leaders to make grand promises during election campaigns, only to fall short when it comes to dedicating time for debates on important issues that affect their constituents and the State once in office.
This is evident from the fact that Goa’s 40 elected lawmakers have met for an average of just 17 days per year since March 2019 for a healthy debate. Interestingly, Goa is following all India foot-step, wherein the trend shows that the number of State Assembly sittings in the country in recent times is abysmally low.
Experts feel that the elected members are hurting the trust of their own people and it is a sorry state of affairs. They also feel that with those in ruling being the decision makers in House summoning, they have been misusing the very mandate that the Indian constitution does not stipulate the number of days that a legislative assembly or parliament should meet.
This worrying trend is despite handsome salary packages with perks and privileges drawn by the elected House members. Our own lawmakers are drawing a salary of Rs 4,000 per day when the House is in session apart from 500 litres of petrol.
Former Law Commissioner Ramakant Khalap said it is a sorry state of affairs, not just in Goa but across all States of India. He said it’s a matter of grave concern which needs immediate redressal or the legislative system will gradually lose its real value. “There is no scope for quality debate and due to this, perhaps legislators hurt the people’s trust. They are fooling the people who voted them to power,” he said.
Khalap said that the State government is getting away with the mandate of Indian Constitution, which says that not more than six months should pass between sessions. Also, the constitution does not mention even the minimum number of days that State assemblies must meet in a year. “This gives those in ruling the liberty to call for a session as per their choice or just to meet the constitution mandate,” he added.
Legislatures have three primary responsibilities: discussing and passing Bills, scrutinising and approving government finances, and holding the government accountable. However, with ruling in full majority and with shrinking graph of the opposition, over the last few years, the crucial bills and Budgets are passed with less scrutiny.
Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar admitted that if an Assembly having 40 MLAs meets just for two-days or a week, it will not give them time to discuss public issues or issues concerning the State. “For progress of the State, there need to be healthy debate and discussion,” he said.
A detailed analysis shows the shrinking graph of the Goa Legislative Assembly since March 2019 when Pramod Sawant took over the reins of the State from his predecessor late Manohar Parrikar. From then till December 2024, the House met only for 104 days with the longest session being the 2019 Monsoon session when MLAs discussed business for 20 days.
Like Parliament, an assembly usually meets thrice --Budget, Monsoon and a Winter Session -- a year. There are many issues confronting this small state like unemployment, land conversion, law and order, poor road infrastructure, potable water supply among many others.
Former deputy chief minister Chandrakant Kavlekar said, “It is a prerogative of the Chief Minister and those in power but it is important that Assembly holds healthy debate…it is a platform to address public issues…less number of days means lack of quality debate.”
Another former Speaker said, “The situation is worrisome for a small State like Goa. It is very important that we set precedent to other States by ensuring maximum Assembly sittings. People have already started to react…before they start losing trust or faith in their elected members…the ruling should not misuse the power of being in majority and with almost no opposition…the question here is about the public and issues concerning them.”
ASSEMBLY NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
SALARIES, ALLOWANCES & OTHER PERKS FOR MLAS
The MLA allowance on the days when the Assembly is in session is Rs 4,000; Car loan limit up to Rs 40 lakh; House purchase loan up to Rs 45 lakh; MLA’s pension Rs 30,000 per month, with an annual hike of Rs 4,000; Fuel allowance 500 litres.
