the goan I network
PANAJI
A group of over 120 prominent individuals have censured the State government for packing with industry captains a panel it set up to aid it in reviving the economy and giving a slip to enlist representatives from Goa's critical economic sectors.
Styling themselves as 'Goa People's Voices Covid19 Response', the group sent an email to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Chief Secretary Parimal Rai and Finance Secretary Daulat Hawaldar and said: "We urge you to reconstitute the committee immediately."
Justifying their demand, the group said the committee is mostly representative of industrial corporations, financial institutions and government.
"The failure to include representatives from diverse sectors of our State will render the committee incapable of studying the economic impact of the current Covid-19 pandemic and suggesting measures for revival," their email said.
Signatories to the email number over 120 prominent individuals from across the State and from diverse fields.
"The most important socio-economic sectors such as community and small farmers, traditional fishing community, tribals, industrial workers, women, education, health and environment are totally unrepresented," they said, adding it will be impossible to fulfil the objectives without representation to these.
Food, water, clean air, health, equality, education and environment are more important to the economy and society than industries and concrete structures," they said, adding that the pandemic has exposed the fragility and unsustainable nature of unbridled “top heavy” development.
"It is crucial that the committee be composed primarily of representatives of these economic sectors," they added.
They said, the present crisis has led to severe economic hardships for the poor and working classes.
"Lakhs have lost their livelihoods in Goa, like daily wage workers, carpenters, craftsmen, artists and other skilled workers, motorcycle pilots, small guest house owners, shack owners and other self-employed persons," they further said, adding that economic revival must focus on restoration of livelihoods of these persons.
Small farmers, such as tenants associations, traditional fishing communities, tribals, SC/ST members, other backward castes, workers' representatives of organized and unorganized sectors, health sector representatives with expertise relevant to the pandemic, environmentalists and sociologists, seafarers and traditional Goan artisans are some of the sectors the group wants included.
