It was a very enlightening meeting today with Goa’s new Governor Satya Pal Malik at the Raj Bhavan. In our 30 minute frank and extremely very cordial interaction, I found our Governor to be very modest, practical and someone who believes in delivering good governance to the poorest of the poor. A gregarious personality with a robust heart. He is indeed a good listener with a very clear mind and believes in achieving results. The very knowledgeable and well experienced Governor Malik seems to be a person with a mind of his own and may not sign at the dotted line.
Governor Malik who has remained a socialist throughout recounted his role in the student movement and his association with Dr Ram Manohar Lohia and must be now pleased that he is today Governor of a State where Dr Lohia had ignited the freedom movement. I have assured Governor Malik that I would periodically be informing him on the problems facing our State while suggesting concrete solutions too.
Have also impressed on him the need to curtail unnecessary state expenditure and streamline the administration while stressing the need of tackling the garbage crisis on a war footing and attending to Goa’s potholed roads on a priority. I also requested to our Governor to try and visit the villages across Goa so that he could see for himself the hardship faced by the local people.
I did not broach up the contentious issue of restoring the RTI Act at our Raj Bhavan and have saved it for another day. I am confident that Governor Malik with his very broad outlook will not let Goa down and would do justice to the State. Let us only hope that Goa’s Ministers and MLA’s inculcate the values and principles of Governor Satya Pal Malik.
