Address To The Members Of The Goa State Assembly, Goa

Missions for Goa's Prosperity

I am delighted to be in this beautiful environment of Panjim and also to get this opportunity to address the Hon?ble Members of the Legislative Assembly of Goa. I am very happy to be here in the Goa Legislative Assembly, which is an institution that gives vision to the state, evolves the legal frame-work for the policies and programmes of the state and gives shape to the aspirations of the people of this state.

In the post 1961 era political history and economic growth of Goa are seen to be rhythmic and closely interwoven with that of our nation as a whole. Legislative Assembly of Goa has witnessed and wisely guided several important phases of the State?s growth since its formation in the year 1987. Prior to that the Assembly of the Union Territory provided the necessary leadership. In the face of many challenges, various governments have placed Goa on a positive-growth track. I would like to discuss with the Hon?ble Members of Goa Legislative Assembly: ?Missions for Goa?s Prosperity?. These missions are that of the people, the entrepreneurs and other innovators who love Goa. Public?private partnerships including through foreign investments will be required to carryout these missions.

Our National Mission ? Challenges

Our nation is going through a major challenge of uplifting of 260 million people who are below the poverty line. They need habitat, they need food, they need health care, and they need education and employment finally resulting in a good life. Our GDP is growing at more than 7% per annum. Whereas, the economists suggest that to uplift the people below poverty line, our economy has to grow at the rate of 10% per annum consistently, for over a decade.

Integrated Action for Development

To meet the needs of one billion people whose number will further increase, we have a mission of transforming India into a developed nation. We have identified five areas where India has core competencies for integrated action: (1) Agriculture and food processing (2) Reliable and Quality Electric power, Surface transport and Infrastructure for all parts of the country. (3) Education and Healthcare (4) Information and Communication Technology (5) Strategic sectors. These five areas are closely inter-related and when effectively addressed, would lead to food, economic, energy and national security.

Engines for Growth

Emphasis should be on full utilization of natural and human resources of the region to meet the demands of the modern society. We should also remember that about 50% of our population is young people, with aspirations for a better life. Value addition to Agriculture, Manufacturing and Service sectors of the economy, building on the regions? core competencies and technologies, will lead to high income growth rate and employment potential. The engines for growth will be launching of the five national missions viz. water, energy, education and skills, infrastructure and employment generation, which will enable achievement of 10% GDP growth rate per annum, sustainable for a minimum period of ten years. Developed States result in developed India. Now I would like to discuss about the core competence of Goa.

Core competence of Goa

Goa is situated on the western coast and Terekhol river, separates Goa from Maharashtra and on the south lies North Canara district of Karnataka. On the east lie the Western Ghats and in the west the Arabian Sea. Mandovi, Zuari,Betul, Chapora are the other rivers of Goa.

The state has a total area of 3,702 sq km. Topographically, Goa can be divided into three distinct sub-regions, namely the coastal plains, the intermediate or transitional sub-mountainous region and the interior hilly region ranging from 300 to 1,200 meter in height.

The state has more than 100 km long coastline, 250 km navigable inland waterways and a number of small water bodies.

Goa is rich in forest, agricultural produce, cashew nut, vegetables, coconut, sugarcane, oilseeds and pulses. The beaches, churches, temples, mosques, wildlife and museums make Goa a very attractive tourist destination. The literacy in Goa is over 82%. I am happy to note that Goa is covered under the Uniform Civil Code, which ensures equal share in inheritance to male and female and compulsory registration of births, deaths and marriages.

Developed states? means Developed India

With all these favourable factors, what can be the missions for Goa? Since the poverty level in Goa is about 4.5% your mission has to be quite different from other states. I have focused the development leading to higher per capita income and better quality of life. Your state can transform into an economically developed model state. At this stage, let me share with you a Development Radar brought out by the Planning Commission for various states.

The boundary of octagon projected in the development radar indicates the maximum achievements of various indicators of development. The smaller octagon represents the national average. While we appreciate you for your achievements in literacy, formal education, poverty alleviation and life expectancy, the Hon?ble Members must realize that Goa has got the potential to further reduce infant mortality rate and increase the net percapita expenditure, in addition to providing safe drinking water to all and pucca houses to large number of population. In addition you should aim at the living standards and quality of life for all people in the State as in the developed world by the year 2010.

Focus Goa

I am happy to learn that the Government of Goa has already charted out a road map for its full fledged development. My presentation to this Legislative Assembly will focus on how the percapita income of Goa can be increased from the existing Rs. 34,000(at 2004-2005) to Rs. 70,000 by 2009-10 and also to create investment friendly climate leading to employment avenues for the One Lakh unemployed or underemployed persons of the state. Also the female literacy rate has to be improved. Goa should aim at 100% literacy by 2010.

In Goa, with its Human Development Index between one and two among the states, it is possible to increase the revenue generation of the state and earning capacity of the citizens through certain development missions, which I will be presenting. We need to go for conversion of ore into value added products, agro-food processing, jatropha cultivation and converting into bio-fuel and enhancing the tourism potential of the state. I would like to propose a Special Economic Zone for IT products BPO?s and small scale industries.

Missions for Goa

Let us study what are the missions which Goa can undertake based on the core competence of the state. The following are the missions for Goa?s Prosperity in a decade:

1. Tourism including Spiritual, health and eco-tourism.

2. Horticulture.

3. Creation of Exclusive IT Park.

4. Setting up a Steel Plant for creating value added products using the iron ore.

5. Preparing Paramedics and technicians with quality Training.

6. Establishment of PURA for Rural prosperity

7. Fishing

8. Biofuel

9. Infrastructure

Let me now discuss each of the missions:

Mission # 1 : Tourism including Spiritual, Health and Eco

There are number of places of interest in Goa which will be an attraction for the tourists. The visitor is attracted to historical memorials such as Church of St.Francis of Assissi, Se Cathedral, Rudreshwar Temple of Harvalem, Sri Mallikarjuna, Jama Masjid at Sanguem, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and Archives Museum of Goa at Panaji spread all over the state. Also there are state-of-the-art hospitals. I am delighted to know about 690 chartered flights land in Goa every year.

I would like to recall an event when I visited Goa last time. I visited the Church of St.Francis of Assissi, when I saw the Saint in his holy church, I respectfully recalled the famous spiritual inspiring prayer:

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred let me sow love;

And where there is injury, pardon;

And where there is doubt, faith;

And where there is despair, hope;

And where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

This prayer is indeed a prayer for peace and love for human beings. This spiritual message of love should radiate throughout the Legislative Assembly of Goa and among all the people of Goa.

When I am with you today, I am reminded of my visit to Asia, Europe and Africa in the year 2003, particularly I would like to narrate an incident. In Dubai (UAE), I met the Ruler of Dubai. He said that Dubai is planning to increase the tourist arrival by five times. Once this decision was taken I found, that the aviation minister was planning for a new airport and also new types of aircraft needed for attracting the tourists. The surface transport minister was planning a number of additional lanes required in the highways. The works ministry was planning for increase in the hotel accommodation for accommodating the tourists without disappointment. The health ministry had a road map for waste management, additional clean water need. This was the type of integrated response that I found in the whole government to fulfill the national objective. We have to take the message of this experience and plan for the multiple requirements through integrated planning, simultaneously for promoting tourism in our country.

We need people friendly professional tour operators having proficiency in this field. They should have the ability to use modern tools and be able to provide in-depth factual data about various places of interests to the tourists. They should also guide them to avail diversified tourist products such as general, spiritual, and eco-tourism. Since traditionally Goa has additional language of Portuguese also other European languages can be mastered for spoken levels. This will attract tourists and provide job for youth.

Goa with its unique tourist places of interest can definitely increase the domestic tourist arrival to 60 lakhs from the existing 20 lakhs, and foreign tourist arrival from the existing 3.5 lakhs to 1.2 million. Every tourist national or international generates at least 4 jobs as per the international experience. This increase in tourist arrival will provide additional employment to large number of Goan youth in various sectors of the tourism industry. It will also generate business of over Rs.2100 Crores. Goa?s wealth is the beautiful beaches and the 40% forest area. While the tourist inflow will increase in the coming years it is essential to preserve a great heritage of Goa, including its forest cover by evolving an appropriate environment Policy. This should enable regulation of the increased tourist inflow and continuously improving the environment. Now let us discuss Horticulture.

Mission # 2 : Horticulture

Goa is a potential state for cultivation of Cash crops like Cashewnut, Coconut, mango, banana, spices and medicinal plants. Emphasis is needed in the development of irrigation infrastructure and distribution network. Also, there is a need for increasing the level of mechanization to reduce the cost of cultivation in horticultural estates. Focus should be on watershed development approach. Research is required for developing high-yield low gestation period crops of these horticulture variety. These activities have to be taken up in a mission mode leading to setting up of fruit and vegetable processing plants and packaging system for floriculture aiming the export market. This will facilitate distant marketing of horticulture produce of Goa. The target for horticultural products should be set for around Rs.50 Crores. This will be a wealth generator-cum-employment provider mission for the farmers of the state. The Goa Government can take the assistance of the National Horticultural Mission for technical, managerial and financial support.

Normally orchid will grow well in places of hill regions like Sikkim. But we have seen Singapore exporting orchids worth $ 25 million per year. Definitely Goa has potential to grow orchid in the hilly regions.

Mission # 3: Creation of Exclusive IT Park

Presently, Goa has limited IT infrastructure and also exposure to IT Industry. The Goa Government is committed to improve the infrastructure and has made IT education compulsory at secondary and higher secondary level.

Also, they have introduced an exclusive discipline in IT at higher secondary level, so that, students can secure admission in B.Tech at the University level. Once such powerful IT human resource is available we have to ensure that info-tech industry is promoted in an exclusive IT park with certain special fiscal benefits. Goa has potential to become an IT rich environment such as tele-education, tele-medicine and e-Governance. Since you are part of the sea, you can establish sea connectivity to the other countries through high bandwidth fibre. This will enable you to provide value added IT enabled services to many destinations abroad and become a preferred outsourcing destination. The beautiful beach environment will be an added attraction for the foreign outsourcing companies to visit Goa. The Hon?ble Members assembled here should aim an export target of $100 million and employment for 2 lakh knowledge workers. The additional manpower required can come from other states.

Rashtrapati Bhavan has implemented an e-Governance portal for G2G and G2C connectivity forming a e-Governance Grid and Raj Bhavan and Secretariat of Goa will shortly get connected to Rashtrapati Bhavan, as in the case of other states and central ministries. The Goa State government should embark on a mission of creating a e-governance data centre at the state level and the district level connected through a state wide e-governance grid, enabling a seamless flow of information from Government to Government and government to citizens. This will ensure transparency and fast decision making process.

Mission # 4: Setting up of a Steel Plant for creating value added products using the iron ore

On my study, I found 23 million tons of Goan Iron Ore and 9 million tons of non-Goan Iron ore are being exported by Goa to countries such as China, Japan, Pakistan, Romania, Europe and South Korea at a price of nearly $ 1.1 Bn. Whereas by value addition we can at least get ten times this price in the national and international markets.

The reason given for this is that there is an antipathy towards coal based steel plants in the state. Also it is being assumed that the gas based steel plant will not be economically viable. I had discussions with the executives of TATA Steel and they suggest the following course of action. The Goan Iron Ore is of medium grade and friable in nature and generates more fines. However, this can be gainfully used in the country by upgrading it by beneficiation. The beneficiated Ore can be agglomerated either by sintering or through pelletising making it ideal for use in blast furnaces. The product from the blast furnaces can be used to make steel either through electric steel making or through basic oxygen steel making. The steel thus produced can be continuously cast for large size products either for domestic use or for export. Thus, the Hon?ble Members can see that the Goan Ore can be value added within the country and the products exported rather than direct export of Ore as is being done now. I would suggest that the Goa Industry Ministry can have detailed discussions with Tata Steel and other interested major steel companies for a Joint Venture for adding value to the naturally available ore in Goa. This is very important especially in view of the expected surge in consumption of steel in India. We have to make every effort to conserve our natural resources and use them judiciously for our national development missions.

Mission # 5: Preparing Paramedics and technicians with quality Training

India is in the process of improving the healthcare services which will need additional 5 lakh nurses. As per the latest report, worldwide requirement for nurses are estimated to be around one million from now to 2012. Presently, in India about 50,000 nurses qualifies every year. There is a need to increase this capacity to 2 lakhs within the next five years in the country. Goa has a core competence in nursing, because of its cultural environment. Goa can make use of this opportunity and create a Nursing College with a capacity for training 200 nurses at a time.

In addition there must be a special drive to equip the nurses with training at various healthcare centers and super speciality environments and equip them with language skills and proficiencies that can match the required international standards. This will be one of the important employment avenues for the compassionate women of Goa. The Department of Health in Goa should draw up a scheme and create the training facility in collaboration with the Central Government immediately. In addition there is a need for many other specialized paramedical personnel. Skilled technicians and the para medical assistance are in great demand world over in the healthcare sector. The Tremendous potential exists for educated youth to take up nursing and para-medics as a profession. The generation of quality nurses and skilled technicians can be taken as one of missions for the development of healthcare services and employment generations in Goa.

In addition to the above, Goa University has to be reinforced with the courses like Bio-technology and bio-farming, IT, management courses.

Mission # 6 : Establishment of PURA for Rural prosperity

Goa has around 350 villages spread over two Districts of North Goa and South Goa and has approximately 105 Kms of coast line which is most suitable for creation of Coastal PURA.

Coastal PURA: I have discussed with Dr. P.S. Rana, Chairman HUDCO on the development of coastal PURA in Goa. I would like to share with you the design of the coastal PURA.

Physical Connectivity: Construction of jetties and small and medium sized boat landing centres on the coast in the interval of 10 to 15 km range.

Each of these will have a good link road to the main coastal road. Some times road transportation may be complemented with waterways. Establishment of Community Sheds for repair of nets, storing the nets and related equipments of the fishing community and Boat building and repair small scale industries.

Electronic Connectivity: All the fishing villages on the coastal areas have to be linked with the District Headquarters through the Broadband fibre and wireless connectivities. Fishing community should be provided with broadcasting facilities through Satellite radios and HAMSAT network. Mobile cell phone with GPS facility may be provided for each boat for emergency communication.

This will also provide the local fishing population data, local meteorological and local sea state data through SMS from the Village knowledge Centres obtained from near by the Meteorological station, Disaster Management stations, District Headquarter station and the other service providers.

Knowledge Connectivity: Government should facilitate the training of fishing community in cost effective safe fishing techniques, application of technology for improving the productivity, storage and preservation systems and cost effective marketing, banking & financing systems through the District Headquarters Studio and the connected village knowledge centers.

It will also provide adequate warning data for the fishing community on the sea to return to home safely.

Economic Connectivity: These three connectivities -physical, electronic and knowledge will motivate and enable the local population to create economic centres such as Cold Storage infrastructure, Fish processing and packaging and marketing for realizing the value added price.

This will also provide alternative employment oriented schemes during non-fishing days and for people who are involved in agriculture and other activities. Such economically oriented job creating activities should be the objective of our rural development schemes. With the available coast line I would recommend creation of ten coastal PURAs as discussed above. In addition to the above Goa can consider establishment of ten normal PURAs with physical connectivity, electronic connectivity, knowledge connectivity leading to economic connectivity. In respect of physical connectivity, I would recommend creation of inland waterways in addition to multi-lane road systems in areas where rivers are available. This will become an added attraction to the tourists.

Mission# 7 Fishing:

Since Goa has hundred kilometers of coast line and large water bodies within the state, Goa Government can consider a co-operative society for the fishing community with the economic and managerial assistance so that per capita income of our fishing community can substantially increase.

Presently, I understand, Goa is having a fish catch of 84,000 tons valued at Rs.200 Crores and the state is exporting 9500 tons of high value fish at Rs.46 crores. With deep sea fishing, processing, packaging and marketing Goa can certainly aim at a target of 2 lakh tons by 2008. This will be possible by helping fishing folk with proper communication facilities for the safe return, satellite imagery at right time, deep sea fishing vessels and cold storage facility at coastal PURA sites which I have discussed earlier.

My Experience in Iceland: When I was in Iceland in June 2005, I studied their economy, their highest per capita comes from fishing industry.

Hence I took interest to study the fishing industry in Iceland. Even though they have a vast sea all around their territory, they have ?sea area silence? that means particular period no fishing boats are allowed to catch fish. This allows sufficient grownup fish catch for the fishermen during rest of the period. Also the sea zones are allotted to the fishermen based on the satellite fish school data. They have satellite surveillance and land communication to safeguard their economic zones, so that other countries do not enter for fishing. But most important thing, I would like to convey is their success in deep sea fishing. I visited one of the very big fish trawlers which has 200 tons fish processing capacity and 1800 tons storage capacity. The deep sea fishing, fish processing, packaging and marketing ? all these aspects are taking place in the middle of the sea. It gives a new dimension to the whole fish industry.

Mission # 8: Bio-fuel mission

Goa has 56,000 hectares of cultivable waste land. Certain multi-purpose bio-fuel plants can grow well in this land with very minimum input. Once cultivated, the crop has fifty years of life. Fruiting can take place in these plants in two years.

Bio-fuel plants can be grown in at least 35% of the waste land namely 20,000 hectares. This plantation can result in producing 20,000 tons of bio-fuel in a year. The Central Government has approved mixing of 10% bio-fuel with diesel for cars, whereas there are experiences in case of trucks and tractors, mini vans higher percentages of bio-fuel in India.

The approximate revenue will be Rs.50 Crores a year and will provide employment for 20,000 people. It will reduce the foreign exchange outflow paid for importing crude oil, the cost of which is continuously rising in the international market. This Bio-fuel is carbon neutral. The oil can also be used for soap and in candle industries. De-oiled cake is a raw material for composting and the plantation is also good for honey production. This will be the additional benefit from the plantation of Jatropha, a popular bio-fuel plant being planted in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttaranchal besides Ministry of Railways. Goa should mount a mission mode programme, absorb the best of the technologies available in the country and start commercial production immediately.

Mission #9: Infrastructure

Road connectivity: Four lane road infrastructure across the state interconnecting the cities and rural areas with appropriate flyovers and over bridges are required to be built. In addition there is a need to interconnect north and south Goa ? through express way.

Electronic connectivity: We need to establish high bandwidth 1-10 Gbps fibre broadband connectivity ? connecting the government, educational and industrial institutions and the rural areas. We have to link up with international fibre links through sea cable with the other nations so as to make Goa as best connected destination for the outsourcing, BPO and ITES. There is a need to setup the Call centre at the GOA headquarters to serve as the village knowledge centres of the Goa for providing value added services to the farmers, fishermen and small and medium scale industries.

Converting waste into Energy: Goa can create two power plants of 6 MGW each using the municipal and industrial waste for making Goa clean and generate power through public-private partnership.

The Government of Goa can tie-up with CII, TIFAC and private industries who have successfully established the power plants and they are in operation.

Water management: Goa gets adequate rainfall and there is a need to create water harvesting facilities in each of the households, apartments, government buildings, hotels, hospitals, industrial establishments and institutions, through a comprehensive water harvesting policy for the state

I was in Mizoram a few weeks back. As you know it is a beautiful hill state with forests all around, rivers flowing in the valley and people living in the hill tops. I saw a unique water harvesting technique in every Mizo house. A beautiful large diameter galvanized drum with connectivity and filter for collecting rain water. Goa has abundance of rain for many months. The state needs a water harvesting policy for storing and meeting the water demands during the lean months.

Entrepreneurship

All these nine missions which I have discussed will require generation of large number of entrepreneurs in the State through entrepreneurship programmes. The academic institutions in Goa generate about 5000 graduates per year and the 10th class and 10+2 students will be around 20,000.

All of them will seek employment either within Goa, outside the state or abroad. Now the school syllabus and university syllabus have to be integrated with entrepreneurship courses. The students at the end of the course should get a certificate or a diploma. This will enable students qualified in these schools and colleges, to have the confidence that they can start the small enterprises in agriculture, manufacturing or services especially in the areas of horticulture, tourism, fishing industry, steel making and creation of PURAs. Banks have to be entrepreneur friendly and should give them venture capital and support these young entrepreneurs and their creative ideas. This system will change the situation in all the states, particularly in Goa by generating employment providers rather than employment seekers.

Conclusion

The nine missions suggested for Goa may please be discussed in the Goa Legislative Assembly for transforming Goa as a developed state in the next decade. The outcome from each of the missions will be:

1. Tourism including Spiritual, health and eco-tourism will lead to a revenue generation of Rs.2100 crores apart from employment generation of large number of youth.

2. Horticulture Mission will result in a revenue of Rs.50 Cr with higher employment potential.

3. Exclusive IT Park will result in export revenue of Rs.500 Crores with employment potential for two lakh knowledge workers.

4. Setting up of steel plant will result in revenue earning to increase to at least $10 bn from the existing $1.1 billion.

5. Preparing paramedics and technicians will generate employment for 200 nurses and 800 paramedics per year.

6. Establishment of PURA (10 in coastal area and 15 in plains) will lead to higher employment potential in the rural areas.

7. Fishing ? introduction of deep sea fishing will result in increase in the catch from existing 84,000 tons to 2 lakh tons per year and increase the per capita income of the fishermen and there by the GDP of the state.

8. Bio-fuel mission will bring an added revenue of Rs.50 Cr and employment potential for 20,000 youth.

9. Infrastructure facilities such as roads, high bandwidth electronic connectivity, conversion of municipal waste to power and water harvesting etc will provide uninterrupted power, water and communication for all the missions stated above.

Goa is a safe and peaceful state in the Indian map. This atmosphere has to be complimented with creative tasks and missions, to empower the people of Goa for economic prosperity. The combination of peace and economic prosperity is indeed the dream of all the youth of the State. Enhancing the prosperity of Goa consistent with our civilizational heritage has to be the mission of the members of the Goa Legislative Assembly. You have all the potential, courage and God?s grace for transforming Goa into a prosperous, happy, peaceful and secure State. My best wishes for you in this mission.

May God bless you.