MARGAO
A Citizens for Democracy initiative on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, “Bapu, Amchem Goy Vanchtalem “ Bapu, Will Our Goa Survive?” resolved that Goans should remain alert to prevent all kinds of frauds such as land frauds, cyber frauds and impersonation frauds and help one another to unitedly thwart the threats posed to their lives and properties.
After paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, speakers Uday Bhembre, Sadanand Malik, Claude Alvares, Elvis Gomes and Prajal Sakhardande stated it is their conviction to uphold the rights enshrined in the Constitution of India by following the path of non-violence and truth, and to demand social justice, economic empowerment, and communal harmony.
The Citizens for Democracy have vowed to foster unity among Goans to find solutions to problems confronting the state and its people in all spheres of life.
“We shall strive for a complete ban on conversion and sale of agricultural land including land under command areas, to those from outside the state to prevent corporate takeover of pristine villages," they said, adding, “We shall strive for full autonomy in the functioning of Panchayats, ZPs and Municipal bodies in the state as enshrined in the 73rd and 74th amendment to the Constitution of India where the voice of the people is heard in all decision making.”
The meeting vowed to protect the environment, saying there should be zero tolerance for the destruction of the environment whereby a hill remains a hill for posterity.
“We will strive for free higher education to Goan students of their choice with advanced linkage to jobs or self-employment. That every government servant should be held accountable for delays in public service delivery, beyond a reasonable time. That the use of official language should be encouraged in the state in all spheres of public works,” they said.
In his thought-provoking address, Konkani writer Uday Bhembre wondered whether Goa would remain in the hands of Goans in the event the State survives nature’s fury in any form, including a Tsunami.
“A Tsunami can destroy our coastal state. Because we cannot do anything to stop nature’s fury. But, even if we survive a Tsunami, will Goa survive by remaining in the hands of Goans? Or whether it will slip into the hands of Bhutani etc. I fear and worry whether Goa will remain with Goans with the population of Niz Goemakrs going down because of migration and the bad policies of the government. That’s the reason why I have come here for this initiative,” Bhembre said.
Former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes underscored the need for the bureaucracy to remain accountable for the people. “The bureaucracy was once the backbone of administration, Today, they seemed ready to break the backbone of the people,” Elvis lamented.
Citing the case of the Staff Selection Commission, Elvis wondered why no recruitment of government jobs had taken place through the SSC when it was established in 2019. “The bureaucracy is equally responsible for the ills plaguing the state,” he added.
Social activist and environmentalist Dr Claude Alvaers said it is the battle waged by the people of Goa that they were able to protect 23 lakh square metres of eco-sensitive and other zones sought to be changed via 16-B amendment. “Goa is one of the leading States where people have been fighting to save and protect the environment,” he added.
