the goan I network
PANAJI
Several panchayats have petitioned the Union Home Ministry demanding a probe into the Mapusa-based NGO Goa Foundation on aspects of its funding, its links if any to other countries and possibly money laundering and espionage.
The demand was made by 31 panchayats, all from Goa’s mining region, through their sarpanchas in mid-January this year. A copy of the representation addressed to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was also forwarded to the office of Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar.
The memorandum alleges that economic interests of their villages and livelihoods of people living in their jurisdictions have been disrupted on account of the NGO “approaching the courts” for one reason or the other without considering the plight of thousands of people.
Tracing the sequence of events since 2012, when on the basis of the Justice Shah Commission report mining was shut down, the representation of the panchayats states that Goa Foundation rushed to the Supreme Court to challenge renewal of mining leases on the basis of which mining was restarted.
“It was successful and the Supreme Court set aside the renewal of leases which resulted in stoppage of mining in March 2018,” the representation states, adding that thousands of people in their jurisdiction have consequently lost their livelihood with no alternative provision for employment made.
The panchayats in the representation also accused Goa Foundation director Dr Claude Alvares of approaching the courts by “misleading and giving the impression” that they represent the cause of the people and in their interest, which is false.
The representation also said, there are strong reasons to suspect the bonafides of Goa Foundation and it seems they have been funded to “try and stop” the mining industry in Goa to benefit some other persons, industries or countries.
It said, with ore from Goa
THE MEMO: IN BLACK & WHITE
Economic interests of villages, livelihoods of people disrupted
Goa Foundation director Dr Claude Alvares “mislead” court by claiming to represent cause of the people
Strong reasons to suspect bonafides of Goa Foundation
Goa Foundation needs to be probed for “all its activities undertaken in the name of public purpose”
NGO sector enjoys freedom of being opaque in its objectives, funding and functioning
Inquiry needed on Goa Foundation for source of income and donations, including of its directors, links with other countries, organizations
