TG: How will Fatordekars benefit from a separate civic body, if it becomes a reality?
VS: Who are the Fatordekars? Are the Scheduled Tribes, the Gawlis, who are the nomadic tribes not Fatordekars? Has any benefits flowed down to these communities by being part of the Margao Municipal Council. Schemes that can be tailor made for this population cannot be brought because they are outnumbered in a unified municipal Council.
THE GOAN (TG): Your proposal on carving out a separate municipal body for Fatorda has kicked up a debate of sorts in the city. Citizens, however, are yet to figure out what prompted Vijai Sardesai to propose a separate civic body.
VIJAI SARDESAI (VS): Goa is celebrating the 50th year of Opinion poll. Fifty years ago, people had decided to carve out a separate identity. And the argument put forth by the pro-mergerists was why should you have a small Goa. It appears that the same argument is being put forth today to the proposal to carve a separate Municipal Council for Fatorda. Fatorda is a unique place. It plays host to a significant ST population as well as the Gawlis, the nomadic tribe. It is also cosmopolitan. Comparatively, Margao is completely urbanized with no scope for planned development.
TG: Citizens and politicians alike say that carving out new municipal bodies should be based on sound laid down criteria and not as per the whims and fancies of politicians.
VS: Rules and criteria are laid down by the government, which comprises of elected people like us. Any government has to be responsive to the needs of the people. Is there any scope for implementation of Goem, Goemkar, Goemkarponn in Margao. I will soon take up the issue of a separate Municipal body with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
TG: Many say the trend all over is not bifurcation of municipal bodies, but upgradation of existing bodies into corporations. Comment.
