This 12th January marks the 43rd anniversary of that historic and very successful 1979 agitation by students of Goa demanding 50% bus concession.
Goa has witnessed student agitations on various issues but the one that took Goa by storm was that 1979 campaign for 50% bus concession. The student unity being rock solid, the agitation spread like wild fire, lasted a brief 12 days and secured the desired results.
But one bureaucrat who deserved his rightful share of our gratitude was Dr J C Almeida the then acting Chief Secretary. Despite pressures from the various politicians and the very potent bus owner's lobby, Dr Almeida was very sympathetic with the rightful demand of the students. He was very accessible to the students and spent a lot of time speaking to us and had the spine to tell the Government what was right.
