Civil societies' meet highlights issues
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
With less than eight days to go for the State’s elections, while politicians and wannabe politicians are out undertaking door-to-door campaigns, a supposed civic societies meeting to discuss issues they faced was held in the capital city. But missing from the event was the presence of any politician.
The Goenchi Mati Movement (GMM) called on Goans to join a citizens meeting held at the Panaji Municipal Garden. They had invited over 40 groups, of which around 20 attended. The aim they say was not to bring ministers or candidates to the event but to discuss issues parties weren’t talking about.
“We don’t want politicians to attend, it’s their free will if they want to but we wanted to get people in general together with civic societies for them to understand what issues they are facing,” said GMM leader Claude Alvares.
The event included the use of the bandstand area for speeches and musical performances and stalls around for each of the groups that attended. The only ones on stage, however, were performers and Alvares’ gang reading out each group’s issue and their demand. The aim of the event, they said was to have people visit the stalls that were present for a firsthand account of each of their problems rather than a speech on the bandstand.
Among those that did turn up for the event were, Aam Aadmi Aurat Against Gambling that were opposed to the operation of casinos and the casino culture. The Adivasi Sangatna from Quepem represented the continuous disempowerment of the tribal population and demanded the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, while the Amdai village community opposed the setting up of a liquor factory involving the desturction of more than 1000 coconut trees. ARZ demanded for appointment of full time police officers at anti human trafficking police units in North and South Goa. The GBA represented their fight against the implementation of the Regional Plan and resisted the takeover of RP 2021 through ODPs prepared by PDAs.
