Vito Gomes
I write this article as I am concerned about the state of affairs in Goa, my beloved state and in particular wish to highlight irregularities in the administration of my village Taleigao. First of all it has to be noted that Goa is unique in its own right and must be recognized accordingly at the national level. It has scarce land and water resources which are being strained to the hilt due to the high influx of migrants from other states. This must be contained as it has a
direct influence on the culture and identity of Goa.
Whilst Goa is receptive to outsiders, the number of people from other states outnumber the locals and has had a significant impact on the demography, culture, social, economic and political identity of the Goan society. This also manifests itself in the recent instances of conflict amongst people in an otherwise peaceful state. Every attempt must be made to retain the unique culture, language and social fabric of the original Goan society.
Most of Goa’s land is still agricultural which is now under threat of urbanization. The Government needs to address this issue, as with passing time, agricultural land is slowly being acquired by politicians under the pretext of progress and industrialization. For example, in my village of Taleigao, we have just received notice of land being acquired in an interior part of the village which is close to the fields. This supposed acquisition is for the construction of roads, which is not necessary as there is an existing road providing access to the public. However, it does definitely have an impact on the fields, coconut trees and mango trees which form the backdrop of our beautiful village. Furthermore, this land acquisition will encroach into the area where our fields are located which have a historic background of the age-old traditional harvest
festival.
40 per cent of the Goan population belongs to the SC, ST and OBC who need protection. Instead, they are being hounded by politicians to give up their land for meager sums of money and no education is imparted as to the impact on the environment as a result of these decisions. Instead the Government should incentivise the farmers to continue with agriculture as well as offer subsidies to make them financially independent like it used to be in the past.
Taleigao was well-known for its fruits, vegetables and rice since the Portuguese times and this provided sustenance to many families for whom it was the main source of income. Here it would be pertinent for me to add that the Government can wisely use tax payers’ money for further development of the state in a manner that is mutually beneficial to all and which will bring progress to all sections of the society rather than benefiting individuals.
In order to ensure that Goa retains its identity, the Town and Country Planning department must withdraw the ODP of Taleigao, revamped and comprehensive plans prepared in consultation with experienced subject matter experts as well as the local people (panchayat and comunidade). Once again, I would like to highlight here, that local politicians do not have the necessary qualifications nor expertise in the portfolios that they currently handle.
In a democracy they say, people deserve the government that they vote for. However, the government also owes it to the people to have competent persons in charge of key portfolios.
Goa is governed by the Uniform Common Civil Code which was passed by a Presidential Order. This is unique to the state of Goa and has been instrumental in establishing peace and harmony in the state. Under this, we must strive to ensure that no land can be sold or transferred to individuals who are not of Goan origin and age old pre-Portuguese institutions like the Comunidades must be protected as they are self-sustainable.
Unfortunately, the local MLAs are misusing the Comunidades to further their own interests and are using them as instruments to implement their own selfish plans. Local institutions like the Gram Sabha/ Comunidades should be encouraged to take an active interest in public welfare and their roles should be clarified. They would play an important role in ensuring that the local identity is safeguarded whilst progress is made and public buy-in is
secured.
In this respect, it would be beneficial in the long run if our Goan youth are educated in the rich culture, history and traditions of Goa so that they would take an active role in safeguarding the identity of the
State.
There are many Goans who are NRIs and can contribute to the progress and development of the state. For example, I am a tax paying businessman who runs many businesses all over the world. There are many like me who would like to invest and help bring a global perspective to the development of our hometown. Yet, resources like these remain untapped and instead when opinions are voiced at panchayat meetings, the same are ridiculed as it does not benefit the local politicians. Whilst in other States like Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, the state government involves NRIs from their respective states to advise and guide the direction of progress in various areas like education, infrastructure, urban and rural development and
industry.
Lastly, policies and processes must be citizen friendly and uniform/ standardised. Every public project must be discussed and debated at local forums so that citizens can actively participate. This will ensure transparency and accountability. I hope this article will awaken people’s sentiments for Goa and their own respective villages. I sincerely hope that the local people will stand up, unite and fight for their rights as well as ensure that our beloved Goa, that which we know, is protected for generations to come.
