We in Goa should appreciate the Portuguese rulers for the uniform civil code (UCC) which the other States in India are in awe of and want to adopt the same. Goa is the only State that has a common civil code irrespective of caste, creed, religion and gender. We should thank the Portuguese for the Civil Code wherein the incomes (except from salaries) of husbands and wives are clubbed and divided equally and reported in the tax form under Section 5A. This is because most of the marriages fall under the Community of Property Law. In last year’s budget an amount of Rs 20 crores was earmarked to repair and rebuild such identified temples. If for similar reasons budgetary provision is made by the Centre and other States then the money would run into crores of rupees as India, or parts of India, was ruled at different points of time and for different periods of times by invaders and colonial powers. One needs to strongly condemn the past rulers but the present rulers could spend the sanctioned funds on welfare measures for the aggrieved citizens.
