Goa Dialogue held at Cortalim
CORTALIM
The Aam Aadmi Party organised its third Goa Dialogue in Cortalim constituency at Arrossim, wherein matters related to lack of basic health facilities, access to medical aid, garbage disposal, lack of sanitation facilities, rising unemployment, unplanned development were some issues listed out by the speakers as part of the dialogue.
The villagers filled the suggestion forms and submitted them so that they could be incorporated into the Cortalim manifesto as planned by AAP.
Leading the villagers in raising their concerns was local physician, Dr Marconi Correia.
Dr Marconi raised the issue of health and failure of the State governments till date to uplift the quality of health services provided to the local villagers. He requested the AAP local coordinators and volunteers to see that the Cortalim manifesto reflects solution to the lack of health facilities and sought facilities like ‘Mohalla’ clinics and polyclinics in Cansaulim and surrounding villages for the convenience of the locals.
Ashley Fernandes, joint secretary of CAC Civic and Consumer Forum, pointed to the lack of employment opportunities in Goa, thus forcing Goans to seek employment outside Goa as well as abroad. He said this trend has to be arrested and Goans should get opportunities in Goa itself to seek employment.
Rosy Pacheco pointed out the lack of internal roads in the villages. “Due to this, even doctors refuse to come for house visits, thus causing lot of problems to the sick patients,” she claimed.
Anthony D’Silva highlighted all the wrong and illegal development along the coastline in violation of CRZ rules and sought justice against these violations. He claimed that all big hotels are taking law in their hands and there is nobody to monitor their illegal constructions along the coastline.
Ernesto Morais, coordinator of Nuvem, explained the concept of the Goa dialogue to the attendees and the process of preparing the manifesto for the constituency. He informed the villagers that for the first time, AAP will be preparing 40 manifestos for each constituency in Goa through these Goa Dialogues. In addition, there will also be one manifesto for Goa too, he said.
Prominent local villagers who attended the Goa dialogue included Panchas, Xaverite D’Costa, Philip Theodocio, ex-sarpanchas of Cansaulim Fausta Fernandes and Manuel Fernandes among others.
The meeting was chaired by Olencio Simoes, general secretary of Goemchea Ramponkaramcho Ekvott and local co-coordinator for Cortalim constituency.
Others present were Adv Athnain Naik (coordinator for Cortalim constituency), Adv Fr Michael Fernandes (coordinator for Dabolim), Pobres Vaz (co-coordinator for Cortalim), Archana Naik (Mormugao Taluka Women’s coordinator), ex-chairperson of Mormugao Municipal Council Gandhi Henriques amongst others.
