The one good thing about Assembly elections these days is that voters are entitled, among other things, to know the educational qualifications of the candidates. It is mandatory for every candidate to file an affidavit declaring among other things the educational qualifications and criminal record, if any.
Perusal of records of last few elections shows that the less educated the candidate is, the better are his chances of getting elected. Today the electoral fortunes of candidates are also really brightened based on how colorful their criminal record is, coupled with heavy money bags and a reasonable supplement muscle back up.
The Goa Assembly elections are due next year and it is that time now when prospective candidates will have to get their degrees and diplomas ready for public scrutiny. It is no secret that, like everything else, degrees and diplomas too are today a purchasable commodity.
It seems to fit well in the new order of things that, at the 2007
Assembly elections many of those who were elected then had not even eached or cleared the 10th Std. While seven out of 40, had not made t even up to SSC, nine cleared and got stuck there. Just four others anaged to reach the 12th Std., but had gone no further. All of these aken together make 20 – half of the strength of the Goa Legislative ssembly. The other half comprises the ‘educated’: 13 Graduates, 4 ouble Graduates and 3 Post-Graduates which includes Home Minister avi Naik ( MA Part 1 ) and Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes, also an MA, both from Madurai Kamraj University in Tamil Nadu.
However, it is interesting to note that there are glaring discrepancies between the educational qualifications of our MLAs as sworn by them in their affidavits at election time in 2007, or shown soon thereafter, and what is displayed now on the Goa Legislative Assembly website.
Home Minister Ravi Naik and Calangute MLA Agnelo Feranndes may have been at each others necks on the floor of the house, but they have one thing in common an MA degree connection from Madurai Kamraj University.
Ravi Naik’s affidavit in 2007 had claimed that he was MA Part 1 from Kamraj University, Madurai. Could it be in Tamil medium? It must definitely not be in English given that Mr. Ravi Naik has not been able to even read clearly in the Legislative Assembly the written notes given to him by his officers. What is more confusing is that the latest information on the government website does not make any mention of Ravi Naik’s educational qualification and his so called MA degree.
Beware that if Mr. Ravi Naik recommends the Madurai route for anyone to get University education, that could lead to the web of Mr. A. Raja of 2G fame.
Mr. Churchill Alemao’s educational qualifications also makes interesting reading. In his affidavit in 2007 he had claimed to be ‘Segundo Grau’ in 1961 from Portuguese Primary school at Varca which is an equivalent to the present day’s Std. 4th of school education. Now the government website about Churchill Alemao’s educational qualification merely says “Portuguese Education” – may be to insinuate that that he studied at the Coimbra University in Portugal?
Foes-turned friends-turn foes again, Joaquim Alemao and Micky Pacheco had both claimed to have passed Std 7th. The government website however now classifies the Urban Development Minister as a “Non Matric”. A cunning way to mask the reality. Tomorrow one would not be lying if having failed Std 4th you still claim you are a “Non Graduate”
Babush Monseratte’s dilemma is that he is the Education Minister. In his affidavit in 2007 he had claimed to be SSC. However in his declaration to the Goa Legislative Assembly he had stated he was BA. The Legislative Assembly website which was earlier showing him as BA has now downgraded him to SSC. Soon we shall know from his official school records, whether he is SSC or 7th Std. passed.
Even the lone lady MLA Victoria Fernandes, who in 2007 fasted and fainted for a Cabinet berth, fares no better: she is only SSC, or so she claims. Could this be the reason why Sonia Gandhi and the Congress High Command were not impressed with her case for a slot in the Cabinet?
Some have the money and aptitude, but do not care to pursue their education; others have the will and crave to be educated, but lack financial support; and there are also a few who just do not have the brains to cope with the demands of formal education. A close look at the background and performance of the current 40 MLAs will show in which of these categories they fall.
MLAs are supposed to be drafting and debating good laws for the State. So some good education levels is very essential for any MLA to be able to perform and articulate on various issues in the Legislative Assembly. Goa may be India’s third most literate state, but does the Goa Legislative Assembly reflect that reality? We have been faltering in the quality of persons that we have been electing as our legislators. Even Bihar has done better. We should be blaming ourselves and not the uneducated or under educated MLA’s we elect.
Uneducated and their illiterate henchmen have terrorized Goans into voting for the Illiterate Persons to power, and thus creating crumb eaters and Ghanti Vote Banks, We Goans are to be blamed for not standing up against the tyranny. Unless we unite and stand up Goans will be Ghantis and Ghantis will be Goans.
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