To meet today at Mapusa Comunidade Ghor
PANAJI
Comunidades from across the State are closing ranks in a bid to stymie the State government’s move to amend the Code of Comunidades to give it greater powers over the age-old community institutions.
Representatives of several Comunidades are gearing up to meet at the Comunidade Ghor at Mapusa on Thursday evening in a show of strength to oppose some of the changes in the Code of Comunidades mooted by the State government’s Revenue Department.
The representatives are expected to address a press conference after the meeting.
The State government had recently circulated its proposal to amend the Code of Comunidades to the administrators of the three zones with instructions to forward them to the various Comunidades for feedback.
Although it is uncertain whether the government is keen to push through the amendments during the upcoming monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly, Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate did not shed any clarity on the issue.
On Wednesday, Monserrate said, he was not aware of any move to amend the Code of Comunidades since he took charge of the Revenue Department, adding however that if there is any such proposal, it has to come for approval of the Cabinet.
The changes in the Code proposed by the government include giving itself powers to acquire lands for public projects even without consent of the respective Comunidades and powers to dismiss rogue managing committees
besides introducing a provision to regularise thousands of illegal encroachments on land belonging to these bodies.
It seeks to alter six articles of the Code and also insert a whole new article to enable “grant of land” to the State government for public projects, including land on long lease without the consent of the respective Comunidades.
Another provision seeks to give rights to women, including joneiro rights by inheritance to widows and dependent, unmarried daughters of deceased joneiros.
