The Goan: Why was the Velim Consumer and Civic Form foundedfor in 2003?
Ramona Almeida: People have been forced to leave Velim forMargao in search of basic amenities such as proper supply of electricity andwater. It was then that we decided to mobilise the residents of Velim and gotpeople involved to understand the act, the rules and laws and fought for ourrights.
T G: What is the biggest achievement of VCC over the years?
R A: When we began in 2003, the LPG Company refused todeliver gas cylinders to people’s homes. People had to walk with heavycylinders and wait for them in a queue at the panchayat. The VCC read therules, took up the matter with the respective LPG Company and saw thatcylinders were distributed at home since the rule clearly points out that acylinder has to be delivered to the doorstep of a consumer who pays for it.
T G: In the early 1990s Velim always had a poor turnout interms of gram sabha attendance. How did the VVC change this scenario?
R A: With the success of issues like LPG distribution, wehave made people realise, that we can get more as residents when we unite,study the act and laws and demand those facilities.
T G: How do you look at Velim today? Almost a decade afterthe VCC was formed.
R A: The village still lacks basic infrastructure. But, justas many people have left the village or migrated, there is an equal number whohave come into the village and invested. People have to be united to conserveand protect the identity of the village while we continue building pressure onthe authorities to provide us with better facilities.
T G: Why did the VCC get involved with the Cutbona issue in2009?
R A: At the time, we came across a gazette of landacquisition at Cutbona, and we knew that farmer’s khazan land which they werecultivating was acquired for reasons the villagers were totally unaware of. Weresearched the acquisition, the projects passed for the acquisition and opposedthe fish meal project. The VCC supports agriculture in a big way ad does notwant the poor farmer to lose out for a project that the villagers do notsupport.
