Posts

Showing posts with the label Roland Martins

Plant Nurseries in Goa and the Consumer

Image
Along the highway, it is common to see plant nurseries presenting an attractive sight. The prices that are charged for these plants vary, some charging over a hundred rupees for plants that would normally cost a price in double digits. Many of these nurseries are without a licence and are not authorised to sell plants. The Friday Balcão met on 9th of February 2018 to discuss the Goa Fruit and Ornamental Plant Nurseries (Regulation) Act, 1995, its implications on those who operate plant nurseries without a licence and use handcarts to sell plants from place to place, as well as the role of the government, legitimate businessmen and consumers. The reason for the discussion titled ‘Strengthening Regulations for Plant Nurseries in Goa: Role of Govt, Business and Consumers’ at the Friday Balcão, was the numerous complaints the various Consumer Forums were receiving about people having bought mango saplings or coconut saplings believing they were of a certain variety and then they turned out

The Goans’ Right to Time Bound Delivery of Public Services

Image
One of the most common complaints we have regarding bureaucratic workings and the pace of progress in any governmental organisation, is the paucity of concern and indolence. Only recently, a few departments have pulled up their socks, as in the case of the Indian Passport Office. However there still remain other departments that need to be woken up. A ray of light has appeared in the garb of an Act, a legal enactment to place more power in the hands of the common man and allow him to combat corruption and indifference. At a panel discussion on the implementation of the Goa (Right of Citizens to Time-Bound Delivery of Public Services) Act 2013 at the International Centre Goa, the implications for government agents if they did not maintain a good standard of performance were put forth. Secretary of Goa Lokayukta, former collector of South Goa N D Agarwal and the coordinator of GOACAN Roland Martins,  were part of the panel with Pramod Acharya, the editor of Prudent Media, acting as the m