Why only monuments, let us put-up the whole country for adoption or out-source its governance. - By Nisser Dias

The Union government led by the BJP has started handing out country’s monuments of immense heritage value to corporate houses just like giving children candies. This was expected but we failed to see it.

Basilica of Bom Jesus

Modi led government started out leasing ports around India to his businessmen friends, and then he extended his largesse by nationalizing the rivers across the country conceding to their demands. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has handed over its reins to the corporate honchos to decide the fuel prices on daily basis. The functioning of Reserve Bank of India also seems to be privatized with private players deciding who should be its Governor. And now our monuments are up for adoption.

‘Adoption’, ‘out-source’, ‘lease’ are just tricky terms to confuse the citizens. It either means the government of the day does not want any burden and hence pushing it away from their plate or it does not have money to fund the Archaeological Survey of India to maintain and restore these monuments.

Fort Aguada

Rivers, natural resources, monuments are a country’s asset and this doling it to private players is loathsome hence unforgiveable. Such a government has no more respect left for this country hence it has no more right to govern the country. It would be better if the entire country is put for adoption or out-sourced or leased out to some other country.

Ministry of Ports and Shipping has already been leased out or adopted by private player, ministry of Surface Transport is also out-sources to a private player. And by letting our priceless monuments to be adopted by business houses means allowing Ministry of Culture to be adopted by private players. It would be better for the Union government to float a global tender to take governance of this country also.

Se Cathedral

The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already set precedence of allowing his ministries to be privatized, so calling for the highest bidder to govern the governance itself would not make much of a difference.

For more than 400 years colonial powers had forced themselves on us and governed this country, now in the 21^st century let us invite them to adopt the governance of this country in totality.

Ruins of Cabo-de-Rama fort

In case of Goa Dhristi Lifesaving private Ltd. is supposed to take over all the churches in Old Goa and some forts for maintenance and its upkeep. What experience does this company has in restoration old century old monuments.

Dhristi has been given the contract of maintenance of beaches in Goa and I can confidently say that they have not done a great job of it. Furthermore earlier last month they threatened to withdraw its services if the government of Goa fails to pay them their dues. Question is from where this company will get the money to restore and maintain our churches, basilica and forts.

Ruins of St. Agustine
Tower

These churches were our pride and unlike western countries we allowed tourists to view, photograph these grandiose monuments without a charge. But the time this company take over commercialization will commence.

Nisser Dias

The most surprising fact is two ministers in the comatose government of Goa deny any knowledge of Union government dishing out these monuments on a platter to private parties is unacceptable.

Not only the government at the centre but the Goa government too is in collision with private players to sell our land, rivers, monuments to the highest bidder as long as their personal accounts are fattened.

Lastly the Union government should also include heritage monuments like the Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan and also the Supreme Court building for adoption.

Before I rest my case words of Sir Winston Churchill come to my mind, “Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues, freebooters; all Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight amongst themselves for power and India will be lost in political squabbles.”