Claims majority of Goan land belongs to gaukaris, not State
Social activist Dr Jorson Fernandes has warned that Goans need to ponder on the intentions of the Government in conducting survey of lands in 21 cities and villages under Section 56 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (Goa Act 9 of 1969), where there is a clear possibility of the Government claiming that the land belongs to the State and that one could be declared occupant.
He said the Government has informed that government Survey Officer would visit the houses in the 21 cities as well as villages to measure their properties.
He stressed that Goans cannot be considered as occupants, as the lands have not been directly or indirectly been granted by the Government.
Jorson referred to the research undertaken by a scholar Visitacao Monteiro, who has even written extensively with facts based on history that these lands were granted or allotted by the respective Village Community/Comunidade.
“According to scholar Visitacao the Gaukari system in Goa is multi-millenia old and certainly not a vestige of the Portuguese. Consequently, this Government cannot declare Goans as occupants as the land where they built their houses was not granted by the Government.
Demanding to know how the government fix revenue when the land is not a revenue land, Jorson said what the present Government is aiming at, is to fix revenue to be paid on an yearly basis like it is done in Karnataka, Maharashtra.
“Throughout India, the land is owned by the Government of India, there being certain pockets/lands in Northern Eastern States like Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and a few others where the land belongs to the people. In Goa, majority of the land is not owned by the State, especially in Bardez, Tiswadi, Salcete and wherever there are community lands, the land is owned by Gaukaris or the people”, he said.
He added: “Even during the Portuguese regime, the land was managed by Comunidade largely, with even Afonso de Albuquerque agreeing that they were the protectors and not the owners. This is also the view of researcher Visitacao, stressed Dr Jorson.
Saying that ownership of the Goan land should rest with Goans alone, Jorson said it is an inseparable part of the Goan identity, just like Goan ethos, language, communal harmony and Goan culture. “Goans have not realised that the present Government wants now to take over the people's land which was not given by any government in the first place. A land survey was done earlier, but revenue was never fixed. No ruler has anytime stated that the land is owned by them. How then, this present Government says that the land belongs to them and is all set to fix revenue to be paid yearly, questioned Dr Jorson.
