Mandrem youth bedevilled by unemployment

BHIVA P PARAB | NT

MANDREM

In the poll-bound Mandrem constituency, which was represented by first chief minister of Goa Dayanand Bandodkar, unemployment has persistently bedeviled the voters over the years, leaving the youth in the lurch.

The youth of the Mandrem assembly segment prefer the candidate who will deliver on the promise of jobs, which have been elusive.  Several youngsters allege that former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar failed to address the unemployment issue when he was the chief minister.

They also claim that former Congress MLA Dayanand Sopte also did not do much to bring in employment opportunities for the locals.

People’s thirst for potable water has been a nagging issue for the Mandrem seat. The electorates have always pressed for regular water supply, but nothing concrete has been done on this front.

Tankers supply water to several areas in the constituency as tap water does not come for two to four days at a stretch, leaving the people high and dry. And whenever it trickles down from the taps then it is not clean and potable, but murky water.

People of Paliem village in the constituency say that this has been a regular feature over the years.

The constituents, who are at the end of their tethers, wonder about their plight in the summer.

Garbage menace has also been plaguing the assembly segment, which is blessed with world famous beaches at Morjim, Ashvem and Arambol.

A large number of tourists visit these beaches and leave behind piles of waste everywhere. However, there is no proper mechanism in place in the constituency for collection and disposal of the garbage: coastal roads are littered with garbage giving a dirty look to otherwise pristine locales.

The coastal belt frequently witnesses traffic congestion as the narrow approach roads to the beaches, narrows down the passage causing parking problem.

There has been a long-pending demand of a ‘kala bhavan’ in the constituency. If the demand is fulfilled then it will give a boost to the local talents.

The constituency lacks good healthcare facilities in villages, calling for upgradation of the existing healthcare facilities and the deployment of health staff especially fulltime doctors.

The people also lament that no progress has been made in the construction of a bridge over the river Tiracol.

The bridge has been a longstanding demand of the Tiracol villagers.