On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, Chief Minister PRAMOD SAWANT in an exclusive interview with RAMNATH N PAI RAIKAR of The Navhind Times spoke about Goa’s financial stability, his government’s alignment with Modi’s vision, and the roadmap for Viksit Goa 2037. He touched on infrastructure, human resource development, and transparency in governance, while also sharing his views on challenges posed by social media, personal allegations, and Modi’s contributions to India’s growth.
You have been the Chief Minister for six-and-a-half years. How do you assess the assistance Goa has received from the Narendra Modi government during your tenure?
The state’s revenue from the central government’s financial assistance comes in three or four ways. One is in the form of financial grants from the Finance Commission. As soon as I came to power, I revived and formed the 15th State Finance Commission. Due to this, we reaped significant benefits for rural development during the past three years, amounting to more than Rs 2,000 crore, which was used for various projects under the panchayats and rural municipalities. Then, routine grants – in a 60:40 ratio – could be tapped from time to time for developmental projects in sectors ranging from health to tourism. Thirdly, we received a very good state share of GST grants during my tenure, which was approximately Rs 4,000 crore, and this greatly improved the financial condition of the state. Furthermore, the direct spending of the central government on state infrastructure, such as national-level projects, also benefitted Goa, and can be placed at more than Rs 33,000 crore over the past 10 years. In addition, we received special grants for various departmental projects linked to tourism, fisheries, and others. For the first time, the Centre also gave us infrastructural loans without interest for 50 years, based on reforms in areas such as electricity and ease of doing business. I would say that Goa could receive such large-scale central financial assistance due to the Modi government at the Centre. I also revised loans by converting high-interest loans into low-interest ones namely the SIDBI loans, RIDF loans, and NABARD loans. With such a financial backdrop, we can say that the present financial position of the state is good.
Your government in Goa has often mirrored the Union government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For instance, you adopted the Atmanirbhar Bharat concept as Swayampurna Goa and based your governance on the Antyodaya principle. What has inspired this approach?
This is the real advantage of a double-engine government. My motto is that the Prime Minister’s vision should reach the last person in the community. Antyoday, Sarvoday, and Gramoday are therefore close to my way of working. I launched Swayampurna Goa to follow all the schemes of the Narendra Modi government under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and bring their benefits to Goa and Goans. This has resulted in taking these schemes to the doorsteps of Goans, while also giving impetus to the Swayampurna Goa programme. You can see the results in areas like agriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, and dairy. Whether the scheme is for an industrialist or a street vendor, a Jan Dhan beneficiary or a pensioner, I have ensured that these schemes have reached the maximum number of Goans. They have been implemented not only by the government machinery but also through nationalised banks.
As a follow-up to Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, you announced Viksit Goa 2037. With 12 years to go, how do you plan to achieve this goal?
For any kind of progress or development, a vision is mandatory. We need to do thorough planning, and success is bound to follow. When Modiji announced Viksit Bharat 2047, in commemoration of the centenary of India’s Independence in 2047, we felt that Goa, as a progressive state, could achieve this task a decade earlier. By December 19, we will place the Viksit Goa 2037-related documents in the public domain. These documents will contain complete plans for every sector, including infrastructure, education, agriculture, and human resources. Both long-term and short-term progress of Goa, in a step-wise manner, will be revealed through these plans. I am cent per cent confident of achieving this target in a time-bound manner.
Since 2000, the Bharatiya Janata Party has ruled Goa for most of the years and has driven much of its progress. Do you believe anything significant still remains to be achieved?
When we look at the development of the state, we can observe it in two ways: infrastructure development and human resource development. Whatever major infrastructure was required for this tourism state has been achieved. However, we still need infrastructure for the agricultural sector, food processing, rural tourism, and so on. For example, a water taxi service for the tourism sector is still required. If Goa has to become a ‘Developed State’, then all such infrastructure is necessary. Skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling are also part of developing human resources in the state. We have already tied up Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) with the Tata Group, but more needs to be done to upgrade them. We also want to tie up polytechnics, engineering colleges, and even graduation colleges with industry, to make human resources industry-ready. The process has already begun, and in the next five years, industry-ready human resources will be available, whether for the tourism sector or the pharma sector.
During your tenure, you have faced various allegations from both the opposition and the public. Which allegation do you feel was most hurtful, especially if it was unfounded?
I was the first Chief Minister to implement the Staff Selection Commission. However, my family and I were unnecessarily dragged in the recruitment process. The entire issue of recruitment was politicised, and my wife was unnecessarily drawn into it. In fact, she has filed a defamation case in this matter against a member of a political party. I am of the firm opinion that political parties can politicise issues, but they should not personalise them by drawing family members of a politician into it. This is not only stooping to cheap politics but also lowering one’s character. Today, the Staff Selection Commission reflects transparency, and I won’t fall prey to the unfounded allegations made against me and my family.
In today’s age, governance has become more challenging due to technological advances and the constant scrutiny of social media. As Chief Minister, do you feel stressed by this environment?
The use of technology, I would say, is good for governance and transparency. We want to use many of these advantages of technology in administration. Some people, however, misuse technology and spread misinformation through it. Positive advancements and innovations in technology are always welcome for good governance. My government has consistently embraced them. I have also brought in various reforms in my day-to-day administration. That is why so many of my departments’ offices are successfully providing online services. Therefore, I do not worry about criticism on social media. Of course, we have also given fitting replies to such criticism from time to time.
Q: You are known for rarely losing your temper, even in heated situations in the Assembly or outside. What helps you remain so patient, and what is the secret behind your anger management?
First of all, the interest of the state is my interest, and nothing beyond that. This has helped me remain focussed on Goa and its betterment, which in turn has helped me conserve my patience. I also practice daily Yog and Pranayam, which help me retain my calm. And then there is ‘Nitya Dev Puja,’ or daily ritualistic worship of God.
Finally, how do you evaluate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12 years in office in terms of India’s development?
The 12th year of Modiji’s tenure as Prime Minister will be complete soon, while he himself will be completing 75 years. The country has completed 78 years of Independence, and if you compare the 17–18 years of the Bharatiya Janata Party rule in the country with the rule of the other political party, you will see a clear difference in the progress and development of India during both these rules. The BJP governments have achieved towering heights in the delivery of Class I infrastructure to India. Furthermore, this growth is not only in BJP-ruled states but also in those ruled by other political parties. Secondly, the Prime Minister has been consistently interacting with Indians since he took office, through the radio programme Mann ki Baat. No Prime Minister could achieve this stupendous task. He has also brought major economic reforms in the country, taking India’s global economic ranking from a fragile economy in 10th place to the fourth position, and now vying for the third. I would also like to mention that Modiji managed to take Yog and AYUSH to 180 countries, thus giving the world the philosophy of ancient India. Finally, there are countless Missions launched by him for the countrymen – from Clean India to Fit India, Make in India to Digital India – and they are being followed dedicatedly and earnestly. I don’t think there has ever been such a phenomenal achievement in India.
