Goa gambles on holiday

The majority of public holidays are set by the state governments every year under the Negotiable Instruments Act. If the Goa government wanted to cut down on holidays, it could have used its discretion on other festive holidays and not earmark two days for Ganesh Chaturthi. This has given meat to the well-orchestrated charge by the opposition that is seeing an overbearing religious colour behind the decision.

It is the Congress which is hurt the most. "They can't do it. It is a national holiday and no State government can change it. But last year too, the Centre showed disrespect by handing out brooms," said Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma.Leaving the political storm aside, the crux of the decision lies in the tiny State’s economy. The coastal state, which is blessed with pristine beauty, attracts low-budget European backpackers.

The economy of sun and sand lies in its booming tourism industry, which peaks between beginning of September and climaxes in February, prior to the commencement of Lent. The tourism business captains end the season with fun-filled, boisterous carnival which is celebrated in a staggered manner throughout north and south Goa.A bonus is the domestic tourist, who makes a beeline to the beaches during the summer, which is actually an off-season. It suits both the tourism players in Goa and domestic tourists who come from as far as West Bengal given the cost-effectiveness.

More than the small tourist entrepreneurs, it hurts the Goa government the most for a single holiday during peak season means a colossal dent to its economy.This year’s Gandhi Jayanti falls on a Friday, which is the beginning of the weekend. The Goa government circumvents the law by allowing off-shore gambling is looking at attracting Indians who flock to Nepal to play high stakes.

The government is promoting offshore casinos in Goa by granting new licenses in an attempt to generate more tourism-related revenue. Goa state is the only one in India that permits both electronic on-land casinos as well as live offshore ones. The off-shore casinos charge as high as Rs 5,000 per person for dinner cruise. The off-shore casinos make a killing in the weekends.The pressure on the Goa government gets evidenced from Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s recent sense of helplessness.

“I just cannot unilaterally send casinos home. There are laws of the land. My decision can be challenged in the court of law and I could get a slap on my face. It would also send wrong signal to industrialists who are keen on investing in the state.”That is precisely where answers to the million-dollar questions remain.Coming under intense pressure of the casino lobby, the Goa government has come out with disrespectful solution of making Gandhi Jayanti a working day.

It is an altogether different matter that the government has taken umbrage on the pretext that it was typographical error. If true why were the ones responsible for this gazette publication and the blunder thereof not getting the stick?

Whichever way one looks at it, the BJP has touched the nadir in Goa.

By Y V Vijay Kumar