Alternative to Violence

The recent incident at Porvorim Secretariat by the Village Groups needs to be viewed carefully by Goans. Let’s not believe the Deceitful/Corrupt Goa Government, as they are only too keen to tarnish genuine protestors, so as to continue with the destruction of Goa for personal gains. Anyway on the topic of Violence, it is definitely wrong, but we need to find an alternative not only to Violence but for argument sake, an alternative to peaceful means as well. We see a common statement around the World and India in a particular, where Governments ask to renounce violence and ask for peaceful ways to solve issues (including dialogue), but in many cases activists are forced into violence after trying desperately via peaceful manner and dialogue? See the Goa Scenario, our current Chief Minister and most of the Ministers never keep their promises, manipulate facts/situations, constantly sabotage genuine action for Goa, intimidate activist by abuse of the machinery including Quasi Judicial bodies, Police etc Court Cases are taking too long to deliver justice; and is a classic case of Justice delayed Justice Denied. So may I ask again, what alternative can we give to these activists who are being checkmated at every point? Democracy is being abused via migrant vote banks, communal basis, ignorant & gullible voters. Again, I am not advocating the Violence option but am only asking if there is another option, other than the violent & the peaceful one; the latter which obviously not working in Goa? Needless to say these activists are not fighting for only themselves, but for all of Goa and Goan; from the Anti-Goans!! Arwin Mesquita (UAE)

Celebrating Goa's Ministers

I am as guilty as many of my other Goan Colleagues; as I was part of associations celebrating Goa's Corrupt Ministers, a few years back. But I have come to my senses and hope that my fellow Goans, would do the same as well. Goans are honoring Goan Ministers in Canada, USA, Europe, Gulf, Goa etc and I really need to ask the question; Why? Are we honoring the very people who are responsible for the sorry state of affairs Goa is in today. These corrupt MLA's that we are honoring, have and are today actually seriously damaging Goa, its land, its Identity and are continuing to do so with all of our blessings. Following are some facts which these MLA's or Ministers are guilty of; on some or all of them:(1) Using the Konkani movement to enter Politics and then using Power to gain illegitimate wealth and pull in respective family members into politics and further damage Goa & Its Identity; what is the status of Konkani today?(2) Liaising with powerful Non-Goan companies to sell of Goan Land or bring in un-wanted mega-projects e.g. in Carmona. And these very people had hypocritically floated political parties to Save Goa!!(3) Supporting Migrant vote-banks, issuing ration cards to migrants and supporting Parties that encourage migrant vote-banks; leaving no stone un-turned to gain as much power & wealth as possible.(4) Excessive Corruption, Faulty Employment & Industrial policies done mainly in personal monetary interests, forcing Goans to go overseas; and many of these Overseas Goans ironically reciprocate by honoring them?(5) Illegal Land Conversions, Hill-cutting, filling of fields, contamination of land & water etc(6) Using scarce taxpayer’s money for their selfish exploits with absolutely no accountability; then use a small percentage of their loot for bags of rice, sugar, alcohol, meals etc so as to buy off gullible voters!! Surely the above are only some facts and there are much more. So again, I really would like to know why Goans are celebrating these people; who if allowed to continue, will spell doom for our beautiful land & our prized identity!! Many Overseas Goans in particular complain, that they are too far away to do anything for Goa; well then please at least stop honoring/entertaining the very people who are destroying Goa & Goans. Let them know that they are not our heroes but are actually the enemies of Goa & Goans!! Arwin Mesquita (UAE)

Migration: towards meeting disturbing situation to Goan topography & identity

Migration: towards meeting disturbing situation to Goan topography and identity
http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Migration-towards-meeting-disturbing-situation-to-Goan-topography-and-identity/36659.html
BY JUINO DE SOUZA
Migration: towards meeting disturbing situation to Goan topography and identityBY JUINO DE SOUZAGoa is the most beautiful State in the whole planet and for hundreds of years migration has been taking place. Earlier, during the Portuguese regime because of poor economic development, there was outward migration where sons and daughters of Goa were moving outside mainly and venturing to all places in the world. Today Goans can be found almost everywhere contributing in countless ways to the societies of which they are now an integral part.Meanwhile, back home currently a reverse inward migration is taking place mainly because of the economic success and peaceful environment as well as the beauty of Goa which has been transformed into a magnet attracting migrants. All types of people from India and abroad including the rich, middle class, business class, labour class and others are flocking to Goa in large numbers and are becoming an essential part of our State.All theories of migration concede that migration occurs when the region of origin lacks the opportunities which the destination promises. It is inherently a combination of pull and push factors. Variation in economic development, better facilities and environment is a primary motive and reason for migration to greener pastures.Immigration is a complex psychosocial phenomenon; it mobilises a multifaceted process of destabilisation/restabilisation, besides increase in migrant population also causes pressure on land and inequality of infrastructure.The question is: How do we address the issue of migration with respect to limited carrying capacity of a small state such as Goa? What if hordes of outside population keep converging in our small State of Goa with a view to settle down permanently? Can our limited resources and inadequate infrastructure hold such huge influx? How can such kind of population growth be sustained over the long term unless government programs a priority on instituting reforms?We don’t have a proper garbage disposal system nor do we have any worthwhile sewerage system, our public transport is in shambles and housing cost is unaffordable. Although many towns have been declared urban as per past census, yet vested interests do not allow urbanisation and which is why most of Goa falls under panchayat administration.Can we afford to convert Goa into another Mumbai where migrants are found sleeping, defecating and reproducing on the road? Can we allow Goa to switch into another slum such as Dharavi? It is five decades since Goa became free from Portuguese rule and achieved independence but how is this State of ours progressing sociologically?No doubt the economic rise has led to opening businesses from hardware to diamond shops which are all owned and operated by migrants, but what is the solution to the growing resentment of insiders against outsiders? How do we deal with the concern of Goan identity? What happens when non Goans who know nothing about Goan ethos and may end up winning elections and become rulers of this small state of Goa in future? It is definitely a worrying situation.Migration brings along with it many challenges and cannot be addressed unilaterally. We cannot take shelter of our constitution by saying that any Indian is free to travel and settle anywhere in India? Settling does not mean using the side of the road and footpath and encroaching private and public property and setting up slums and causing nuisance to taxpaying citizens? This our founding fathers had never imagined. There is a growing need for us to understand the opportunities and also the challenges posed by migration. We should not be fuelled by prejudice and instead our goal should be to harness the power of migration to help more people share in Goa’s prosperity. We must therefore have a stake in managing migration well and we must work together, united in purpose and united in action to expand that development potential.Migration can no longer be casually viewed by economists as the only beneficent process necessary to solve problems of growing labour demand. I would like to highlight three challenges that add to the urgency for action. One is the need to regulate migration. Take the case of labourers who migrate to Goa in search of jobs which they are denied in their native region. We make use of them to clean our gardens, build our houses, for carpentry, for odd jobs. When they don’t get jobs then for survival they take the easy route and indulge in thefts, burglary and even murders and which is why the crime graph in Goa is rising. There may be terrorist and naxalites entering Goa and which can pose a danger to the people of the state and in the absence of any control and regulations over them we don’t even know who they are? Therefore the state machinery must have a regulation in place and rules should be framed for compulsory screening and registration of all migrants entering Goa. Second we must strive to bring in some measures to control the excessive migrant influx as it is needed to ensure the welfare of Goan residents. We could even consider having a permit system. How many can we permit? Can it be done by restricting the number of industries from coming to Goa? Should the migrant be asked to go back once he has finished with his job? To obviate the fear that migrants may become future rulers can we consider disallowing migrants from voting in Goa? What if every employer is asked to take a sworn affidavit voluntarily from every migrant employee recruited that they will not enrol themselves as voters in the state of Goa? Such workers may be sanctioned leave so as to allow them to vote in their state of origin? All such measures may seem to be against the constitution yet we must find some practical remedies.Third, there are rich migrants who anyhow want to own a piece of land and are willing to pay any price for it. Almost all rich Indians and foreigners be they film stars, industrialists, traders and merchants own a second home in Goa and this is one of the reason why property prices in Goa are soaring and out of bounds for Goans. So can we stop such outsiders from buying properties through obtaining special status for Goa is what all should ponder.(The above is the text of a paper on Migration submitted at the seminar organised by the Goa Study Centre Group.)

Exploitation & Terrorism

The recent killings of security forces by Maoist Rebels must be condemned by all. However, we should also look at the root causes of this terrorism. Surely these could be actions by frustrated people in impoverished areas, who could have been possibly exploited by corrupt/selfish politicians and specific wealthy colleagues. Let’s look at the Goa analogy, where many powerful MLA's & their wealthy colleagues plunder/exploit the state and society at will, without any consequences. Also there are many cases in Goa, where genuine individuals fighting in a civilized manner for basic rights for themselves and their environment are targeted by the Government & corrupt MLA's, who use various means to intimidate, including the Police Machinery. Many times these individuals are also targeted at the behest of specific Wealthy people, who do not want anything to stand in the way of realising their greed. Quasi-Judicial Government bodies are controlled by powerful MLA's and the common man’s petitions/rights are not respected or defended. And all this is happening in the relatively high literate Goa; obviously the exploitation in other places of lower literacy is higher. We must appreciate that the people responsible for the massacre of the security forces are not only the Maoist Rebels but also respective powerfully corrupt politicians and specific wealthy individuals who have found loop holes in the Indian System to be basically invincible; so as to continue with the collection of their illegitimate wealth!!

1961 Goa's Liberation Mistake

I appreciate that although not impossible, it is a challenge today to put in measures for protecting Goan Demographics, Identity, Land and our way of life. This challenge is mainly because of the perceived restrictions by the Indian Constitution, which was officially never approved by Goans and opinions given by pessimists. However, before we even try to look at measures to protect Goa’s Interests, we first need to at least publicly acknowledge and get the Central Government to appreciate; that there were serious flaws in the manner, Goa was absorbed into the Indian Union without any safeguards. By admitting the latter, can help look at possible remedial measures. Goa could have progressed within India, in a positive manner post 1961 i.e. into a world class state with a special identity, comparable or even ahead of other beautiful places in the world, unfortunately the mistakes we made at Liberation has resulted in Goa actually going backwards; with rapid destruction of its beauty, contamination of its land, air & water, deteriorating standards of living, fuelled by an un-controlled migrant influx, change in demographics, rampage by Central Politicians and their powerful & influential Indian business associates etc. Yes, each one of us needs to play our part to save goa, but it would really help if our freedom fighters gave their honest views on Goa today. I appreciate that there were huge sacrifices by Genuine Freedom fighters who obviously had the best intentions, but I would like to know, if they are really happy with the current state Goa is in today, surely their sacrifices will be in vain, if Goa that they hoped for gets destroyed and results in being liberated from the Goans!!

Special Status not enough

I appreciate efforts by the North Goa MP Mr. Shantaram Naik for lobbing the Central Government, to adopt Special Status to Save Goa's Identity. However, this alone will not be enough, we need to take urgent measures, which should among other things include: (1) Creating sustainable employment/business opportunities for Goans, so as to stop the Goan Exodus from Goa and bring back its sons/daughters from overseas countries (2) Favourable Educational & Medical opportunities for Goans; including Non Resident Goans (2) Stop further deterioration of quality of life via promoting destructive development, environment damage etc (3) Urgent adopt policies & measures to address the un-controlled migrant influx into Goa (4) Formulate a comprehensive Housing Policy, which favours housing Goans only and not create un-necessary homes for outsiders to come in; at the cost of destroying Goa's Environment, Ecology, Forests and contaminating its air, land and water. The Question is do our current bunch of MLA's in the Government have the capacity or at least the will to do this? They seem to be too busy fighting for their huge selfish personal stakes and appeasing their Supreme Masters in Delhi; at the cost of destroying Goa and its precious Identity. It is high time that the Voters who have elected these MLA's for whatever reasons, start demanding remedial measures else they are also part of the problem and will be the cause of Goa's Destruction!!

Colva Updates

Subject: Colva Sewage Crisis
(ref below article ) The Sewage crisis in Colva should not come as a surprise, particularly to the residents of Colva. In-discriminate issuance of licenses to commercial projects without strict norms and also approvals to so many un-necessary housing including mega-projects, are undoubtedly the key factors that have created this Mess. The Local MLA's and specific corrupt panchayat members have ignored the interests of the village to realise their huge illegitimate profits. Local Activists have been warning of this crisis for a long time but unfortunately (with the exception of some), most Colva residents & non-residents, like their counterparts in other parts of Goa appear indifferent to the ruthless destruction of their village. I hope all Colva residents & non-residents wake-up before it is too late and save their beautiful village, from the clutches from corrupt politicians, builders and other destructive elements!! Recently various villagers were in the news protesting on the CD issue, whilst I appreciate that this issue was offensive and hurt the sentiments, surely we know that there are more serious issues facing the village and I hope we use the same passion to fight the genuine threats facing the village. Arwin Mesquita, UAE.

http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Sewage-choking-Colva/34540.html
Sewage choking Colva
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MARCH 11 Welcome to the world famous tourist village, Colva. The village may boast of attracting large number of tourists at its beach, but the government appears blind to the unsanitary environment plaguing the village in recent times.The sewage disposal has come to haunt the locals and the panchayat, even as the village is already grappling with the tones of garbage generated by hotels and restaurants and a growing number of housing colonies.An inspection of the village countryside on Thursday revealed the worst fears of local activists. Storm water drains have been conveniently used by the hotel establishments to discharge sewage and waste waters.That’s not all. Believe it or not, a traditional road – used by the local residents — lay submerged under sewage and waste water, forcing the locals to take an alternate road.Neither the Sarpanch Agnela Borges, nor the panchayat secretary, who accompanied the members of the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum during the site-inspection, had an answer to the discharge of waste waters in the drains and open space.As convenor of the Colva Civic Forum Judith Almeida and other activists demanded stringent action against the hotel establishments, Sarpanch Angela promised to convene a special meeting to discuss the emerging health hazard before cracking a whip against erring hotel and restaurant owners.Pointing to a garbage dump, Judith termed the situation as a mini-Sonsodo in Colva, with neither the local body nor the government finding any permanent solution to the garbage woes.“The garbage situation is going from bad to worse. How much more time would the local body and the authorities require for finding a solution?” she demanded to know.At another location, garbage was found burnt by the establishment owners in the absence of any garbage disposal mechanism. “Will the authorities open their eyes at least now? The Tourism Department should open it eyes to the menace. Certainly, the department does not invite tourists to look at the filth and garbage,” she added.Sarpanch Angela is not averse to issuing show cause notices to the erring establishments and has drawn up a scheduled to issue the notices within eight days time. “I am sending notices to the establishments inspected today. Besides, the matter will be placed before the meeting (of panchayat members) to work out a long-term solution,” the sarpanch added.Judith, however, said that the Forum activists would wait for 15 days; she threatened to gherao the panchayat members and knock the doors of the Judiciary, if no action was taken against the erring establishments during the 15 days. “In the past, the Forum had approached the High Courts to wake up the authorities from deep slumber. Only the High Court can give the hapless residents solace and relief from the emerging health hazard in the village,” Judith asserted, while demanding revocation of licences of the erring establishments