For more pictures check out -http://picasaweb.google.com/dmellomiranda/GoanPeoplesFilmFestival22NovemberInnugrationCelebratingLifeAndLivelihood#
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Goan Peoples' Film Festival Poster & Schedule
Festival Schedule
22nd November:
3:00 -4:00 pm: Inauguration
5:30 pm: Inaugural Film: India Untouched -Stories of a People Apart
Discussion with privileged comment by Dadu Mandrekar, Goan Dalits rights activist.
23rd November: Assault on Tribal Livelihoods & Challenges to Mining
10:00 am – 01:00 pm: Tribal Livelihoods
4:00 pm – 8.00 pm: Challenges to Mining
5 :00 – 6 :00 pm: Interactive Session/ Press Conference
24th November: Day 2: Change in Goa Villages
10:00 am – 11:30 am : Tourism
4.00 pm – 8.00 pm : SEZs and Mega-projects
5 :00 pm – 6 :00 :Interactive Session / Press Conference
22nd November:
3:00 -4:00 pm: Inauguration
5:30 pm: Inaugural Film: India Untouched -Stories of a People Apart
Discussion with privileged comment by Dadu Mandrekar, Goan Dalits rights activist.
23rd November: Assault on Tribal Livelihoods & Challenges to Mining
10:00 am – 01:00 pm: Tribal Livelihoods
4:00 pm – 8.00 pm: Challenges to Mining
5 :00 – 6 :00 pm: Interactive Session/ Press Conference
24th November: Day 2: Change in Goa Villages
10:00 am – 11:30 am : Tourism
4.00 pm – 8.00 pm : SEZs and Mega-projects
5 :00 pm – 6 :00 :Interactive Session / Press Conference
25th November: Celebrating Goa: Alternate Images of a Tourist Destination
5:00 pm – 6: 30 :Digital Narratives from the Other Goa
5 :00 pm – 6 :00 :Interactive Session / Press Conference
7:00 pm – 8:00 : Closing Film: Stories of Change (Bangladesh)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Goan Peoples' Film Festival
Ganv Ghor Rakhon Manch will be hosting the Goan Peoples' Film Festival from the 22nd to the 29th of November 2008. The theme of the festival will be "Celebrating Life and Livelihoods". The festival would begin at Nossa Senhora de Piedade complex next to State bank of India at Panjim.
From the 25th of November the Festival will initate a workshop on video blogging and online for citizens. The festival will subsequently move to South Goa, to increase access to persons living in the south. The film festival is being organized to raise awareness about the issues of the destruction of livelihoods and ecology for profits and the suffocation of democracy within the State of Goa among the guests and national media who will be visiting Goa during IFFI.
The festival would be inaugurated on the 22nd of November in a simple ceremony from 3 pm – 4 pm, which would subsequently be followed at 5:30 pm by the documentary film India Untouched, directed by Stalin K. The film draws attention to the continuing practices of untouchability across regions and religions in India. There will subsequently be a discussion on the issues thrown up by the film and its relevance to the peoples' movement in Goa.
The film festival will comprise of selected short video clips prepared by Goans highlighting the problems they face, besides documentaries by film-makers from around India. This film festival has even received an entry from Bangladesh.
The film screenings will be held every day at 4 p.m. followed by a discussion on the theme of the day at 5 p.m. wherein villagers selected from various parts of Goa will present their issues and experiences in their struggles. Some of the themes will include mining, Tribal peoples' rights, SEZ, Real-estate development, Tourism and coastal regulation. There will also be a session that features aspects of Goa not normally captured by the tourist focus on Goa, and could prove to be the beginning for a pro-people developmental agenda for Goa.
Through the mornings of the festival, Video Volunteers and GoCreat will conduct workshops on video blogging and online activism that will capacitate citizens to visually document their stories and broadcast the issues to a larger audience across the state, nation and the world. Participants who wish to attend, may register between 22nd and 24th at the festival venue. Citizens are encouraged to apply early as spaces are limited. The workshops will commence on 25th and run through to 28th, from 10am and 2pm. Further details on the workshops may be obtained from Gasper D'Souza at 9423882520.
Goa today is being wrecked by unplanned and unsustainable development leading to serious ecological and social problems. State and Corporate sponsored violence against the people in the form of mining, deforestation, hill cutting, land filling, destruction of water bodies, mega housing projects, SEZs, 5 Star hotels, Food Parks, IT Habitats, casinos, Sports City, and the rest is destroying the culture and livelihoods of the local people. Despite numerous representations from GGRM to the State government on serious problems concerning the life and livelihoods of the Goan people the government has only responded through its police and state machinery by terrorizing and beating up helpless villagers who resort to peaceful and democratic forms of protests. False criminal cases against innocent villagers are being registered by the police and several villagers have even been arrested without cause.
GGRM also clarifies that though the Goan Peoples' Film Festival is being organized to coincide with IFFI it is not with the intention to protest against IFFI. GGRM appreciates the idea of a film festival which opens the eyes of people to situations that they don't normally encounter. GGRM is therefore using the medium of films to draw attention to the unheard voices of the Goan people which have no space in a State and Corporate sponsored event like IFFI. The Peoples' festival will complement the "official" IFFI in giving a holistic picture where glamour will be juxtaposed with films of people's lives and their struggles.
The screenings of the Film Festival are accessible via invitations that can be obtained from the venue. Screenings are open only to persons above 18 years of age. Residents of Goa, as well as visitors to the State are cordially invited by GGRM to attend the film screenings and participate in the discussions.
Further details regarding the festival may be obtained from Jason Fernandes at 9764324074, Kim Miranda at 9422443855 , Paul Fernandes at 9975091225, Geraldine Fernandes 9822146420.
From the 25th of November the Festival will initate a workshop on video blogging and online for citizens. The festival will subsequently move to South Goa, to increase access to persons living in the south. The film festival is being organized to raise awareness about the issues of the destruction of livelihoods and ecology for profits and the suffocation of democracy within the State of Goa among the guests and national media who will be visiting Goa during IFFI.
The festival would be inaugurated on the 22nd of November in a simple ceremony from 3 pm – 4 pm, which would subsequently be followed at 5:30 pm by the documentary film India Untouched, directed by Stalin K. The film draws attention to the continuing practices of untouchability across regions and religions in India. There will subsequently be a discussion on the issues thrown up by the film and its relevance to the peoples' movement in Goa.
The film festival will comprise of selected short video clips prepared by Goans highlighting the problems they face, besides documentaries by film-makers from around India. This film festival has even received an entry from Bangladesh.
The film screenings will be held every day at 4 p.m. followed by a discussion on the theme of the day at 5 p.m. wherein villagers selected from various parts of Goa will present their issues and experiences in their struggles. Some of the themes will include mining, Tribal peoples' rights, SEZ, Real-estate development, Tourism and coastal regulation. There will also be a session that features aspects of Goa not normally captured by the tourist focus on Goa, and could prove to be the beginning for a pro-people developmental agenda for Goa.
Through the mornings of the festival, Video Volunteers and GoCreat will conduct workshops on video blogging and online activism that will capacitate citizens to visually document their stories and broadcast the issues to a larger audience across the state, nation and the world. Participants who wish to attend, may register between 22nd and 24th at the festival venue. Citizens are encouraged to apply early as spaces are limited. The workshops will commence on 25th and run through to 28th, from 10am and 2pm. Further details on the workshops may be obtained from Gasper D'Souza at 9423882520.
Goa today is being wrecked by unplanned and unsustainable development leading to serious ecological and social problems. State and Corporate sponsored violence against the people in the form of mining, deforestation, hill cutting, land filling, destruction of water bodies, mega housing projects, SEZs, 5 Star hotels, Food Parks, IT Habitats, casinos, Sports City, and the rest is destroying the culture and livelihoods of the local people. Despite numerous representations from GGRM to the State government on serious problems concerning the life and livelihoods of the Goan people the government has only responded through its police and state machinery by terrorizing and beating up helpless villagers who resort to peaceful and democratic forms of protests. False criminal cases against innocent villagers are being registered by the police and several villagers have even been arrested without cause.
GGRM also clarifies that though the Goan Peoples' Film Festival is being organized to coincide with IFFI it is not with the intention to protest against IFFI. GGRM appreciates the idea of a film festival which opens the eyes of people to situations that they don't normally encounter. GGRM is therefore using the medium of films to draw attention to the unheard voices of the Goan people which have no space in a State and Corporate sponsored event like IFFI. The Peoples' festival will complement the "official" IFFI in giving a holistic picture where glamour will be juxtaposed with films of people's lives and their struggles.
The screenings of the Film Festival are accessible via invitations that can be obtained from the venue. Screenings are open only to persons above 18 years of age. Residents of Goa, as well as visitors to the State are cordially invited by GGRM to attend the film screenings and participate in the discussions.
Further details regarding the festival may be obtained from Jason Fernandes at 9764324074, Kim Miranda at 9422443855 , Paul Fernandes at 9975091225, Geraldine Fernandes 9822146420.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The murder of democracy in Moira
WHY I WAS PICKED UP BY THE POLICE AND HELD FOR THREE HOURS
By Venita Coelho
We no longer live in a democracy.
This is the sad truth I have been forced to look in the eye.
The Moira Gram Sabha was held this morning. At the previous Gram Sabha, I and two other members had not been allowed to speak because we were not on the electoral. Not only that, rowdies had taken over the Sabha and shouted down anyone who tried to speak up.
The Moira Action Committee was quite sure it would happen again, so yesterday itself we sent an application to the police for police protection in case the rowdies struck. And I had made sure to go and get myself on the electoral rolls since I had every intention of exercising my basic right to speak up. Well - the police were there. And this is what happened.
The Gram Sabha proceeded quietly until I stood up to ask 'What is happening on the 20 year development plan?' If I'd stood up to ask the time of the day it would have had the same result. A whole game plan immediately swung into place. One villager stood up waving my column from the Herald and demanded that I apologize for what I had been writing. I refused, saying that if they had a problem they should reply in the same forum and write to the Herald. Then more rowdies joined in and they began to shout.
The Sarpanch told me to reply to them. I refused. I had no need to - I had a right to the opinion I had aired. Then they demanded I not be allowed to speak and be removed because I was not on the electoral roll. I said I was ( Electoral Roll Part Number 8 Serial Number 809) and said they should produce the roll to confirm it. Nothing of the sort was done. Instead the shouting rose to a crescendo.
I was threatened with 'We'll see how you step out of your house. We'll see how you live in this village.' I was surrounded by a ring of shouting gesticulating men threatening me with the worst. And what did the police do? They swung resplendently into action - by grabbing me, pulling me forcibly out of my chair and dragging me to the police jeep.
I was driven straight to the police station and held for 3 hours. When friends asked if they could accompany me they were pushed away from the police van. Those who break the law, issue threats, intimidate are allowed to continue in the Gram Sabha. The single woman who is sitting peacefully in her chair refusing to walk out because it is her right to be there is picked up by the police. Not just picked up but forcibly dragged out. The Sarpanch not only refuses to check the electoral roles, he issues a complaint hastily scribbled on a piece of paper to the cops on the basis of which they grab me and pull me out of the Sabha.
I am then held for three hours. The police repeatedly assure me I am not arrested - but I cannot leave till the PI comes.
And meanwhile the Gram Sabha continues. No one protests. No resolution is passed condemning what has just happened. Two women panchas have sat there and watched another woman be dragged out as if she was a criminal.
Democracy is dead.
In a democracy every citizen has a right to an opinion and a right to air it.
In a democracy the rule of law is supreme.
In a democracy the police are on the side of justice.
In a democracy the officials are bound to act by rules and laws.
No. Ours is not a democracy. I asked too many awkward questions. I wrote a column in which I aired my views. I questioned illegalities in licences. I had to be shut up. And so the Sarpanch ignored every rule in the book to get me out of the Gram Sabha. The police turned on the person who had requested their protection in the first place. The rowdies threatened, shouted, shut me up - and were allowed to get away with it completely.
I enclose the column I wrote last week for the Herald. Sadly, every prophecy I made in such sadness and disillusionment has come true. It has indeed come home.
THE ACCIDENTAL ACTIVIST : And it comes closer…
I have always been inordinately proud of Goa. Nowhere else could I have dreamed of being an accidental activist. I have often said to my mother - 'If I had raised my voice like this in any other state in India I would have had goondas at my doorstep threatening me by evening'. Only in Goa could a movement like that started by the GBA flourish. Only in Goa could a government be brought to its knees by ordinary people and be forced to take back a Regional Plan. Only in Goa could one stand up fearlessly and be an activist and proud of it.
Goondaism, attacks, intimidation – all those happen far away, in other states like Bihar.
And then it comes home…
I woke up one morning to read headlines that left me stunned. A desperate protest against illegal mining had ended with a woman, her eighty four year old mother, and her nine year old daughter being put in jail.
I sat there in shock. Women had been man handled while the police stood by. A nine year old girl had spent the night in jail. Surely this was not happening in Goa?
Then it comes to those you know…
A few days later I woke up to read headlines of Aires and Prajal being attacked and blood being shed. Prajal is as much of an accidental activist as I am. One of the most gentle people I know, it is his love for Goa that has led him to speak up. And he had been brutally beaten. Aires had actually had the fingers on his hand cut off!
One too many awkward questions asked – and a violent attempt to throttle the voices. But surely not in Goa? My Goa?
And then it comes to your doorstep…
I woke up one morning to find that I had been served a notice by the Panchayat claiming my garage was illegal and I should show cause why it should not be demolished. I was not alone I discovered. All core members of the Moira Action Committee had been served notices. One of them even got a notice because her wall was one centimetre more than what was shown on the building plans!
Certainly it is not in the league of getting beaten up and losing a few fingers. This is mere common or garden harassment – but while the scale is different, the principle and the methods are exactly the same. Use official clout to harass and intimidate when the questions get too awkward. And then, if that fails – bring on the muscle. At the last Gram Sabha in Moira, the Panchayat hired rowdies who shouted down any member of the Sabha who tried to bring up awkward questions.
The members of the Panchayat are people like us. They are the ones we live next door to. The ones with whom we share a milkman and a newspaper vendor. Simple everyday people. I wonder if they realise that in making the choice to use common harassment they have taken the first step towards corruption. The first step down a long path that leads eventually to activists being beaten up and blood being shed.
The problem with Goa is not that her politicians are corrupt. It is that her people have become corrupted. Let us not blame those in governance alone. It is the man next door who is corrupt - who has traded a favour to build an illegal wall; who has bribed someone to get permission to add one more floor to his house; who has not protested wrong doing because he himself has a skeleton to hide; who has voted in a ward member who he knows will give him permission to add an illegal garage. Goonda raj and blood shed is the grand finale. The humble beginning is in a Panchayat that chooses to harass, in a neighbour who chooses to trade turning a blind eye for favours.
It begins right here, next door. The vicious cycle of corruption and intimidation has come home to stay. It lives next door to you. It's time to ask ourselves if it lives in the same house as we do.
-- 'You must be the change you want to see in the world' - Gandhi
Casa Coelho, House No. 876, Bambordem, Moira V.P.Goa - 403507
9867166057 / 832 2470861
By Venita Coelho
We no longer live in a democracy.
This is the sad truth I have been forced to look in the eye.
The Moira Gram Sabha was held this morning. At the previous Gram Sabha, I and two other members had not been allowed to speak because we were not on the electoral. Not only that, rowdies had taken over the Sabha and shouted down anyone who tried to speak up.
The Moira Action Committee was quite sure it would happen again, so yesterday itself we sent an application to the police for police protection in case the rowdies struck. And I had made sure to go and get myself on the electoral rolls since I had every intention of exercising my basic right to speak up. Well - the police were there. And this is what happened.
The Gram Sabha proceeded quietly until I stood up to ask 'What is happening on the 20 year development plan?' If I'd stood up to ask the time of the day it would have had the same result. A whole game plan immediately swung into place. One villager stood up waving my column from the Herald and demanded that I apologize for what I had been writing. I refused, saying that if they had a problem they should reply in the same forum and write to the Herald. Then more rowdies joined in and they began to shout.
The Sarpanch told me to reply to them. I refused. I had no need to - I had a right to the opinion I had aired. Then they demanded I not be allowed to speak and be removed because I was not on the electoral roll. I said I was ( Electoral Roll Part Number 8 Serial Number 809) and said they should produce the roll to confirm it. Nothing of the sort was done. Instead the shouting rose to a crescendo.
I was threatened with 'We'll see how you step out of your house. We'll see how you live in this village.' I was surrounded by a ring of shouting gesticulating men threatening me with the worst. And what did the police do? They swung resplendently into action - by grabbing me, pulling me forcibly out of my chair and dragging me to the police jeep.
I was driven straight to the police station and held for 3 hours. When friends asked if they could accompany me they were pushed away from the police van. Those who break the law, issue threats, intimidate are allowed to continue in the Gram Sabha. The single woman who is sitting peacefully in her chair refusing to walk out because it is her right to be there is picked up by the police. Not just picked up but forcibly dragged out. The Sarpanch not only refuses to check the electoral roles, he issues a complaint hastily scribbled on a piece of paper to the cops on the basis of which they grab me and pull me out of the Sabha.
I am then held for three hours. The police repeatedly assure me I am not arrested - but I cannot leave till the PI comes.
And meanwhile the Gram Sabha continues. No one protests. No resolution is passed condemning what has just happened. Two women panchas have sat there and watched another woman be dragged out as if she was a criminal.
Democracy is dead.
In a democracy every citizen has a right to an opinion and a right to air it.
In a democracy the rule of law is supreme.
In a democracy the police are on the side of justice.
In a democracy the officials are bound to act by rules and laws.
No. Ours is not a democracy. I asked too many awkward questions. I wrote a column in which I aired my views. I questioned illegalities in licences. I had to be shut up. And so the Sarpanch ignored every rule in the book to get me out of the Gram Sabha. The police turned on the person who had requested their protection in the first place. The rowdies threatened, shouted, shut me up - and were allowed to get away with it completely.
I enclose the column I wrote last week for the Herald. Sadly, every prophecy I made in such sadness and disillusionment has come true. It has indeed come home.
THE ACCIDENTAL ACTIVIST : And it comes closer…
I have always been inordinately proud of Goa. Nowhere else could I have dreamed of being an accidental activist. I have often said to my mother - 'If I had raised my voice like this in any other state in India I would have had goondas at my doorstep threatening me by evening'. Only in Goa could a movement like that started by the GBA flourish. Only in Goa could a government be brought to its knees by ordinary people and be forced to take back a Regional Plan. Only in Goa could one stand up fearlessly and be an activist and proud of it.
Goondaism, attacks, intimidation – all those happen far away, in other states like Bihar.
And then it comes home…
I woke up one morning to read headlines that left me stunned. A desperate protest against illegal mining had ended with a woman, her eighty four year old mother, and her nine year old daughter being put in jail.
I sat there in shock. Women had been man handled while the police stood by. A nine year old girl had spent the night in jail. Surely this was not happening in Goa?
Then it comes to those you know…
A few days later I woke up to read headlines of Aires and Prajal being attacked and blood being shed. Prajal is as much of an accidental activist as I am. One of the most gentle people I know, it is his love for Goa that has led him to speak up. And he had been brutally beaten. Aires had actually had the fingers on his hand cut off!
One too many awkward questions asked – and a violent attempt to throttle the voices. But surely not in Goa? My Goa?
And then it comes to your doorstep…
I woke up one morning to find that I had been served a notice by the Panchayat claiming my garage was illegal and I should show cause why it should not be demolished. I was not alone I discovered. All core members of the Moira Action Committee had been served notices. One of them even got a notice because her wall was one centimetre more than what was shown on the building plans!
Certainly it is not in the league of getting beaten up and losing a few fingers. This is mere common or garden harassment – but while the scale is different, the principle and the methods are exactly the same. Use official clout to harass and intimidate when the questions get too awkward. And then, if that fails – bring on the muscle. At the last Gram Sabha in Moira, the Panchayat hired rowdies who shouted down any member of the Sabha who tried to bring up awkward questions.
The members of the Panchayat are people like us. They are the ones we live next door to. The ones with whom we share a milkman and a newspaper vendor. Simple everyday people. I wonder if they realise that in making the choice to use common harassment they have taken the first step towards corruption. The first step down a long path that leads eventually to activists being beaten up and blood being shed.
The problem with Goa is not that her politicians are corrupt. It is that her people have become corrupted. Let us not blame those in governance alone. It is the man next door who is corrupt - who has traded a favour to build an illegal wall; who has bribed someone to get permission to add one more floor to his house; who has not protested wrong doing because he himself has a skeleton to hide; who has voted in a ward member who he knows will give him permission to add an illegal garage. Goonda raj and blood shed is the grand finale. The humble beginning is in a Panchayat that chooses to harass, in a neighbour who chooses to trade turning a blind eye for favours.
It begins right here, next door. The vicious cycle of corruption and intimidation has come home to stay. It lives next door to you. It's time to ask ourselves if it lives in the same house as we do.
-- 'You must be the change you want to see in the world' - Gandhi
Casa Coelho, House No. 876, Bambordem, Moira V.P.Goa - 403507
9867166057 / 832 2470861
Monday, October 20, 2008
Orlim Meeting of Sunday, 19 October 2008
Press release by Kim Miranda
Co- Convenor & Spokes person, Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch
Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch first Public awareness meeting held on 19th Oct 2008
The meeting organized by OGRM had a good turn out of villagers from Orlim and neighbouring Fatrade Carmona and Benaulim also attending. Among the many present on the dais including Orlando D'silva from Carmona and Savia Viages from Carmona. The speakers came from the length and breadth of Goa. Including Gajanan Naik from Nerul, Prof Ramesh Gaus from Bicholim ,Fr Erimito Rebello from Sancaole .
The Meet started by 3 songs sung by Lizanne Rebello –Goyghem oslem dusrem na –lyrics and music Wilmax. Followed by another song by Saira Fernandes –Sobit Amchem Goyem –Lyrics Chris Perry. A trio then performed who took the 2nd prize earlier this season at the Kala Academy Goemchem Udergot Lyrics Ida Coutinho and Music Lusi Coutinho
The Convenor Mrs Ida Coutinho of Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch welcomed the gathering and the speakers in her short address she briefed the people of what has been happening in the village of how roads were being acquired or widened where it was not required only to facilitate a few individuals and the builder lobby while villagers of Orlim from Batty ward have been requesting for a road for so many years the same was yet to see the light of day .
She said instead of the Government encouraging farming in the villages of Goa by introducing and encouraging the farmers to use news technology to grow more crops they are filling the paddy fields for roads and thus giving a boost to mega housing in the villages in the name of development.
Albertina Almeida – said In the good old days roads meant development now roads lead to Mega Projects as per the new TCP rule. Alvito Fernandes from Navodeem Citizens forum Colva –Compared the builder to a worm and requested the people of Orlim not to allow this worm to set in the village or it would then eat into the village completely transforming it forever as it was doing in Colva and Benaulim .
Maresl Pereira from Goa Velha said no outsider could come to Salcette to win an election but that will soon change. Fr Bismark mentioned that the age old system of protecting the water bodies the Communidade must be understood encouraged . Our villages can only take so much and no more our field's rivers ponds and open spaces need to be protected in order to keep Goa for the generations to come.
Gajanan Naik from Nerul said there are 189 panchayats in Goa and nearly all the villages were having a similar problem with wonton destruction of land either at the hands of the builder or miners and the Government is telling a different story and trying to fool the people.
Geraldine Fernandes Convenor GGRM said that let the people decide what the people want and then let the Government implement the same . She encouraged more youth and women to come out to fight like she had done for the cause of her village and Goa .
Soter d'souza from Peaceful Society said our freedom of speech has now begun to be restricted by the State and concerned authorities with them wanting to know who is going to speak and meetings and what is to be discussed and spoken. He quoted Somnath Chaterjee saying 'People who misuse Panchayat funds should be called anti National "
Ramesh Gawas spoke for a short while saying Goa in each village was seeing the second opinion poll and needed to wake up soon before is Goa going goan ….
Serifino Cotta said that having one individual from outside come a settle in Goa is not a problem but in a small or village if there is an influx of persons from another scio economic background and culture it will change the full dimension of the village .He cautioned landed people and others overseas donating properties to Individuals and Religious societies ,as these properties are then sold mostly to outsiders for a large profit .This is done in the name of building hospitals and Collages at the expense of the people of the village many of whom never see the light of day .
The concluding speech and vote of thanks was made by Shanty Fortes.
The Gaum Ghor Rakhon Manch had this meeting to make people aware of the problems they going to face with the onset of the builder lobby coming to the village. OGRM is all for development but not at the cost of the village .We want sustainable development that will help the farmer increase his crop the Dairy farmer increase his yield of milk production introducing new techniques, encourage those who's land is laying fallow to farm their lands.
This kind of development will enhance the village life bring prosperity keep the surrounding clean and green and encourage the tourist who surely comes to see a green Goa not a concrete jungle
Co- Convenor & Spokes person, Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch
Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch first Public awareness meeting held on 19th Oct 2008
The meeting organized by OGRM had a good turn out of villagers from Orlim and neighbouring Fatrade Carmona and Benaulim also attending. Among the many present on the dais including Orlando D'silva from Carmona and Savia Viages from Carmona. The speakers came from the length and breadth of Goa. Including Gajanan Naik from Nerul, Prof Ramesh Gaus from Bicholim ,Fr Erimito Rebello from Sancaole .
The Meet started by 3 songs sung by Lizanne Rebello –Goyghem oslem dusrem na –lyrics and music Wilmax. Followed by another song by Saira Fernandes –Sobit Amchem Goyem –Lyrics Chris Perry. A trio then performed who took the 2nd prize earlier this season at the Kala Academy Goemchem Udergot Lyrics Ida Coutinho and Music Lusi Coutinho
The Convenor Mrs Ida Coutinho of Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch welcomed the gathering and the speakers in her short address she briefed the people of what has been happening in the village of how roads were being acquired or widened where it was not required only to facilitate a few individuals and the builder lobby while villagers of Orlim from Batty ward have been requesting for a road for so many years the same was yet to see the light of day .
She said instead of the Government encouraging farming in the villages of Goa by introducing and encouraging the farmers to use news technology to grow more crops they are filling the paddy fields for roads and thus giving a boost to mega housing in the villages in the name of development.
Albertina Almeida – said In the good old days roads meant development now roads lead to Mega Projects as per the new TCP rule. Alvito Fernandes from Navodeem Citizens forum Colva –Compared the builder to a worm and requested the people of Orlim not to allow this worm to set in the village or it would then eat into the village completely transforming it forever as it was doing in Colva and Benaulim .
Maresl Pereira from Goa Velha said no outsider could come to Salcette to win an election but that will soon change. Fr Bismark mentioned that the age old system of protecting the water bodies the Communidade must be understood encouraged . Our villages can only take so much and no more our field's rivers ponds and open spaces need to be protected in order to keep Goa for the generations to come.
Gajanan Naik from Nerul said there are 189 panchayats in Goa and nearly all the villages were having a similar problem with wonton destruction of land either at the hands of the builder or miners and the Government is telling a different story and trying to fool the people.
Geraldine Fernandes Convenor GGRM said that let the people decide what the people want and then let the Government implement the same . She encouraged more youth and women to come out to fight like she had done for the cause of her village and Goa .
Soter d'souza from Peaceful Society said our freedom of speech has now begun to be restricted by the State and concerned authorities with them wanting to know who is going to speak and meetings and what is to be discussed and spoken. He quoted Somnath Chaterjee saying 'People who misuse Panchayat funds should be called anti National "
Ramesh Gawas spoke for a short while saying Goa in each village was seeing the second opinion poll and needed to wake up soon before is Goa going goan ….
Serifino Cotta said that having one individual from outside come a settle in Goa is not a problem but in a small or village if there is an influx of persons from another scio economic background and culture it will change the full dimension of the village .He cautioned landed people and others overseas donating properties to Individuals and Religious societies ,as these properties are then sold mostly to outsiders for a large profit .This is done in the name of building hospitals and Collages at the expense of the people of the village many of whom never see the light of day .
The concluding speech and vote of thanks was made by Shanty Fortes.
The Gaum Ghor Rakhon Manch had this meeting to make people aware of the problems they going to face with the onset of the builder lobby coming to the village. OGRM is all for development but not at the cost of the village .We want sustainable development that will help the farmer increase his crop the Dairy farmer increase his yield of milk production introducing new techniques, encourage those who's land is laying fallow to farm their lands.
This kind of development will enhance the village life bring prosperity keep the surrounding clean and green and encourage the tourist who surely comes to see a green Goa not a concrete jungle
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
from Orlimgaum rakhonn manch
14th Oct 2008
Ida Coutinho
Convener
Orlim villagers and farmers were in for a shock when they found some workers under instructions from the PWD dumping mud in the paddy fields to widen the road in Palcutt ward . The fields on either side of the road are being cultivated imagine the plight of the farmers when they noticed red mud being put in their paddy fields .
the owners of the concerned fields have yet to get compensation for the present 3 meter road that is being used and the PWD department is on a busy spree acquiring and filling fields without any written intimation to the owners. Acquiring and broadening roads seems the order of the day as per the new Town and Country planning circular where in no project can come till there is a road on site of a required specification.
The Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch strongly condemns this action taken whereby instead on the Government promoting Agriculture and sustainable development is held bent on Acquiring and broadening roads that will only help the builder lobby at the cost of the Aam aadmi .
Ida Coutinho
Convener
Orlim villagers and farmers were in for a shock when they found some workers under instructions from the PWD dumping mud in the paddy fields to widen the road in Palcutt ward . The fields on either side of the road are being cultivated imagine the plight of the farmers when they noticed red mud being put in their paddy fields .
the owners of the concerned fields have yet to get compensation for the present 3 meter road that is being used and the PWD department is on a busy spree acquiring and filling fields without any written intimation to the owners. Acquiring and broadening roads seems the order of the day as per the new Town and Country planning circular where in no project can come till there is a road on site of a required specification.
The Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch strongly condemns this action taken whereby instead on the Government promoting Agriculture and sustainable development is held bent on Acquiring and broadening roads that will only help the builder lobby at the cost of the Aam aadmi .
GGRM condemns violent assault on activists
The Ganv Ghor Rakhon Manch (GGRM) strongly condemns the violent and cowardly attack mounted on activists Aires Rodrigues and Prajal Sakhardande on the night of 0ctoer 13 2008.
The GGRM would like to draw to the attention of the Goan people and media that this attack has brought the attacks on Goan activists to a new low. GGRM has pointed out that there have been attacks on activists for a while now. This has included the police harassment meted out to activists in Benaulim, including the search at Cortalim for supposed 'terrorists'; it includes the violence visited on anti-mining activists, including the violent attacks on peaceful demonstrators in Quepem on the 11th of October, and their subsequent illegitimate arrest and detention. The attacks on Aires Rodrigues and Prajal Sakhardande have however taken this harassment too far.
The GGRM points out that it sees this attack as an attempt to silence and subdue not only Adv. Aires Rodrigues and Prof. Prajal Sakhardande but the rest of the Goan population. Speaking on behalf of its members, the GGRM points out though that they would not be cowed down and would continue to speak up in a democratic and non-violent manner against vested interest seeking to convert public wealth into private profits.
The GGRM also indicates that it is time for the State and official organs like the police to step up and bring the offenders to task and to enforce a social environment where peaceful and democratic protests can continue in security. For too long now, as in the cases cited above, the State has been complicit in these acts of aggression against citizens. It should be recognized, GGRM points out, that the assault on Adv. Rodrigues and Proff. Sakhardande has been made possible, because of the environment created by the State and its official organs.
s/d
Geraldine Fernandes
The GGRM would like to draw to the attention of the Goan people and media that this attack has brought the attacks on Goan activists to a new low. GGRM has pointed out that there have been attacks on activists for a while now. This has included the police harassment meted out to activists in Benaulim, including the search at Cortalim for supposed 'terrorists'; it includes the violence visited on anti-mining activists, including the violent attacks on peaceful demonstrators in Quepem on the 11th of October, and their subsequent illegitimate arrest and detention. The attacks on Aires Rodrigues and Prajal Sakhardande have however taken this harassment too far.
The GGRM points out that it sees this attack as an attempt to silence and subdue not only Adv. Aires Rodrigues and Prof. Prajal Sakhardande but the rest of the Goan population. Speaking on behalf of its members, the GGRM points out though that they would not be cowed down and would continue to speak up in a democratic and non-violent manner against vested interest seeking to convert public wealth into private profits.
The GGRM also indicates that it is time for the State and official organs like the police to step up and bring the offenders to task and to enforce a social environment where peaceful and democratic protests can continue in security. For too long now, as in the cases cited above, the State has been complicit in these acts of aggression against citizens. It should be recognized, GGRM points out, that the assault on Adv. Rodrigues and Proff. Sakhardande has been made possible, because of the environment created by the State and its official organs.
s/d
Geraldine Fernandes
Monday, October 6, 2008
GGRM memorandum to CM,CTP, minister & Director of Panchayats,
6th October 2008
To,
Mr. Digambar Kamat,
The Chief Minister,
Goa.
CC: The Minister for Panchayats, Govt. of Goa.
The Chief Town Planner, Town and Country Planning Department, Govt. of Goa.
The Director, Directorate of Panchayats, Govt. of Goa.
Memorandum to the Government of Goa
Dear Sir,
The Ganv Ghor Rakhon Manch (GGRM) is a federation of various village-level, and other civil society groups concerned with preserving the environment, livelihoods, identity and traditions of those living in the State of Goa. These groups have been involved with the opposition to the Regional Plan 2011 or have subsequently emerged when finding that the success against the Regional Plan 2011 has meant nothing in terms of the status on the ground. On the contrary, things have gotten worse since the revocation of the Regional Plan 2011. Allow us to list our complaints against the Government and the state of affairs we are witness to.
The Task Force (constituted to suggest a participatory process for creating a new Regional Plan) was loaded in favour of the real estate lobby. Shockingly the mandate of the Task Force was changed from "giving guidelines" to "preparing" the Regional Plan
The opposition to the Regional Plan was not merely a demand for a reworked spatial planning procedure. It was a demand for effective and rigorous participatory planning that took into consideration the existing socio-economic situations and with regard to these, made plans for the future. None of this seems to be forthcoming.
On the contrary, your Government has seen it fit to amend the Town and Country Planning Act, vide Sections 16 and 16 A to ensure that the Government will not be bound by a Regional Plan when eventually constituted. This setting up of the Government as above the law is an unconscionable act. We are aware of your justifications for the exercise, i.e. there will be rules under the Ac, however, to us this argument holds no water and at the very least we demand a public debate on the appropriateness of the rules.
Further, the Government has come out with Development Control Regulations preceding the Task Force Report whose mandate was to give guidelines for the formulation of a Regional Plan. This action makes the constitution of the Task Force, which was to consider the opposition that included giving weight to the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution, redundant.
In addition, the demand from the people has consistently been in favour of a greater realization of the vision of the 73rd and the 74th amendment. There has been no legal change or empowerment of the panchayats, to ensure that they would be capable of formulating Village Development Plans (that includes spatial planning), which would contribute to a renewed Regional Plan 2021.
To add insult to injury, your Government has presided over a situation where the voices of the people, represented in the Gram Sabhas, have been persistently disregarded and ignored. Citizens protesting this treatment have been subjected to various forms of intimidation, by local MLAs, Panchayat members and shockingly even at the hands of the police – the very force that ought to be protecting them.
Most unpardonable however, have been the constructions that continue to get sanctioned, and commercial buildings that continue to climb toward the sky, deface our environment and mar our livelihood options, in spite of the assurance of the halt on such construction activities.
· Further, there is no action forthcoming on the complaints made in respect of frauds committed by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation in leasing land to SEZ developers. If violations of land use and land lease and allocation provisions under the various laws are not taken seriously, any planning exercise will be rendered futile.
· There has been tremendous increase in the number of bore wells in the villages and in the existing industrial areas with absolutely no checks from the concerned authorities.
· Open cast iron-ore mining that Goa inherited as Portuguese Colonial Legacy has caused all round irreversible damage to Goa's people, our agriculture, our water sources - the springs and wells, our rivers, our mountains and even the air we breathe. Water - the very essence of life - has been one of the major casualties. Not only have mining-impacted villages in Goa's hinterland become water deficient due to digging of mines as deep as 40 meters below sea level, but this has also created water disaster for all of coastal Goa as the water reservoirs of our three dams - Assanora Water Works, Opa Water Works and Selaulim Water dam - are impacted by mining activities in their catchment areas. The extent of mining has not only destroyed Goan villages but has rendered the people aliens in their own backyard. This exercise has further violated the right to sustainable livelihood of the villagers.
· Communidade land is our heritage and needs to be protected. However, this land held in trust, is being blatantly acquired and sold to private owners more often than not to facilitate the constructions of buildings.
While we expect you to address the above matters of concern; the GGRM in light of these facts is nevertheless constrained to present to you the following demands,
1) The GGRM demands a total freeze on the processing of all commercial construction licenses in village Panchayat areas, and the commencement or continuation of construction on the basis of such licenses and permissions until the Regional Plan 2021 is approved.
a. We would like to make it clear that by “commercial construction” we mean specifically those construction and developmental projects designed to generate profit and support commercial activity. We are clear that there can be no ban on licenses for constructions undertaken for domestic purposes such as renovation, repair or extension to existing houses or the construction of single-dwelling units for personal residence.
b. Where complaints have been filed regarding illegal constructions and irregularities, the GGRM demands immediate stop orders on the works, and thorough investigations be undertaken followed by punitive action.
c. Further, we demand an immediate halt to hill-cutting and the filling of fields and low-lying areas that precede commercial developmental activity.
2) The GGRM believes that spatial planning can be effective only after comprehensive socio-economic planning (inclusive of spatial planning) has been effected. The GGRM therefore refuses to accept any Regional Plan as binding, which does not flow from the compilation of the District Development Plans for the two districts in Goa, themselves a compilation of the Village Development Plans (VDP) of all the Village Panchayats and Municipalities in Goa.
a. Toward this end the Government would need to issue a statement indicating its acceptance of this requirement; and,
b. Present to the people a time-frame and realistic framework through which these VDP will be articulated.
3) As per the provisions of the Goa Panchayati Raj Act, Gram Sabha decisions are binding on the Panchayat body. However the assertion of Gram Sabhas over the past few months has seen the erection of riders that circumscribe this power. In light of this, the GGRM demands that,
a. Additions to the Goa Panchayati Raj Act that will indicate that the decisions of the Gram Sabha are binding on the Secretary to the Panchayat in matters concerning the Panchayat.
b. Additions to the rules of the Panchayati Raj Act that fix a penalty for dereliction of duty by office bearers of the Panchayat.
c. A positive signal by this Government indicating its respect for the various resolutions of Gram Sabhas in the State, in so far as they are not violative of fundamental rights under the Constitution of India.
4) This Government has recently proposed new building regulations and given a short time period for public comment.
a. The GGRM demands that no building regulations, or any other regulations, be finalized and imposed on the Village Panchayats unless they are sufficiently discussed in the Gram Sabhas of the State.
b. The GGRM makes it clear that the onus for eliciting public response must fall on the State, and toward this end it must at the earliest spell out a procedure through which it will be possible for Gram Sabhas to obtain from a competent resource person, sufficient information regarding such changes to the law, prior to informed debate in the Gram Sabhas.
5) Despite the persistently documented threat that the mining industry poses to Goa, the Government of Goa has instead of cracking down on, allowed this industry to push Goa to the brink of an ecological and social disaster.
a. Goa's draft Mineral Policy instead of curbing mining in Goa promotes the same in a lot more aggressive manner by providing clearance to mining leases on cluster basis instead of planning to close down the mines that presently benefit only China.
b. For this and other reasons we reject the draft Mineral policy totally and put on record that we do not need mining nor the mineral policy that is unconcerned with passing on our beautiful Goa to our future generations.
Should your government have any reservations in this regard we would welcome a public debate on the Draft Mining policy at the earliest.
c. On priority basis all mines - legal as well as illegal - need to be closed down as these are the number one enemy of Goa's environment and its public health causing innumerable diseases particularly related to lung infections.
d. Immediate plan to reclamation of mining pits must be put in place.
e. Finally, the Central Government and its Ministry of Forest and Environment have granted a total of 128 Environmental clearances to as many mining leases through 98 Environmental Clearances according to latest information. The tiny State of Goa will be unable to sustain this and therefore the Government of Goa through its Chief Minister must publicly write to the Prime Minister of India to direct Union Ministry of Forest and Environment to withdraw all the Environmental Clearances and there by withdraw legal sanctity to ecocide of Goa.
The GGRM would like to draw to the attention of your Government that we wish to see a written and public response to this memorandum of demands within a period of 15 days failing which the GGRM will be forced to take up other methods to safeguards the interests of the citizens of this state.
We look forward to your written and public response to this memorandum.
Sincerely,
Geraldine Fernandes
Convener
To,
Mr. Digambar Kamat,
The Chief Minister,
Goa.
CC: The Minister for Panchayats, Govt. of Goa.
The Chief Town Planner, Town and Country Planning Department, Govt. of Goa.
The Director, Directorate of Panchayats, Govt. of Goa.
Memorandum to the Government of Goa
Dear Sir,
The Ganv Ghor Rakhon Manch (GGRM) is a federation of various village-level, and other civil society groups concerned with preserving the environment, livelihoods, identity and traditions of those living in the State of Goa. These groups have been involved with the opposition to the Regional Plan 2011 or have subsequently emerged when finding that the success against the Regional Plan 2011 has meant nothing in terms of the status on the ground. On the contrary, things have gotten worse since the revocation of the Regional Plan 2011. Allow us to list our complaints against the Government and the state of affairs we are witness to.
The Task Force (constituted to suggest a participatory process for creating a new Regional Plan) was loaded in favour of the real estate lobby. Shockingly the mandate of the Task Force was changed from "giving guidelines" to "preparing" the Regional Plan
The opposition to the Regional Plan was not merely a demand for a reworked spatial planning procedure. It was a demand for effective and rigorous participatory planning that took into consideration the existing socio-economic situations and with regard to these, made plans for the future. None of this seems to be forthcoming.
On the contrary, your Government has seen it fit to amend the Town and Country Planning Act, vide Sections 16 and 16 A to ensure that the Government will not be bound by a Regional Plan when eventually constituted. This setting up of the Government as above the law is an unconscionable act. We are aware of your justifications for the exercise, i.e. there will be rules under the Ac, however, to us this argument holds no water and at the very least we demand a public debate on the appropriateness of the rules.
Further, the Government has come out with Development Control Regulations preceding the Task Force Report whose mandate was to give guidelines for the formulation of a Regional Plan. This action makes the constitution of the Task Force, which was to consider the opposition that included giving weight to the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution, redundant.
In addition, the demand from the people has consistently been in favour of a greater realization of the vision of the 73rd and the 74th amendment. There has been no legal change or empowerment of the panchayats, to ensure that they would be capable of formulating Village Development Plans (that includes spatial planning), which would contribute to a renewed Regional Plan 2021.
To add insult to injury, your Government has presided over a situation where the voices of the people, represented in the Gram Sabhas, have been persistently disregarded and ignored. Citizens protesting this treatment have been subjected to various forms of intimidation, by local MLAs, Panchayat members and shockingly even at the hands of the police – the very force that ought to be protecting them.
Most unpardonable however, have been the constructions that continue to get sanctioned, and commercial buildings that continue to climb toward the sky, deface our environment and mar our livelihood options, in spite of the assurance of the halt on such construction activities.
· Further, there is no action forthcoming on the complaints made in respect of frauds committed by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation in leasing land to SEZ developers. If violations of land use and land lease and allocation provisions under the various laws are not taken seriously, any planning exercise will be rendered futile.
· There has been tremendous increase in the number of bore wells in the villages and in the existing industrial areas with absolutely no checks from the concerned authorities.
· Open cast iron-ore mining that Goa inherited as Portuguese Colonial Legacy has caused all round irreversible damage to Goa's people, our agriculture, our water sources - the springs and wells, our rivers, our mountains and even the air we breathe. Water - the very essence of life - has been one of the major casualties. Not only have mining-impacted villages in Goa's hinterland become water deficient due to digging of mines as deep as 40 meters below sea level, but this has also created water disaster for all of coastal Goa as the water reservoirs of our three dams - Assanora Water Works, Opa Water Works and Selaulim Water dam - are impacted by mining activities in their catchment areas. The extent of mining has not only destroyed Goan villages but has rendered the people aliens in their own backyard. This exercise has further violated the right to sustainable livelihood of the villagers.
· Communidade land is our heritage and needs to be protected. However, this land held in trust, is being blatantly acquired and sold to private owners more often than not to facilitate the constructions of buildings.
While we expect you to address the above matters of concern; the GGRM in light of these facts is nevertheless constrained to present to you the following demands,
1) The GGRM demands a total freeze on the processing of all commercial construction licenses in village Panchayat areas, and the commencement or continuation of construction on the basis of such licenses and permissions until the Regional Plan 2021 is approved.
a. We would like to make it clear that by “commercial construction” we mean specifically those construction and developmental projects designed to generate profit and support commercial activity. We are clear that there can be no ban on licenses for constructions undertaken for domestic purposes such as renovation, repair or extension to existing houses or the construction of single-dwelling units for personal residence.
b. Where complaints have been filed regarding illegal constructions and irregularities, the GGRM demands immediate stop orders on the works, and thorough investigations be undertaken followed by punitive action.
c. Further, we demand an immediate halt to hill-cutting and the filling of fields and low-lying areas that precede commercial developmental activity.
2) The GGRM believes that spatial planning can be effective only after comprehensive socio-economic planning (inclusive of spatial planning) has been effected. The GGRM therefore refuses to accept any Regional Plan as binding, which does not flow from the compilation of the District Development Plans for the two districts in Goa, themselves a compilation of the Village Development Plans (VDP) of all the Village Panchayats and Municipalities in Goa.
a. Toward this end the Government would need to issue a statement indicating its acceptance of this requirement; and,
b. Present to the people a time-frame and realistic framework through which these VDP will be articulated.
3) As per the provisions of the Goa Panchayati Raj Act, Gram Sabha decisions are binding on the Panchayat body. However the assertion of Gram Sabhas over the past few months has seen the erection of riders that circumscribe this power. In light of this, the GGRM demands that,
a. Additions to the Goa Panchayati Raj Act that will indicate that the decisions of the Gram Sabha are binding on the Secretary to the Panchayat in matters concerning the Panchayat.
b. Additions to the rules of the Panchayati Raj Act that fix a penalty for dereliction of duty by office bearers of the Panchayat.
c. A positive signal by this Government indicating its respect for the various resolutions of Gram Sabhas in the State, in so far as they are not violative of fundamental rights under the Constitution of India.
4) This Government has recently proposed new building regulations and given a short time period for public comment.
a. The GGRM demands that no building regulations, or any other regulations, be finalized and imposed on the Village Panchayats unless they are sufficiently discussed in the Gram Sabhas of the State.
b. The GGRM makes it clear that the onus for eliciting public response must fall on the State, and toward this end it must at the earliest spell out a procedure through which it will be possible for Gram Sabhas to obtain from a competent resource person, sufficient information regarding such changes to the law, prior to informed debate in the Gram Sabhas.
5) Despite the persistently documented threat that the mining industry poses to Goa, the Government of Goa has instead of cracking down on, allowed this industry to push Goa to the brink of an ecological and social disaster.
a. Goa's draft Mineral Policy instead of curbing mining in Goa promotes the same in a lot more aggressive manner by providing clearance to mining leases on cluster basis instead of planning to close down the mines that presently benefit only China.
b. For this and other reasons we reject the draft Mineral policy totally and put on record that we do not need mining nor the mineral policy that is unconcerned with passing on our beautiful Goa to our future generations.
Should your government have any reservations in this regard we would welcome a public debate on the Draft Mining policy at the earliest.
c. On priority basis all mines - legal as well as illegal - need to be closed down as these are the number one enemy of Goa's environment and its public health causing innumerable diseases particularly related to lung infections.
d. Immediate plan to reclamation of mining pits must be put in place.
e. Finally, the Central Government and its Ministry of Forest and Environment have granted a total of 128 Environmental clearances to as many mining leases through 98 Environmental Clearances according to latest information. The tiny State of Goa will be unable to sustain this and therefore the Government of Goa through its Chief Minister must publicly write to the Prime Minister of India to direct Union Ministry of Forest and Environment to withdraw all the Environmental Clearances and there by withdraw legal sanctity to ecocide of Goa.
The GGRM would like to draw to the attention of your Government that we wish to see a written and public response to this memorandum of demands within a period of 15 days failing which the GGRM will be forced to take up other methods to safeguards the interests of the citizens of this state.
We look forward to your written and public response to this memorandum.
Sincerely,
Geraldine Fernandes
Convener
Friday, September 26, 2008
update by GGRM Secretary, Kim
It's been an eventful week since the 21st when we met at Holy Spirit Church Margao .
Geraldine Fernandes has taken the first step by extending support under GGRM to the Nuvem anti mega project cause .This has however not gone very well with the Sarpanch of Nuvem who had made a complaint to the police that she trespassed at the Panchaat used the Panchayat phone to threaten him. A case has since been registered against her.
On Thursday a group of GGRM activist namely Geraldine ,Paul Fernandes ,Solon ,Alvito and the undersigned went to the Margao police station to support the villagers from Davodem Margao who had come to protest . Damodar one of the anti mega housing activist that had been beaten up by the builder lobby while the local councillor did nothing. While the SP was hearing the people well over a 100, the Councillor walked in saying he would not take a seat unless the outsiders referring to us were asked to leave .The crowd got furious at the GGRM persons being called outsiders, seeing this he left.
Its ironical that while a man is beaten and in hospital a case is yet to be registered and the persons who have done this roam free, while Geraldine has been accused and a case registered on the basis of using the Panchayat phone and talking over the phone to the Sarpanch by a lady is referred to as a threat!!.
The SP Margao referred to GGRM by telling the people of Davodem that they must listen to their leaders [GGRM ] If the moment was not so tense I would have told them that we are not leaders but we GGRM, are supporting each other in our struggle for a better Goa .making us leaders sounds more political which we are not .
Varca Fatrade villagers held a meeting and a press conference at the site where a proposed football ground is due in what is fertile land lush with paddy to be harvested .If the ground comes up over 14,000 sq feet of land will be acquired and filled the remaining paddy fields as well will be affected .Villagers of neighbouring Orlim joined them in support.
Its sad that each day at least a minimum of 2 pages are devoted of the news paper to some protest or the other but this it seems is of little consequence to our elected representatives be it at the Panchayat or in the State Government .
Lots of calls as to what is happening as GGRM has not yet given any formal press release as discussed till date since the 21st Sept.
Must say a big thank you to Ranjan Solomon who put together a super presentation which was accepted with a few suggestions and contribution .If not we would have spent a lot of time perhaps days on the matter .Thank you!!
Kindly advise if the memorandum is ready if its not to be given out as this will take the 'Wind out of the sail 'then please note and accept any suggestion that you may think fit to add one such has been put forward by Alvito from Colva that we must make mention that the Comumidade land is to be preserved and not sold or acquired to facitalitate the builder lobby.
Cell /Tel Numbers
Alvito Colva -9890557167
Franky Davidem 9890265256
Geraldine GGRM Convenor 9822146420
Paul Fernandes GGRM Pilerne 997091225
Fr Bismark 9923040360
Ida Couthinho Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch 2744368
Jason Fernandes Taligaon Bacho Abhiyan 9764324074
Orland Carmona 9823491364
Peter Fernandes Pilerne 9860755207
Seby Siolim 9923336347
Soter 9890056616
Please add to the above list .
Looking forward to seeing bus loads from each village in Panjim on 1st Oct by 9:30 am .Please co ordinate with neighbouring villages if the required numbers are not met then perhaps they can combine and come to Panjim in one bus .Please mobilize the crowd we need to be heard .
Till the 1st Oct 2008 keep well !!
Kim Miranda
Secretary GGRM
Cell 9422443855
Geraldine Fernandes has taken the first step by extending support under GGRM to the Nuvem anti mega project cause .This has however not gone very well with the Sarpanch of Nuvem who had made a complaint to the police that she trespassed at the Panchaat used the Panchayat phone to threaten him. A case has since been registered against her.
On Thursday a group of GGRM activist namely Geraldine ,Paul Fernandes ,Solon ,Alvito and the undersigned went to the Margao police station to support the villagers from Davodem Margao who had come to protest . Damodar one of the anti mega housing activist that had been beaten up by the builder lobby while the local councillor did nothing. While the SP was hearing the people well over a 100, the Councillor walked in saying he would not take a seat unless the outsiders referring to us were asked to leave .The crowd got furious at the GGRM persons being called outsiders, seeing this he left.
Its ironical that while a man is beaten and in hospital a case is yet to be registered and the persons who have done this roam free, while Geraldine has been accused and a case registered on the basis of using the Panchayat phone and talking over the phone to the Sarpanch by a lady is referred to as a threat!!.
The SP Margao referred to GGRM by telling the people of Davodem that they must listen to their leaders [GGRM ] If the moment was not so tense I would have told them that we are not leaders but we GGRM, are supporting each other in our struggle for a better Goa .making us leaders sounds more political which we are not .
Varca Fatrade villagers held a meeting and a press conference at the site where a proposed football ground is due in what is fertile land lush with paddy to be harvested .If the ground comes up over 14,000 sq feet of land will be acquired and filled the remaining paddy fields as well will be affected .Villagers of neighbouring Orlim joined them in support.
Its sad that each day at least a minimum of 2 pages are devoted of the news paper to some protest or the other but this it seems is of little consequence to our elected representatives be it at the Panchayat or in the State Government .
Lots of calls as to what is happening as GGRM has not yet given any formal press release as discussed till date since the 21st Sept.
Must say a big thank you to Ranjan Solomon who put together a super presentation which was accepted with a few suggestions and contribution .If not we would have spent a lot of time perhaps days on the matter .Thank you!!
Kindly advise if the memorandum is ready if its not to be given out as this will take the 'Wind out of the sail 'then please note and accept any suggestion that you may think fit to add one such has been put forward by Alvito from Colva that we must make mention that the Comumidade land is to be preserved and not sold or acquired to facitalitate the builder lobby.
Cell /Tel Numbers
Alvito Colva -9890557167
Franky Davidem 9890265256
Geraldine GGRM Convenor 9822146420
Paul Fernandes GGRM Pilerne 997091225
Fr Bismark 9923040360
Ida Couthinho Orlim Gaum Rakhon Manch 2744368
Jason Fernandes Taligaon Bacho Abhiyan 9764324074
Orland Carmona 9823491364
Peter Fernandes Pilerne 9860755207
Seby Siolim 9923336347
Soter 9890056616
Please add to the above list .
Looking forward to seeing bus loads from each village in Panjim on 1st Oct by 9:30 am .Please co ordinate with neighbouring villages if the required numbers are not met then perhaps they can combine and come to Panjim in one bus .Please mobilize the crowd we need to be heard .
Till the 1st Oct 2008 keep well !!
Kim Miranda
Secretary GGRM
Cell 9422443855
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Mob violence in Benaulim:BVAC denies involvement
HERALD REPORTER, Margao, Sept 17 –
The Benaulim Villagers Action Committee (BVAC) – spearheading the anti-mega housing stir – has vehemently denied the involvement of any of its activists or any villager in the attack on the houses of Benaulim Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes and Panch member Xavier Pereira.
BVAC Chairperson Geraldine Fernandes told Herald that she and other activists had dropped all the people to their houses by midnight after returning from the police station. “There’s no question of any BVAC activist of Benaulim villager involved in the attack. Even the Parish Priest Fr Anthony Vaz ensured that everyone was dropped home by 12 pm. So, the question of any villager or activist involved in the attack is ruled out”, she asserted.
In fact, she said this is again a ploy by the Sarpanch and the police to implicate innocent villagers in the attack. Asked who could have carried out the attack on the houses, Geraldine said it could be that it was done on purpose just to file false cases and frighten the agitators.
The Benaulim Villagers Action Committee (BVAC) – spearheading the anti-mega housing stir – has vehemently denied the involvement of any of its activists or any villager in the attack on the houses of Benaulim Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes and Panch member Xavier Pereira.
BVAC Chairperson Geraldine Fernandes told Herald that she and other activists had dropped all the people to their houses by midnight after returning from the police station. “There’s no question of any BVAC activist of Benaulim villager involved in the attack. Even the Parish Priest Fr Anthony Vaz ensured that everyone was dropped home by 12 pm. So, the question of any villager or activist involved in the attack is ruled out”, she asserted.
In fact, she said this is again a ploy by the Sarpanch and the police to implicate innocent villagers in the attack. Asked who could have carried out the attack on the houses, Geraldine said it could be that it was done on purpose just to file false cases and frighten the agitators.
PI Edwin Colaco apologises BUT does not accept blame
PI says sorry as Benaulim still simmers
18 Sep 2008, 0050 hrs IST,TNN
... Meanwhile, Colva police inspector Edwin Colaco on Wednesday evening tendered an apology to the parish priest of the Holy Trinity Church Benaulim, Fr Anthony Vaz, for any inconvenience that might have been caused to the parishioners on account of police action on Monday.
On Tuesday evening, PI Colaco and his men had stopped buses at Cortalim junction to find out whether the persons named in an earlier FIR were among the villagers returning from Panaji after attending a peace rally. The FIR was against villagers who had disrupted a panchayat meeting on Monday.
The Benaulim Villagers Action Committee (BVAC) and the parishioners had demanded an apology from the police officer for what they termed his “high-handedness” in arresting the accused in such a “brazen” manner.
Stating that the police had not the slightest intention of causing any inconvenience to the parishioners, leave alone any physical harm, PI Colaco said that the move was just a “verification exercise” by the police. “If at all any inconvenience is caused to the parishioners, then I, on behalf of my officers and men, tender sincere apologies to you,” he said in a letter.
However, BVAC leader Geraldine Fernandes appeared dissatisfied with the apology, “We are not at all happy with the contents of the letter. The PI has not accepted any blame for his actions.” She told TOI that the villagers will soon meet to decide their future course of action.
When contacted, PI Edwin Colaco said he tendered the apology bowing to the demands of the parishioners only to avoid any stand-off with the villagers. “I can only say that Tuesday’s exercise by my men was according to the provisions of the law,” he said.
Even as the police have started an inquiry into the manner in which Colva PI Edwin Colaco acted on Tuesday, human rights activists in the state have condemned the police for their high-handed behaviour and have demanded strict action against the police officer for the illegal action.
Colaco had forced Benaulim villagers returning from Tuesday’s solidarity rally in Panaji to get down from their buses at Cortalim junction and taken two of them into custody. They were later freed as villagers laid siege to Colva police station. SP (South) Shekhar Prabhudessai said, “DySP Umesh Gaonkar would conduct an inquiry into the way in which PI Colaco handled the issue.”
Father Maverick Fernandes, Executive Secretary, Council for Social Justice and Peace said, “The law needs to be implemented in a proper manner. What do you do when the protectors of law break the law and harass people. It was apparently another effort to intimidate citizens who are struggling to protect their rights.”
Police officials admitted that while a police officer could search for an accused beyond his jurisdiction, the manner in which PI Colaco behaved, without informing his senior officers, was not correct.
“What the police did was absolutely wrong and illegal. The PI had absolutely no right to stop buses on the highway and trouble ordinary citizens, on the pretext of arresting a few accused. Moreover, is the crime of the people wanted by the police so large that the police behave in such an unwarranted manner and troubles people who are fighting for their rights? Strict action should be taken against such an officer,” said Human Rights Monitoring Society member Cyril Fernandes.
The incident has reportedly been viewed as a case of hurried decision by the police inspector. The DGP held a meeting of the south Goa SP and DySP on Wednesday afternoon and asked for a report. Incidentally, even senior police officers are perplexed at the manner in which the PI has acted. Top police officials informed that the PI had neither sought the SP nor the SDPO’s permission before halting buses on the highway. “The situation would have gone out of hand if the SDPOs from Margao and Vasco had not arrived at the spot and interacted with the angry crowd,” added a top police official.
Meanwhile, Benaulim Villagers Action Committee leader Geraldine Fernandes has termed the complaint lodged by sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes and Xavier Pereira against the villagers for damaging their properties “fabricated” and aimed at “tarnishing the image of the BVAC”.
“All of us were there at Colva police station well past midnight. Besides, it was raining heavily at that time. Moreover, it would require some time for anybody to mobilize a crowd of over 100 as alleged and march towards her house. This is just a ploy to tarnish our image,” Geraldine said.
(for full story http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Goa/PI_says_sorry_as_Benaulim_still_simmers/articleshow/3495891.cms)
18 Sep 2008, 0050 hrs IST,TNN
... Meanwhile, Colva police inspector Edwin Colaco on Wednesday evening tendered an apology to the parish priest of the Holy Trinity Church Benaulim, Fr Anthony Vaz, for any inconvenience that might have been caused to the parishioners on account of police action on Monday.
On Tuesday evening, PI Colaco and his men had stopped buses at Cortalim junction to find out whether the persons named in an earlier FIR were among the villagers returning from Panaji after attending a peace rally. The FIR was against villagers who had disrupted a panchayat meeting on Monday.
The Benaulim Villagers Action Committee (BVAC) and the parishioners had demanded an apology from the police officer for what they termed his “high-handedness” in arresting the accused in such a “brazen” manner.
Stating that the police had not the slightest intention of causing any inconvenience to the parishioners, leave alone any physical harm, PI Colaco said that the move was just a “verification exercise” by the police. “If at all any inconvenience is caused to the parishioners, then I, on behalf of my officers and men, tender sincere apologies to you,” he said in a letter.
However, BVAC leader Geraldine Fernandes appeared dissatisfied with the apology, “We are not at all happy with the contents of the letter. The PI has not accepted any blame for his actions.” She told TOI that the villagers will soon meet to decide their future course of action.
When contacted, PI Edwin Colaco said he tendered the apology bowing to the demands of the parishioners only to avoid any stand-off with the villagers. “I can only say that Tuesday’s exercise by my men was according to the provisions of the law,” he said.
Even as the police have started an inquiry into the manner in which Colva PI Edwin Colaco acted on Tuesday, human rights activists in the state have condemned the police for their high-handed behaviour and have demanded strict action against the police officer for the illegal action.
Colaco had forced Benaulim villagers returning from Tuesday’s solidarity rally in Panaji to get down from their buses at Cortalim junction and taken two of them into custody. They were later freed as villagers laid siege to Colva police station. SP (South) Shekhar Prabhudessai said, “DySP Umesh Gaonkar would conduct an inquiry into the way in which PI Colaco handled the issue.”
Father Maverick Fernandes, Executive Secretary, Council for Social Justice and Peace said, “The law needs to be implemented in a proper manner. What do you do when the protectors of law break the law and harass people. It was apparently another effort to intimidate citizens who are struggling to protect their rights.”
Police officials admitted that while a police officer could search for an accused beyond his jurisdiction, the manner in which PI Colaco behaved, without informing his senior officers, was not correct.
“What the police did was absolutely wrong and illegal. The PI had absolutely no right to stop buses on the highway and trouble ordinary citizens, on the pretext of arresting a few accused. Moreover, is the crime of the people wanted by the police so large that the police behave in such an unwarranted manner and troubles people who are fighting for their rights? Strict action should be taken against such an officer,” said Human Rights Monitoring Society member Cyril Fernandes.
The incident has reportedly been viewed as a case of hurried decision by the police inspector. The DGP held a meeting of the south Goa SP and DySP on Wednesday afternoon and asked for a report. Incidentally, even senior police officers are perplexed at the manner in which the PI has acted. Top police officials informed that the PI had neither sought the SP nor the SDPO’s permission before halting buses on the highway. “The situation would have gone out of hand if the SDPOs from Margao and Vasco had not arrived at the spot and interacted with the angry crowd,” added a top police official.
Meanwhile, Benaulim Villagers Action Committee leader Geraldine Fernandes has termed the complaint lodged by sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes and Xavier Pereira against the villagers for damaging their properties “fabricated” and aimed at “tarnishing the image of the BVAC”.
“All of us were there at Colva police station well past midnight. Besides, it was raining heavily at that time. Moreover, it would require some time for anybody to mobilize a crowd of over 100 as alleged and march towards her house. This is just a ploy to tarnish our image,” Geraldine said.
(for full story http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Goa/PI_says_sorry_as_Benaulim_still_simmers/articleshow/3495891.cms)
Futile bid by police to intercept Benaulim villagers
NT NETWORK
MARGAO-
Benaulim remained tense late on Tuesday evening following an attempt by the Colva police to arrest Benaulim villagers by intercepting them near Zuari bridge as they were returning from the protest meeting to condemn the violence against Christians in various parts of the country, following complaints from the sarpanch, Ms Carmelin Fernandes and a panch member, Mr Xavier Pereira on Monday.
The situation was also tense at Cortalim as the Colva police led by PI Mr Edwin Colaco tried to arrest the people by intercepting the buses as they were returning back from Panaji. The tense situation led the police to call for re-enforcements from Margao and Vasco police stations.
The police were on the look out for 33 people in connection with the case. The SDPO, Margao, Mr Umesh Gaonkar confirmed that no arrests were made, however one person, Diago D?Silva was arrested in connection of a rioting earlier on Tuesday and was later released.
Later, the focus turned toward the Colva police as hundreds of angry villagers including women and children assembled outside the police station and demanded that the charges be dropped against whom the case has been registered. The SDPO Margao also rushed to the Colva police station in order to handle the situation as there was commotion and tension, even as rumours made rounds that 35 people were arrested. The people were also shouting anti-police slogans outside the police station.
According to the sources in police, five buses from Benaulim had gone to Panaji for the public meeting when the Colva police stopped the buses at Cortalim junction and made an attempt to locate some of the accused wanted for forming unlawful assembly, rioting at Benaulim on Monday at the panchayat office.
Earlier, two sub-divisional police officers from Vasco and Margao and other staff was pressed into service to control the agitated crowd which demanded inquiry into the incident. At the time of going to press, the situation in Benaulim was under control.
Vasco bureau adds: Vehicular traffic leading to Vasco and Margao from Panaji was blocked for nearly two and half hours at the Zuari bridge at Cortalim during late evening on Tuesday by the supporters who participated in the protest meet held at Panaji condemning the violence in Orissa.
According to the information, the Colva PI, Mr Edwin Colaco had a list of the 33 people involved in the unlawful assembly, rioting and assault case which was registered in the Colva police jurisdiction. Suspecting that the accused were travelling in the bus after attending the protest meet at Panaji on Tuesday evening, the Colva police stopped the buses at the Zuari bridge at around 7.30 p.m. for check-up. This lead to commotion and the villagers from Benaulim got annoyed. The vehicular traffic on this stretch was totally disrupted for about two and half hours.
When contacted the deputy superintendent of police, Vasco, Mr Deu Benaulikar informed that he reached the site at Cortalim along with Verna PI, Mr Nalasco Raposo and deputy superintendent of police, Margao, Mr Umesh Gaonkar and brought the situation under control.
When questioned whether the Colva PI, Mr Colaco acted as per the rules in the jurisdiction of the Verna police station, Mr Benaulikar said that it was wrong on the part of Colva PI, Mr Colaco interfering in some other police jurisdiction and that he should have first informed the Verna PI, Mr Nalasco Raposo before initiating any crucial step. Mr Benaulikar assured the agitators to resolve the issue and thereafter the villagers dispersed from the blocked road at around 9.45 p.m.
MARGAO-
Benaulim remained tense late on Tuesday evening following an attempt by the Colva police to arrest Benaulim villagers by intercepting them near Zuari bridge as they were returning from the protest meeting to condemn the violence against Christians in various parts of the country, following complaints from the sarpanch, Ms Carmelin Fernandes and a panch member, Mr Xavier Pereira on Monday.
The situation was also tense at Cortalim as the Colva police led by PI Mr Edwin Colaco tried to arrest the people by intercepting the buses as they were returning back from Panaji. The tense situation led the police to call for re-enforcements from Margao and Vasco police stations.
The police were on the look out for 33 people in connection with the case. The SDPO, Margao, Mr Umesh Gaonkar confirmed that no arrests were made, however one person, Diago D?Silva was arrested in connection of a rioting earlier on Tuesday and was later released.
Later, the focus turned toward the Colva police as hundreds of angry villagers including women and children assembled outside the police station and demanded that the charges be dropped against whom the case has been registered. The SDPO Margao also rushed to the Colva police station in order to handle the situation as there was commotion and tension, even as rumours made rounds that 35 people were arrested. The people were also shouting anti-police slogans outside the police station.
According to the sources in police, five buses from Benaulim had gone to Panaji for the public meeting when the Colva police stopped the buses at Cortalim junction and made an attempt to locate some of the accused wanted for forming unlawful assembly, rioting at Benaulim on Monday at the panchayat office.
Earlier, two sub-divisional police officers from Vasco and Margao and other staff was pressed into service to control the agitated crowd which demanded inquiry into the incident. At the time of going to press, the situation in Benaulim was under control.
Vasco bureau adds: Vehicular traffic leading to Vasco and Margao from Panaji was blocked for nearly two and half hours at the Zuari bridge at Cortalim during late evening on Tuesday by the supporters who participated in the protest meet held at Panaji condemning the violence in Orissa.
According to the information, the Colva PI, Mr Edwin Colaco had a list of the 33 people involved in the unlawful assembly, rioting and assault case which was registered in the Colva police jurisdiction. Suspecting that the accused were travelling in the bus after attending the protest meet at Panaji on Tuesday evening, the Colva police stopped the buses at the Zuari bridge at around 7.30 p.m. for check-up. This lead to commotion and the villagers from Benaulim got annoyed. The vehicular traffic on this stretch was totally disrupted for about two and half hours.
When contacted the deputy superintendent of police, Vasco, Mr Deu Benaulikar informed that he reached the site at Cortalim along with Verna PI, Mr Nalasco Raposo and deputy superintendent of police, Margao, Mr Umesh Gaonkar and brought the situation under control.
When questioned whether the Colva PI, Mr Colaco acted as per the rules in the jurisdiction of the Verna police station, Mr Benaulikar said that it was wrong on the part of Colva PI, Mr Colaco interfering in some other police jurisdiction and that he should have first informed the Verna PI, Mr Nalasco Raposo before initiating any crucial step. Mr Benaulikar assured the agitators to resolve the issue and thereafter the villagers dispersed from the blocked road at around 9.45 p.m.
Futile bid by police to intercept Benaulim villagers
NT NETWORK
MARGAO-
Benaulim remained tense late on Tuesday evening following an attempt by the Colva police to arrest Benaulim villagers by intercepting them near Zuari bridge as they were returning from the protest meeting to condemn the violence against Christians in various parts of the country, following complaints from the sarpanch, Ms Carmelin Fernandes and a panch member, Mr Xavier Pereira on Monday.
The situation was also tense at Cortalim as the Colva police led by PI Mr Edwin Colaco tried to arrest the people by intercepting the buses as they were returning back from Panaji. The tense situation led the police to call for re-enforcements from Margao and Vasco police stations.
The police were on the look out for 33 people in connection with the case. The SDPO, Margao, Mr Umesh Gaonkar confirmed that no arrests were made, however one person, Diago D?Silva was arrested in connection of a rioting earlier on Tuesday and was later released.
Later, the focus turned toward the Colva police as hundreds of angry villagers including women and children assembled outside the police station and demanded that the charges be dropped against whom the case has been registered. The SDPO Margao also rushed to the Colva police station in order to handle the situation as there was commotion and tension, even as rumours made rounds that 35 people were arrested. The people were also shouting anti-police slogans outside the police station.
According to the sources in police, five buses from Benaulim had gone to Panaji for the public meeting when the Colva police stopped the buses at Cortalim junction and made an attempt to locate some of the accused wanted for forming unlawful assembly, rioting at Benaulim on Monday at the panchayat office.
Earlier, two sub-divisional police officers from Vasco and Margao and other staff was pressed into service to control the agitated crowd which demanded inquiry into the incident. At the time of going to press, the situation in Benaulim was under control.
Vasco bureau adds: Vehicular traffic leading to Vasco and Margao from Panaji was blocked for nearly two and half hours at the Zuari bridge at Cortalim during late evening on Tuesday by the supporters who participated in the protest meet held at Panaji condemning the violence in Orissa.
According to the information, the Colva PI, Mr Edwin Colaco had a list of the 33 people involved in the unlawful assembly, rioting and assault case which was registered in the Colva police jurisdiction. Suspecting that the accused were travelling in the bus after attending the protest meet at Panaji on Tuesday evening, the Colva police stopped the buses at the Zuari bridge at around 7.30 p.m. for check-up. This lead to commotion and the villagers from Benaulim got annoyed. The vehicular traffic on this stretch was totally disrupted for about two and half hours.
When contacted the deputy superintendent of police, Vasco, Mr Deu Benaulikar informed that he reached the site at Cortalim along with Verna PI, Mr Nalasco Raposo and deputy superintendent of police, Margao, Mr Umesh Gaonkar and brought the situation under control.
When questioned whether the Colva PI, Mr Colaco acted as per the rules in the jurisdiction of the Verna police station, Mr Benaulikar said that it was wrong on the part of Colva PI, Mr Colaco interfering in some other police jurisdiction and that he should have first informed the Verna PI, Mr Nalasco Raposo before initiating any crucial step. Mr Benaulikar assured the agitators to resolve the issue and thereafter the villagers dispersed from the blocked road at around 9.45 p.m.
MARGAO-
Benaulim remained tense late on Tuesday evening following an attempt by the Colva police to arrest Benaulim villagers by intercepting them near Zuari bridge as they were returning from the protest meeting to condemn the violence against Christians in various parts of the country, following complaints from the sarpanch, Ms Carmelin Fernandes and a panch member, Mr Xavier Pereira on Monday.
The situation was also tense at Cortalim as the Colva police led by PI Mr Edwin Colaco tried to arrest the people by intercepting the buses as they were returning back from Panaji. The tense situation led the police to call for re-enforcements from Margao and Vasco police stations.
The police were on the look out for 33 people in connection with the case. The SDPO, Margao, Mr Umesh Gaonkar confirmed that no arrests were made, however one person, Diago D?Silva was arrested in connection of a rioting earlier on Tuesday and was later released.
Later, the focus turned toward the Colva police as hundreds of angry villagers including women and children assembled outside the police station and demanded that the charges be dropped against whom the case has been registered. The SDPO Margao also rushed to the Colva police station in order to handle the situation as there was commotion and tension, even as rumours made rounds that 35 people were arrested. The people were also shouting anti-police slogans outside the police station.
According to the sources in police, five buses from Benaulim had gone to Panaji for the public meeting when the Colva police stopped the buses at Cortalim junction and made an attempt to locate some of the accused wanted for forming unlawful assembly, rioting at Benaulim on Monday at the panchayat office.
Earlier, two sub-divisional police officers from Vasco and Margao and other staff was pressed into service to control the agitated crowd which demanded inquiry into the incident. At the time of going to press, the situation in Benaulim was under control.
Vasco bureau adds: Vehicular traffic leading to Vasco and Margao from Panaji was blocked for nearly two and half hours at the Zuari bridge at Cortalim during late evening on Tuesday by the supporters who participated in the protest meet held at Panaji condemning the violence in Orissa.
According to the information, the Colva PI, Mr Edwin Colaco had a list of the 33 people involved in the unlawful assembly, rioting and assault case which was registered in the Colva police jurisdiction. Suspecting that the accused were travelling in the bus after attending the protest meet at Panaji on Tuesday evening, the Colva police stopped the buses at the Zuari bridge at around 7.30 p.m. for check-up. This lead to commotion and the villagers from Benaulim got annoyed. The vehicular traffic on this stretch was totally disrupted for about two and half hours.
When contacted the deputy superintendent of police, Vasco, Mr Deu Benaulikar informed that he reached the site at Cortalim along with Verna PI, Mr Nalasco Raposo and deputy superintendent of police, Margao, Mr Umesh Gaonkar and brought the situation under control.
When questioned whether the Colva PI, Mr Colaco acted as per the rules in the jurisdiction of the Verna police station, Mr Benaulikar said that it was wrong on the part of Colva PI, Mr Colaco interfering in some other police jurisdiction and that he should have first informed the Verna PI, Mr Nalasco Raposo before initiating any crucial step. Mr Benaulikar assured the agitators to resolve the issue and thereafter the villagers dispersed from the blocked road at around 9.45 p.m.
Tension runs high at Colva police station
BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, SEPT 16 –
Tension prevailed at the Colva police station on Tuesday night when a mob of over 500 angry villagers marched to the police station in protest against the arrest of two activists and stoppage of buses by the police at Cortalim.
The protestors gathered at Maria hall, Benaulim at around 9.30 pm and later marched to the Colva police station, demanding the immediate release of the two activists, arrested and detained at the Verna police station.
Sensing trouble, DySP Umesh Gaonkar rushed to Colva police station and was engaged in discussions with the irate villagers, who questioned the police over registering false cases and arresting two of the activists.
The huge crowd was stopped from entering the police station by DySP Gaonkar and a motley group of policemen.DySP Gaonkar told the crowd that Joaquim D’Silva, who was arrested earlier in the day has been released at Verna on a bail bond. The people, however, demanded the presence of Joaquim and Keith, who too was detained at the Verna police station.
Both Joaquim and Keith were brought to the Colva police station at around 11 pm, but the restless crowd was heard demanding withdrawal of the false cases against 35 activists.
The crowd dispersed from the police station at around 11.30 pm and proceeded towards Maria hall to chalk out the future course of action. They have demanded an apology from the police for the stopping the buses at Cortalim and arresting the activists on false cases. They even threatened to hold a Benaulim bandh if the police failed to withdraw the cases.
Incidentally, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao made his presence felt at the Colva police station at around 11.15 pm and condemned the police action of stopping buses at Cortalim in search of the activists. He and the agitators demanded arrest of the persons, including the panch member, against whom the activists had lodged counter complaints in Monday’s incident at the Panchayat ghar.
Adv Anacleto Viegas, who was at the police station, blamed the Colva police for the tension, which has created a law and order problem. Condemning the police action at Cortalim, Viegas said the police had no right to arrest the activists at Cortalim on false cases.
MARGAO, SEPT 16 –
Tension prevailed at the Colva police station on Tuesday night when a mob of over 500 angry villagers marched to the police station in protest against the arrest of two activists and stoppage of buses by the police at Cortalim.
The protestors gathered at Maria hall, Benaulim at around 9.30 pm and later marched to the Colva police station, demanding the immediate release of the two activists, arrested and detained at the Verna police station.
Sensing trouble, DySP Umesh Gaonkar rushed to Colva police station and was engaged in discussions with the irate villagers, who questioned the police over registering false cases and arresting two of the activists.
The huge crowd was stopped from entering the police station by DySP Gaonkar and a motley group of policemen.DySP Gaonkar told the crowd that Joaquim D’Silva, who was arrested earlier in the day has been released at Verna on a bail bond. The people, however, demanded the presence of Joaquim and Keith, who too was detained at the Verna police station.
Both Joaquim and Keith were brought to the Colva police station at around 11 pm, but the restless crowd was heard demanding withdrawal of the false cases against 35 activists.
The crowd dispersed from the police station at around 11.30 pm and proceeded towards Maria hall to chalk out the future course of action. They have demanded an apology from the police for the stopping the buses at Cortalim and arresting the activists on false cases. They even threatened to hold a Benaulim bandh if the police failed to withdraw the cases.
Incidentally, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao made his presence felt at the Colva police station at around 11.15 pm and condemned the police action of stopping buses at Cortalim in search of the activists. He and the agitators demanded arrest of the persons, including the panch member, against whom the activists had lodged counter complaints in Monday’s incident at the Panchayat ghar.
Adv Anacleto Viegas, who was at the police station, blamed the Colva police for the tension, which has created a law and order problem. Condemning the police action at Cortalim, Viegas said the police had no right to arrest the activists at Cortalim on false cases.
Police take passengers for a ride
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MORMUGAO, SEPT 16 –
Hundreds of villagers from Benaulim were in for a rude shock when six buses transporting them back from a meeting in Panjim were stopped at the Cortalim junction by Colva PI Edwin Colaco.
The villagers had gone to attend to a public meeting against communal violence at the Azad Maidan on Tuesday afternoon. A strong police force and an Indian Reserve Battalion were stationed at Cortalim junction to search for villagers alleged to have stormed the Benaulim panchayat house on Monday.
Incidentally, it is learnt that PI Colaco had not obtained permission from Verna PI Nolasco Raposo – under whose jurisdiction Cortalim is located – and stopped around six buses at the junction to search for the villagers. Mormugao DySP Deu Banavlikar confirmed PI Colaco’s action of overstepping his jurisdiction.
PI Edwin told Herald that two separate cases had been filed against some people from Benaulim for yesterday’s commotion in the panchayat hall. There were people named for assault and damage. “Today when we went to Benaulim to arrest the wanted people we learnt they had gone to Panjim and came to know they were to return in the evening,” he stated.
Some villagers complained that they were harassed at the behest of the politicians and the building lobby for opposing the mega projects in the village. People around the scene suspected a nexus of politicians and building lobby to pressurize the anti-mega housing lobby. Passengers disclosed that police stopped the buses and forcibly confiscated the driver’s licence and asked the people to alight from the buses. Even children and elderly people were not spared, they said.
“We had gone to attend the solidarity rally and on our return, we were stopped by the Colva PI without any reason. Police then took out a list and started searching for some people,” Colva Parish Priest Fr Anthony Vaz told Herald.
Added Geraldine Fernandes, chairperson of Benaulim Villagers Action Committee: “I inquired as to why we were stopped and PI Colaco informed me that he is looking for some terrorists. While our buses were being searched for terrorists, other Karnataka and Kadamba buses were allowed to go without any check.”
“The police is trying to curb the voices of villagers against mega projects as a lot of money is at stake,” Ms Fernandes added.
MORMUGAO, SEPT 16 –
Hundreds of villagers from Benaulim were in for a rude shock when six buses transporting them back from a meeting in Panjim were stopped at the Cortalim junction by Colva PI Edwin Colaco.
The villagers had gone to attend to a public meeting against communal violence at the Azad Maidan on Tuesday afternoon. A strong police force and an Indian Reserve Battalion were stationed at Cortalim junction to search for villagers alleged to have stormed the Benaulim panchayat house on Monday.
Incidentally, it is learnt that PI Colaco had not obtained permission from Verna PI Nolasco Raposo – under whose jurisdiction Cortalim is located – and stopped around six buses at the junction to search for the villagers. Mormugao DySP Deu Banavlikar confirmed PI Colaco’s action of overstepping his jurisdiction.
PI Edwin told Herald that two separate cases had been filed against some people from Benaulim for yesterday’s commotion in the panchayat hall. There were people named for assault and damage. “Today when we went to Benaulim to arrest the wanted people we learnt they had gone to Panjim and came to know they were to return in the evening,” he stated.
Some villagers complained that they were harassed at the behest of the politicians and the building lobby for opposing the mega projects in the village. People around the scene suspected a nexus of politicians and building lobby to pressurize the anti-mega housing lobby. Passengers disclosed that police stopped the buses and forcibly confiscated the driver’s licence and asked the people to alight from the buses. Even children and elderly people were not spared, they said.
“We had gone to attend the solidarity rally and on our return, we were stopped by the Colva PI without any reason. Police then took out a list and started searching for some people,” Colva Parish Priest Fr Anthony Vaz told Herald.
Added Geraldine Fernandes, chairperson of Benaulim Villagers Action Committee: “I inquired as to why we were stopped and PI Colaco informed me that he is looking for some terrorists. While our buses were being searched for terrorists, other Karnataka and Kadamba buses were allowed to go without any check.”
“The police is trying to curb the voices of villagers against mega projects as a lot of money is at stake,” Ms Fernandes added.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Sunderlal Bahuguna meets GGRM activists
report compiled by Miguel Braganza
Internationally renowned environmental activist and leader of the"Chipko" movement for the preservation of forests in the Himalayas, Sunderlal Bahuguna, addressed a large gathering organised by the GanvGhor Rakhonn Manch [GGRM] in association with the Centre for Panchayati Raj [CPR-PS] on 3rd September 2008, at Dando ground, Benaulim. He was accompanied by his wife Vimla, noted environmental activist and leader of Karnataka's Appiko movement, Mr. Pandurang Hegde, and others.
Sunderlal Bahuguna released the book by Dr. Sudhirendar Sharma entitled PARADISE LOST... ALMOST. A Prakruti report on the Western Ghats on as is where is basis' in 2006. He also released the fourth issue of PARPOTI [Konkani word for "Village Messenger" who went from street to street to make public announcements when newspapers were not read by many and a radio was a luxury few could afford.] edited bySoter D'Souza for CPR-PS. This issue has one model of a Participatory Planning Process for developing Regional Plan from among the models discussed by the GBA.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Bahuguna complimented the people of Goa for leading a struggle that is an inspiration to the people in the rest of India. "It will awaken the children of Bharat Mata to come to her rescue against the relentless onslaught of urbanisation." he said. "Democracy thrives where the people are awakened. It is the people who make democracy live, not governments and elected representatives, he added.
On the Tourism front, Shri Bahuguna informed the people that the Swiss do not sacrifice their environment for their tourism. Switzerland,with its villages and forests is still one of the favourite tourist destinations in the world. People leave their mansions and plush surroundings all over the world to enjoy the natural beauty of Goa. Do not try to provide the tourists the very thing they try to escape from, it will kill tourism, he reminded. Maintain your natural beauty. "Why do you want to cut your nose to own a nose stud?" he asked metaphorically.
Earlier, Smt. Geraldine Fernandes, convener of GGRM and leader ofBVAC, welcomed the gathering and specially thanked the members of the print & electronic media and the Hindu brethren who had come to the meeting in large numbers to listen to Shri Bahuguna, inspite of the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi, the family festival in almost every home accross Goa.
Smt. Romana Cardoz from Siridao asked the Government to jail the entire village if it thought the Gram Sabha did any wrong, but not to target with trumped up charges about ten youth who are about to start their careers. Arrest the promoters of the projects at Siridao for disturbing the village peace, she said, naming the persons involved.
Menino de Bandar sang a song on SEZ and "development" being promoted in Goa these days while Shri Teotonio da Costa from Majorda asked the people not to get distracted by the red herring of the script controversy that was raised again in the Goa Legislative Assembly, 16years after its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 1992. In the market place we are forced to speak Hindi and Kannada as the petty traders do not know to speak Konkani. Let the Goa Government correct that situation first and then speak about the script, he said. The Government is afraid of the people's unity in the Gram Sabha meetings and wants to divide the people on script and religion basis so that it can get away with the rape of Goa's land, he added.
The Chipko movement which literally means 'to stick' (to the trees), spread throughout Uttar Pradesh from 1973 and achieved a major victory in 1980 with a ban on felling of live trees above 1000 metres MSL inthe Himalayan forests by order of India's then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. A similar ban was later also implemented in the states ofUttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh. The movement spread to HimachalPradesh in the north, Karnataka in the south, Rajasthan in the west,Bihar in the east and to the Vindhyans in central India. In additionto the ban in Uttar Pradesh, the movement succeeded in halting clear felling in the Western Ghats and the Vindhyas, as well as generating pressure for a natural resources policy more sensitive to people'sneeds and environmental factors. He received the Right To LivelihoodAward in 1987.
Fr. Maverick Fernandes of CSJP, Mr. Kumar Kalanand Mani of Peaceful Society, Soter D' Souza of CPR-PS, Pravin Sabnis of the GBA, Arch.Kamlakar D.Sadhale of Nirmal Vishwa, Adv. Shanti Almeida of TBA, and representatives of village level movements across Salcete, Tiswadi and Bardez were present on the dais. Soter and members of the GGRM led the people in singing the song, "Utt Goykara, Utt!"
Mog asundi.
Miguel
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Benaulim locals want criminal cases against activists withdrawn
HERALD REPORTERMARGAO, JULY 29 –
Strongly condemning police atrocities on innocent Benaulim villagers protesting against the nefarious housing projects, the Benaulim Villagers Action Committee has demanded total withdrawal of all the criminal cases filed against anti-mega housing activists of Benaulim and disclosed plans to approach the Judiciary to take the ongoing battle to the logical conclusion.
Terming the cases filed by the Colva police as baseless and with the sole intention to harass and terrorise the people to benefit the builders, BVAC strongly believed that the Colva police have an established nexus with the builders lobby and are working overnight in promoting the interests and illegalities of the real estate lobby “Goa police attached to Colva police station are speedily transforming themselves into goons in uniform”, the Committee maintained.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, BVAC Chairperson Geraldine Fernandes said Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes’ utterances that BVAC is aligned with the builders are motivated by personal revenge and only an attempt to malign the image of the committee and cover up her nexus with builders. Her colleague Rudolf Barreto said the Committee is only demanding withdrawal of the revocation order against a mega housing project, apprehending that the case will not stand in the court of law as the Panchayat did not follow the principles of natural justice by giving the builder a show cause notice before issuing the order. “We are surprised that the Panchayat did not issue a show cause notice on the builder before serving the revocation order. We are apprehensive that the case will not stand in the court of law’ That’s the reason, why the Committee is demanding withdrawal of the case before issuing a fresh show cause notice on the builder”, Barreto said.
Replying to a question, Geraldine denied that supporters of PWD Minister Churchill Alemao are members of the BVAC, adding that the movement is carried on by the villagers, irrespective of party affiliations. She has reiterated the demand for the resignation of the Sarpanch, saying Carmelina is not fit to occupy the august seat. BVAC Convenor Seby Fernandes said the Benaulim villagers are well within their rights and fundamental duties to oppose the mega projects, which are constructed in violation of approved construction plans and building regulations in force and in total disregard to the problems faced by the villagers due to shortage of basic amenities and infrastructure.
“The setbacks in these mega-projects have not been maintained as per the approved plans. The committee condemns the sins of omission and commission by the Panchayat to protect the errant builders. The mundkarial rights of the people residing on the land have not been respected. The Panchayat is indulging in willful shoddy communications so as to provide the builders with some escape route”, Seby said.
The press conference was also attended by GBA activists Pravin Sabnis and Soter D’Souza.
Strongly condemning police atrocities on innocent Benaulim villagers protesting against the nefarious housing projects, the Benaulim Villagers Action Committee has demanded total withdrawal of all the criminal cases filed against anti-mega housing activists of Benaulim and disclosed plans to approach the Judiciary to take the ongoing battle to the logical conclusion.
Terming the cases filed by the Colva police as baseless and with the sole intention to harass and terrorise the people to benefit the builders, BVAC strongly believed that the Colva police have an established nexus with the builders lobby and are working overnight in promoting the interests and illegalities of the real estate lobby “Goa police attached to Colva police station are speedily transforming themselves into goons in uniform”, the Committee maintained.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, BVAC Chairperson Geraldine Fernandes said Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes’ utterances that BVAC is aligned with the builders are motivated by personal revenge and only an attempt to malign the image of the committee and cover up her nexus with builders. Her colleague Rudolf Barreto said the Committee is only demanding withdrawal of the revocation order against a mega housing project, apprehending that the case will not stand in the court of law as the Panchayat did not follow the principles of natural justice by giving the builder a show cause notice before issuing the order. “We are surprised that the Panchayat did not issue a show cause notice on the builder before serving the revocation order. We are apprehensive that the case will not stand in the court of law’ That’s the reason, why the Committee is demanding withdrawal of the case before issuing a fresh show cause notice on the builder”, Barreto said.
Replying to a question, Geraldine denied that supporters of PWD Minister Churchill Alemao are members of the BVAC, adding that the movement is carried on by the villagers, irrespective of party affiliations. She has reiterated the demand for the resignation of the Sarpanch, saying Carmelina is not fit to occupy the august seat. BVAC Convenor Seby Fernandes said the Benaulim villagers are well within their rights and fundamental duties to oppose the mega projects, which are constructed in violation of approved construction plans and building regulations in force and in total disregard to the problems faced by the villagers due to shortage of basic amenities and infrastructure.
“The setbacks in these mega-projects have not been maintained as per the approved plans. The committee condemns the sins of omission and commission by the Panchayat to protect the errant builders. The mundkarial rights of the people residing on the land have not been respected. The Panchayat is indulging in willful shoddy communications so as to provide the builders with some escape route”, Seby said.
The press conference was also attended by GBA activists Pravin Sabnis and Soter D’Souza.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
RP first, then housing units: Benaulim meet
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JULY 25 –
A public meeting held by the anti-mega housing projects in Benaulim on Friday evening demanded a total ban on multi-dwelling housing units pending the finalization of the Regional Plan 2011 and have called for the resignation of village Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes for filing a “false” case against the activists.
The impressive public meeting – convened to condemn the arrests of the two activists – resolved that the Benaulim villagers would hence forth draw-up the village development plan taking into account the local requirements. The meeting also decided in one voice to bring all the agitating people across Goa under one banner to unitedly continue the battle, be it mega housing, mining etc.
In his address, Adv Radharao Gracias stressed on the need to spread the ongoing agitation across Goa, saying the issue is not restricted to just Benaulim or Colva, but across the state. He demanded that villagers should demand with the government to retain the character of the villages by reserving 90 per cent of the land for just ground-plus one structure and remaining 10 per cent for commercial use. There’s a need to build pressure on the government to ban multi-projects before finalization of the RP 2011”, he said. Saying that villagers are suffering as Sarpanchas and Panchas have become brokers and are in league with the builders, he called for a freeze on all construction before setting up of infrastructure such as water, roads, power etc.
Benaulim Villages Action Committee, Geraldine Fernandes said the people of Benaulim have been agitating peacefully against the anti-mega housing projects despite provocations and instigating by the elected representatives. Referring to the arrest of the two youngsters and the presence of riot gear police men at gram sabha and other meetings, Geraldine said “the people of Benaulim will not be cowed down by the intimidatory tactics of the police. We will not give up our demand for a ban on mega projects”.
Social activist, Ramesh Gauns said the ongoing movement is already a big success in Benaulim and expressed confidence that people’s power will finally prevail. He underlined the need to unite all the people fighting against ill-conceived plans and projects of the government by bringing all the people under one banner.
Goa Bachao Abhiyan activist, Praveen Sabnis said the government should first take up the development of Goa and Goans and nothing else. “For the people of Goa, development means education, water, roads, employment”, he said.
Benaulim ZP member Maria Rebello, Benny Fernandes, Terezinha also spoke. People from Colva also attended the meeting.
Both the arrested youth, who were released on bail, were prominently seated in the audience.
MARGAO, JULY 25 –
A public meeting held by the anti-mega housing projects in Benaulim on Friday evening demanded a total ban on multi-dwelling housing units pending the finalization of the Regional Plan 2011 and have called for the resignation of village Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes for filing a “false” case against the activists.
The impressive public meeting – convened to condemn the arrests of the two activists – resolved that the Benaulim villagers would hence forth draw-up the village development plan taking into account the local requirements. The meeting also decided in one voice to bring all the agitating people across Goa under one banner to unitedly continue the battle, be it mega housing, mining etc.
In his address, Adv Radharao Gracias stressed on the need to spread the ongoing agitation across Goa, saying the issue is not restricted to just Benaulim or Colva, but across the state. He demanded that villagers should demand with the government to retain the character of the villages by reserving 90 per cent of the land for just ground-plus one structure and remaining 10 per cent for commercial use. There’s a need to build pressure on the government to ban multi-projects before finalization of the RP 2011”, he said. Saying that villagers are suffering as Sarpanchas and Panchas have become brokers and are in league with the builders, he called for a freeze on all construction before setting up of infrastructure such as water, roads, power etc.
Benaulim Villages Action Committee, Geraldine Fernandes said the people of Benaulim have been agitating peacefully against the anti-mega housing projects despite provocations and instigating by the elected representatives. Referring to the arrest of the two youngsters and the presence of riot gear police men at gram sabha and other meetings, Geraldine said “the people of Benaulim will not be cowed down by the intimidatory tactics of the police. We will not give up our demand for a ban on mega projects”.
Social activist, Ramesh Gauns said the ongoing movement is already a big success in Benaulim and expressed confidence that people’s power will finally prevail. He underlined the need to unite all the people fighting against ill-conceived plans and projects of the government by bringing all the people under one banner.
Goa Bachao Abhiyan activist, Praveen Sabnis said the government should first take up the development of Goa and Goans and nothing else. “For the people of Goa, development means education, water, roads, employment”, he said.
Benaulim ZP member Maria Rebello, Benny Fernandes, Terezinha also spoke. People from Colva also attended the meeting.
Both the arrested youth, who were released on bail, were prominently seated in the audience.
Benaulim shuts shop over arrests
HERALD REPORTER
Anti-housing activists storm Colva police station
MARGAO, JULY 25 —
Anti-housing activists storm Colva police station
MARGAO, JULY 25 —
Incensed over the late night arrests of two of its members, anti-mega housing activists from Benaulim took to the streets on Friday morning, enforcing a bandh before marching to the Colva police station to demand the immediate release of the arrested persons. The activists demanded the immediate resignation of Benaulim Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes, holding her responsible for getting the two activists arrested on a false and baseless complaint.
Shops and business establishments in the heart of Benaulim downed their shutters in response to the bandh call to protest against the arrests of the youth based on a complaint from the Benaulim Sarpanch. Traffic, however, plied as normal.
Braving incessant heavy rains, the young and the old marched to the Colva police station from Maria hall junction, where the activists squatted on the main road near the police station in protest over the arrests.
Sub-divisional Magistrate, Margao Dipak Dessai and Sub-divisional Police Officer, DySP Umesh Gaonkar rushed to the Colva police station, even as the personnel of the India Reserve Battalion were deployed near the Benaulim Panchayat ghar and at the Maria hall junction as a precautionary measure.
Leaders of the Benaulim Villagers Action Committee led by Geraldine Fernandes had a meeting with SDM Desai and DySP Gaonkar, wherein they demanded to know the propriety of the police to arrest the two youngsters at the dead of night. While daring the police to place her under arrest since she too was present at the Benaulim Panchayat on July 23 along with other activists, Geraldine maintained that it was unfair on the part of the police to arrest Rosario and Henry while they have having dinner. “We are not criminals. The boys have not assaulted anyone. Why are we being treated as criminals”, she demanded to know.
DySP Gaunkar later told Geraldine to move for bail since the two persons were legally arrested. He, however, told her to submit an application stating the version of the activists of what transpired at the meeting in the Panchayat hall. Gauncar told Colva PI Edwin Colaco not to go to the houses of the wanted persons when they are willing to co-operate in the case.
Earlier in the morning, activists assembled at the Maria hall junction after news spread of the arrests of the two persons. The activists shouted slogans against the Sarpanch, calling her a Sarpanch working for the builders and called upon the villagers to launch an united battle against mega housing projects.
Benaulim Panchas Menino de Bandar and a lady Panch, besides Seby Fernandes addressed the people later around noon and called for unity to scrap the mega housing projects. “The Sarpanch ought to be with the people and not to arrest the village youth. Unite to save Benaulim for posterity”, they said.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Agitated villagers lay siege on Colva police station
26 Jul 2008, 0443 hrs IST,TNN
Some 500 Benaulim residents laid siege to Colva police station early on Friday demanding the release of two villagers who had been arrested late on Thursday night. On learning that the two activists who had been at the forefront of the anti-mega project agitation had spent the previous night in police custody, residents led by activists of Benaulim Villagers Action Committee (BVAC) blocked the road in front of the police station for well over three hours, even as shops and business establishments downed shutters.
The Colva police, acting on a complaint filed by Benaulim sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes on Wednesday evening, had arrested Rosario Fernandes and Henry alias Patrick Fernandes from their houses well past 10.30 pm on Thursday. They were arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code on charges of unlawful assembly and obstructing a public servant from discharging duties. The sarpanch had complained to the police that a large group of villagers had obstructed, manhandled, threatened and abused her, preventing her from executing her official duties. The incident occurred between 2.15 pm and 4.00 pm at the panchayat premises on Wednesday. Besides Rosario and Henry, the sarpanch named four others, besides 64 unnamed persons.
Protesting against "police excesses" based on what they termed a false and fabricated complaint by the sarpanch, villagers assembled in large numbers in front of the police station and BVAC leaders addressed the gathering, condemning the police action. SDPO Umesh Gaonkar, accompanied by Salcete SDM Dipak Desai, rushed to the spot and stopped the impromptu meeting. This further infuriated the villagers, resulting in chaos and commotion, upon which the police invited a delegation of villagers for talks. A large posse of policemen was deployed to maintain law and order.
The delegation, led by BVAC leader Geraldine Fernandes, pointed out to Gaonkar and Desai that the villagers were arrested without justification and on the basis of a flimsy complaint. "The move by the police to terrorise villagers by arresting our activists in the dead of the night is highly deplorable, more so when we have been conducting our agitation against mega projects in a peaceful manner," she said
Some 500 Benaulim residents laid siege to Colva police station early on Friday demanding the release of two villagers who had been arrested late on Thursday night. On learning that the two activists who had been at the forefront of the anti-mega project agitation had spent the previous night in police custody, residents led by activists of Benaulim Villagers Action Committee (BVAC) blocked the road in front of the police station for well over three hours, even as shops and business establishments downed shutters.
The Colva police, acting on a complaint filed by Benaulim sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes on Wednesday evening, had arrested Rosario Fernandes and Henry alias Patrick Fernandes from their houses well past 10.30 pm on Thursday. They were arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code on charges of unlawful assembly and obstructing a public servant from discharging duties. The sarpanch had complained to the police that a large group of villagers had obstructed, manhandled, threatened and abused her, preventing her from executing her official duties. The incident occurred between 2.15 pm and 4.00 pm at the panchayat premises on Wednesday. Besides Rosario and Henry, the sarpanch named four others, besides 64 unnamed persons.
Protesting against "police excesses" based on what they termed a false and fabricated complaint by the sarpanch, villagers assembled in large numbers in front of the police station and BVAC leaders addressed the gathering, condemning the police action. SDPO Umesh Gaonkar, accompanied by Salcete SDM Dipak Desai, rushed to the spot and stopped the impromptu meeting. This further infuriated the villagers, resulting in chaos and commotion, upon which the police invited a delegation of villagers for talks. A large posse of policemen was deployed to maintain law and order.
The delegation, led by BVAC leader Geraldine Fernandes, pointed out to Gaonkar and Desai that the villagers were arrested without justification and on the basis of a flimsy complaint. "The move by the police to terrorise villagers by arresting our activists in the dead of the night is highly deplorable, more so when we have been conducting our agitation against mega projects in a peaceful manner," she said
public meeting 0n 20 july
Benaulim meet urges Goans to oppose issues affecting State
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JULY 20 –
A public meeting held at Benaulim on Sunday called upon Goans to join hands and unitedly fight the battle on all major issues affecting Goa, be it mega housing project, mining, SEZ, tourism et al. Social activist, Ramesh Gauns cautioned that Goa would be doomed within five years if mining activities continues at the current pace. “If we don’t seriously think of mining, paradise Goa will be lost within the next five years. There will be water shortage even in Salcete in the next five years”, he warned.
He said no one, including the politicians, have any right or license to destroy Goa and called upon the people to unitedly carry on the battle.Complimenting Benaulim villagers for their fight against mega housing projects, Gauns said “you will be remembered by the posterity as the freedom fighters in the battle to save and protect your village’.
Women activist, Sabina Martins underlined the need for village level development planning in the interest of the people. “The Panchayat should find out the village resources and how much it ought to be exploited for the villagers”, she said added that the development planning will help keep a tab on social development, the impact of housing projects on society and resources. Saying that Chandor has led the way by undertaking village level planning, she said Benaulim village should follow suit to bring continuous pressure on the government. Giving a call to the people to come together and fight on all social issues, Martins referred to the government’s Amendment to the Town and Country Planning Act and vowed to oppose the same.
Benaulim Panch and noted tiatrist, Menino de Bandar assured the people that the opposition group in the Benaulim Panchayat would act as a watchdog on the functioning of the Panchayat. He said the Panchayat has the powers and the authority to stop mega housing projects right at the root and publicly declared his support to the ongoing agitation to save Benaulim from destruction.
In his welcome address, Benaulim Villagers Action Committee leader Seby Fernandes said that the village Sarpanch should support the cause of the villagers, and lamented that elections to the post of Benaulim Sarpanch was held under police protection. “What was the need to bring police to hold the polls. By doing so, they have murdered democracy’, he asserted.
Sorter D’Souza said the Panchayats are the Constitutional bodies and they should take the interest of the village and people in mind and not of Ministers and MLAs.He pointed out that the Panchayat should grant permission only after taking into account the infrastructural requirements. “Only after a study on availability of power, roads, water, recreational facilities, the Panchayat should give the permission. The TCP have no role to play”, he said. He further underlined the need to constitute the District Planning Committees.
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JULY 20 –
A public meeting held at Benaulim on Sunday called upon Goans to join hands and unitedly fight the battle on all major issues affecting Goa, be it mega housing project, mining, SEZ, tourism et al. Social activist, Ramesh Gauns cautioned that Goa would be doomed within five years if mining activities continues at the current pace. “If we don’t seriously think of mining, paradise Goa will be lost within the next five years. There will be water shortage even in Salcete in the next five years”, he warned.
He said no one, including the politicians, have any right or license to destroy Goa and called upon the people to unitedly carry on the battle.Complimenting Benaulim villagers for their fight against mega housing projects, Gauns said “you will be remembered by the posterity as the freedom fighters in the battle to save and protect your village’.
Women activist, Sabina Martins underlined the need for village level development planning in the interest of the people. “The Panchayat should find out the village resources and how much it ought to be exploited for the villagers”, she said added that the development planning will help keep a tab on social development, the impact of housing projects on society and resources. Saying that Chandor has led the way by undertaking village level planning, she said Benaulim village should follow suit to bring continuous pressure on the government. Giving a call to the people to come together and fight on all social issues, Martins referred to the government’s Amendment to the Town and Country Planning Act and vowed to oppose the same.
Benaulim Panch and noted tiatrist, Menino de Bandar assured the people that the opposition group in the Benaulim Panchayat would act as a watchdog on the functioning of the Panchayat. He said the Panchayat has the powers and the authority to stop mega housing projects right at the root and publicly declared his support to the ongoing agitation to save Benaulim from destruction.
In his welcome address, Benaulim Villagers Action Committee leader Seby Fernandes said that the village Sarpanch should support the cause of the villagers, and lamented that elections to the post of Benaulim Sarpanch was held under police protection. “What was the need to bring police to hold the polls. By doing so, they have murdered democracy’, he asserted.
Sorter D’Souza said the Panchayats are the Constitutional bodies and they should take the interest of the village and people in mind and not of Ministers and MLAs.He pointed out that the Panchayat should grant permission only after taking into account the infrastructural requirements. “Only after a study on availability of power, roads, water, recreational facilities, the Panchayat should give the permission. The TCP have no role to play”, he said. He further underlined the need to constitute the District Planning Committees.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Benaulim locals threaten to take to streets
BY HERALD REPORTERMARGAO, JUNE 24 –
Agitated Benaulim villagers under the banner of Benaulim Villagers Action Committee warned of taking to the streets if the panchayat fails to address the genuine grievances of the villagers on the mega projects. The activists called on the acting Sarpanch Stanley and other panchayat officials on Tuesday morning to find out whether the stop work order notices were signed by the outgoing Sarpanch Maria Fernandes instead of the Panchayat Secretary.
Benaulim villagers on Monday were told by Additional Director of Panchayats, Melvyn Vaz that the stop work did not hold good because the orders were signed by the Sarpanch and not by the Panchayat Secretary. The activists warned the Panchayat not to fool around with the sentiments of the people, while demanding immediate action against the housing projects. BVAC spokesman Geraldine Fernandes told Herald that the Panchayat should stop playing with the sentiments of the villagers and threatened to take to the streets if the local body fails to address grievances of the locals.
The acting Sarpanch told Herald that the people had come to inquire into the procedure followed by the panchayat while issuing stop work order notices. He said though the Additional Panchayat Director said such notices ought to the signed by the Panchayat Secretary, the secretary has contended that BDO had issued a circular stating that such notices have to be signed by the Sarpanch.
“This blame game is not acceptable to the villagers. This whole thing is taking a vicious circle. The villagers want justice. The people are angry. They are asking the Executive Committee why the Panchayat has not implemented the gram sabha resolutions relating to Alisha Constructions till date”, Geraldine said, while warning that people will be forced to take to the streets to seek justice.
Agitated Benaulim villagers under the banner of Benaulim Villagers Action Committee warned of taking to the streets if the panchayat fails to address the genuine grievances of the villagers on the mega projects. The activists called on the acting Sarpanch Stanley and other panchayat officials on Tuesday morning to find out whether the stop work order notices were signed by the outgoing Sarpanch Maria Fernandes instead of the Panchayat Secretary.
Benaulim villagers on Monday were told by Additional Director of Panchayats, Melvyn Vaz that the stop work did not hold good because the orders were signed by the Sarpanch and not by the Panchayat Secretary. The activists warned the Panchayat not to fool around with the sentiments of the people, while demanding immediate action against the housing projects. BVAC spokesman Geraldine Fernandes told Herald that the Panchayat should stop playing with the sentiments of the villagers and threatened to take to the streets if the local body fails to address grievances of the locals.
The acting Sarpanch told Herald that the people had come to inquire into the procedure followed by the panchayat while issuing stop work order notices. He said though the Additional Panchayat Director said such notices ought to the signed by the Panchayat Secretary, the secretary has contended that BDO had issued a circular stating that such notices have to be signed by the Sarpanch.
“This blame game is not acceptable to the villagers. This whole thing is taking a vicious circle. The villagers want justice. The people are angry. They are asking the Executive Committee why the Panchayat has not implemented the gram sabha resolutions relating to Alisha Constructions till date”, Geraldine said, while warning that people will be forced to take to the streets to seek justice.
text of GGRM memorandum
GGRM/2008/01
23 June, 2008
Memorandum
The Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch, a Collective of Village-level movements in Goa to protect the rights of the people to a clean environment and socially just development of their villages, strongly protests the ex parte stay granted bythe Directorate of Panchayats, Government of Goa, to various Developers ofprojects without affording even the Sarpanch or representative of the concerned Village Panchayat an opportunity to be heard by the quasi-judicial officer ofthe Directorate of Panchayats and state its say in the matter under appeal. This is highly objectionable because the appeal is against a Stop Work order issued by a duly elected Panchayat, after due application of mind and resolutionof the body based on a direction of the Gram Sabha that is binding on thePanchayat as per the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 [Please see Chapter 2, Section6 subsection 4 of the said Act.].
This is all the more intriguing because eachof the Village Panchayats, ofwhich the Stop Work Order is under appeal by the Developer, functions under the control and direction of the Directorate of PanchayatAdministration that is issuing ex parte stay orders against it.
Therefore, the Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch demands as under:
1. That officials of the Directorate of Panchayats [DPA], Government of Goa, should not grant a stay on the operation of a STOP WORK Order or any other order of any Village Panchayat without giving the Sarpanch or duly authorized representative of the concerned Village Panchayat, an opportunity to be heard on the matter and state his say.
2. That the operation of all ex parte Stay Orders of the Directorate of Panchayats against the Stop Work orders of the Village Panchayats bevacated or held in abeyance and intimated to the respective Developers byspecial messenger or through the Village Panchayat concerned.
3. That the authority of the Village Panchayat, through its duly electedSarpanch, over the immovable property within the jurisdiction of the Panchayatfor specific functions as provided under the GPR Act, 1994, [GPR Act 1994] after following the proper procedure as laid down under the said Act and rules thereunder, be recognized and respected by the Directorate of Panchayats in all matters concerning each village in Goa.
4. The right of the people of the village to raise specific questions on construction in the immovable property in the respective village area under Section 6 (1) of the GPR Act, 1994, be recognized and respected by the DPA.
5. That the action of the Village Panchayat as per Section 6 (4) of the GoaPanchayat Raj Act, 1994, in pursuance to the Gram Sabha resolution be recognized and respected by the DPA as mandated by the law.
sd/
-Convener GGRM
To,
The Director of Panchayats,
Government of Goa
3rd Floor, 3rd Lift,Junta House, Panaji-Goa.
23 June, 2008
Memorandum
The Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch, a Collective of Village-level movements in Goa to protect the rights of the people to a clean environment and socially just development of their villages, strongly protests the ex parte stay granted bythe Directorate of Panchayats, Government of Goa, to various Developers ofprojects without affording even the Sarpanch or representative of the concerned Village Panchayat an opportunity to be heard by the quasi-judicial officer ofthe Directorate of Panchayats and state its say in the matter under appeal. This is highly objectionable because the appeal is against a Stop Work order issued by a duly elected Panchayat, after due application of mind and resolutionof the body based on a direction of the Gram Sabha that is binding on thePanchayat as per the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 [Please see Chapter 2, Section6 subsection 4 of the said Act.].
This is all the more intriguing because eachof the Village Panchayats, ofwhich the Stop Work Order is under appeal by the Developer, functions under the control and direction of the Directorate of PanchayatAdministration that is issuing ex parte stay orders against it.
Therefore, the Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch demands as under:
1. That officials of the Directorate of Panchayats [DPA], Government of Goa, should not grant a stay on the operation of a STOP WORK Order or any other order of any Village Panchayat without giving the Sarpanch or duly authorized representative of the concerned Village Panchayat, an opportunity to be heard on the matter and state his say.
2. That the operation of all ex parte Stay Orders of the Directorate of Panchayats against the Stop Work orders of the Village Panchayats bevacated or held in abeyance and intimated to the respective Developers byspecial messenger or through the Village Panchayat concerned.
3. That the authority of the Village Panchayat, through its duly electedSarpanch, over the immovable property within the jurisdiction of the Panchayatfor specific functions as provided under the GPR Act, 1994, [GPR Act 1994] after following the proper procedure as laid down under the said Act and rules thereunder, be recognized and respected by the Directorate of Panchayats in all matters concerning each village in Goa.
4. The right of the people of the village to raise specific questions on construction in the immovable property in the respective village area under Section 6 (1) of the GPR Act, 1994, be recognized and respected by the DPA.
5. That the action of the Village Panchayat as per Section 6 (4) of the GoaPanchayat Raj Act, 1994, in pursuance to the Gram Sabha resolution be recognized and respected by the DPA as mandated by the law.
sd/
-Convener GGRM
To,
The Director of Panchayats,
Government of Goa
3rd Floor, 3rd Lift,Junta House, Panaji-Goa.
Monday, June 23, 2008
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Thursday, June 12, 2008
GGRM has mail
Dear all,
As any passionate Goan who cares for Goa, its people & our future & its merry culture, I would like to commend the valiant efforts of Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch for putting up a brave front that the majority now feels is in working. It is really truly heartening to see the number of people who are seeing the light and understand that the system can be changed and they have in it to change it for the better of our Goa & its people. Please keep up the good job even if you come across some idiotic Goans who have a wrapped sense of life and oppose your good efforts, in my opinion they stand for nothing in life and probably do so intentionality to save their surreal real-estate fantasies and with objectives to only confuse the situation n stall us from doing anything positive, they invite nothing but the wrath of the locals.
Whenever I get asked the question so where are you from? My reply - "Goa", to which most people beam up like a light bulb with the sheer exuberant beauty of the place and say.... Goa !!!! Wow it’s a really beautiful place jolly people you bunch'... I plan on going there again soon.
I sincerely hope we Goans realise how blessed we are to receive that harmonious response because of our famous beautiful state and its rich merry culture and hopefully they all will make it more beautiful by their presence and celebrate all things Goan, "Why sell Paradise when you own it" should be the motto instead of "Get Rich or Die tryin..."
Yours Sincerely, Rick C Fernandes
Congratulations to you on the wonderful work you are doing for Goa and Goans and thank you for all the hard work for saving our Bangarachem Goem from the Land sharks and the Builders. We have posted an article from Ganv-ghor blog on the rally in Calangute as we thought share this with the rest of the Goan World and our listeners. We would like to do this in the future as well. Please let us know if we have your permission to do so. We have also put up a link on RadioGoa to this Blog.
Best Wishes Benedict Lobo
Don't you think that land mafia and land abuses are linked with drug mafias? If you think deep, the drug lords have almost bought the police stations and they are the cause of all our pains in Goa and name destroyers, IF the police / government do not accept bribery and run the country by the book and the fear of law then everything would be smooth running but would there be a chance of doing this? no way! Goa has been corrupted ever since the drugs entered in the country many years back, the government couldn't do anything about it then.. and don't expect any changes to happen now when the problem has excelled... this of course includes grabbing of land from the poor peasants who own a small piece of field where they grow their own crop as means of survival... there should be a deal or contract drawn up that IF they want the land then they should not only pay lumpsum but also employ and accommodate those owners of the land in their businesses without compromising..
Thank you Maria Gomes for GOA
In my own village of Keri, gramsabha passed a unanimous resolution asking the government to scrap the plans by CIPLA to construct industrial units on the Bhootkhamb plateau. This has not been reportedon your site.
I support your movement whole heartedly and wish you all the very best
-Dr Anil Desai
Hello guys, Congratulations, to the Calangute front, for an inspiring meeting, my wholehearted support, and best wishes in all your endeavours. I am a Calangutekar with 27yrs experience in the tourism industry, and have travelled the world over, for first hand info on the travel trade. Calangute and Goa needs responsible tourism, no low-end tourists, who are parasitic, surely our ambassadors ought to verify a strong financial status of all visa seekers. Since I am now a resident Indian, I would like to join the front, in any capacity possible, please advise. Regards Cyril Dsouza, Naica Vaddo
As any passionate Goan who cares for Goa, its people & our future & its merry culture, I would like to commend the valiant efforts of Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch for putting up a brave front that the majority now feels is in working. It is really truly heartening to see the number of people who are seeing the light and understand that the system can be changed and they have in it to change it for the better of our Goa & its people. Please keep up the good job even if you come across some idiotic Goans who have a wrapped sense of life and oppose your good efforts, in my opinion they stand for nothing in life and probably do so intentionality to save their surreal real-estate fantasies and with objectives to only confuse the situation n stall us from doing anything positive, they invite nothing but the wrath of the locals.
Whenever I get asked the question so where are you from? My reply - "Goa", to which most people beam up like a light bulb with the sheer exuberant beauty of the place and say.... Goa !!!! Wow it’s a really beautiful place jolly people you bunch'... I plan on going there again soon.
I sincerely hope we Goans realise how blessed we are to receive that harmonious response because of our famous beautiful state and its rich merry culture and hopefully they all will make it more beautiful by their presence and celebrate all things Goan, "Why sell Paradise when you own it" should be the motto instead of "Get Rich or Die tryin..."
Yours Sincerely, Rick C Fernandes
Congratulations to you on the wonderful work you are doing for Goa and Goans and thank you for all the hard work for saving our Bangarachem Goem from the Land sharks and the Builders. We have posted an article from Ganv-ghor blog on the rally in Calangute as we thought share this with the rest of the Goan World and our listeners. We would like to do this in the future as well. Please let us know if we have your permission to do so. We have also put up a link on RadioGoa to this Blog.
Best Wishes Benedict Lobo
Don't you think that land mafia and land abuses are linked with drug mafias? If you think deep, the drug lords have almost bought the police stations and they are the cause of all our pains in Goa and name destroyers, IF the police / government do not accept bribery and run the country by the book and the fear of law then everything would be smooth running but would there be a chance of doing this? no way! Goa has been corrupted ever since the drugs entered in the country many years back, the government couldn't do anything about it then.. and don't expect any changes to happen now when the problem has excelled... this of course includes grabbing of land from the poor peasants who own a small piece of field where they grow their own crop as means of survival... there should be a deal or contract drawn up that IF they want the land then they should not only pay lumpsum but also employ and accommodate those owners of the land in their businesses without compromising..
Thank you Maria Gomes for GOA
In my own village of Keri, gramsabha passed a unanimous resolution asking the government to scrap the plans by CIPLA to construct industrial units on the Bhootkhamb plateau. This has not been reportedon your site.
I support your movement whole heartedly and wish you all the very best
-Dr Anil Desai
Hello guys, Congratulations, to the Calangute front, for an inspiring meeting, my wholehearted support, and best wishes in all your endeavours. I am a Calangutekar with 27yrs experience in the tourism industry, and have travelled the world over, for first hand info on the travel trade. Calangute and Goa needs responsible tourism, no low-end tourists, who are parasitic, surely our ambassadors ought to verify a strong financial status of all visa seekers. Since I am now a resident Indian, I would like to join the front, in any capacity possible, please advise. Regards Cyril Dsouza, Naica Vaddo
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Constitutional Theft of the Powers of Panchayats
an article by Jason Keith Fernandes, GT, 28 May 2008
The Constitution of India, ladies and gentlemen, has been stolen. It was stolen perhaps right from the very moment it was adopted, but being the all-encompassing document that it is, it has been stolen again. It was stolen on the 13th of May 2008 by the Cabinetof the Government of Goa, speaking through the Chief Minister and the Minister for Panchayats when they indicated that “If the rules and procedures are followed, the panchayats have no right to revoke the license” of mega-housing and other development projects.
Ever since the embarrassing statement by these members of the Cabinet displayed their commitment to themselves rather than to the people, much has been written about the response of the Government. I would however, like to suggest that while the position that the Cabinet has taken is appalling, it is certainly not out of character for the elected governments of the Union ofIndia. A primary characteristic that has marked these governments has been that of Constitutional theft.
The term Constitutional theft was introduced to us by the eminent jurist Upendra Baxi at a conference held on the positions taken bythe Supreme Court in the course of the 1990s. Briefly put, Constitutional theft is the taking away of the promise of the Constitution by dominant groups and arms of the State. Now envision this situation, we have a Constitution that in its Preamble quite clearly indicates that it is "WE, THE PEOPLE OFINDIA” who “ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION". The sovereignty of the State of India flows therefore from this grand collective of single individuals who constituted a document ofhope.
The Constitution also contained a vision for the realizationof this sovereignty through the establishment of what that old manwho we have all forgotten called 'Gram Swaraj'. This vision was however aborted in the first act of constitutional theft when itwas replaced with something called the Westminster model of democracy. Some attempt was made to remedy this situation through the insertion of the 73rd and 74th amendments. The wrangling between political elites in the Centre and at the States however, resulted in a further degradation of the vision for a grass-roots realization of democracy. Rather that recognize the GramPanchayats as constitutional bodies, equal in stature to theCentre or the State, the political compromise reached to allowthese two amendments saw the creation of bodies that are effectively puppets of the State.
Any powers that the Panchayats may have are in fact powers that the State has deigned to give away to the Panchayats (Art. 243 G). The Panchayats effectively become therefore, creations of the State beholden unto the State for their very existence. True the Constitution has also provided for the Constitution of a Finance Commission that will ensure that Panchayats have adequate funds to meet the costs of fulfilling their governmental role, true that there is Constitutional provision for a District Planning Committee that will integrate the planning development plans for entire districts. Yet this grand framework still struggles to find root in Indian soil because of the fundamental fact that I would call an act ofConstitutional theft. That fact is the failure for the Panchayatto find an independent (though not autonomous) position within the 73rd and 74th amendments.
It is because of this history of Constitutional theft that our Cabinet can be so brazen. They can be so brazen because they know they have a point. And yet, as I have sought to point out in an earlier column, the revolution that is on in Goa is not one that is based on legality, for legality has clearly failed us, it is one based on legitimacy. What we are witnessing in Goa through the drama unfolding in one Gram Sabha after another, is the only action that will right the Constitutional wrong that has been done to the people of India. The actions of local people demanding that they must necessarily have a say in the manner in which their local environment is altered. These actions are not mere legal actions, these are sovereign actions, that demand that the law be re-altered to recognize the centrality of the citizen to the process of both planning and development.
Mr. Azgaokar is concerned that "If projects are closed downforcefully, there would be no development in Goa." Azgaokar isusing an old and much abused argument, but it doesn’t hold anymore. The argument was wielded effectively in the 80’s and the90’s when the voices against central and state development for elites was being opposed by a smaller groups. Today, it is entire villages that are standing up to this resumption of their lands for the creation of private paradises for rootless speculators.The people seem to be articulating their vision of development Mr.Azgaokar, it is one where the Quality of Life takes precedence over the generation of resources for a few. The problem is that the powers that be don’t seem to be heeding the growing signs of trouble, preferring to keep sustaining the status quo rather than realizing that the time has come for the status quo to bow out, and herald a new era of governance.
If the rest of India cares to take a leaf from out of our book, these are the actions that will see the need to recognize thePanchayat not as deriving powers from the State, but as holding powers in its own right, because the people that constitute it are sovereign. These are actions that at the end demand that the Constitution itself be brought back to the promise that it wasremoved from.
(Comments welcomed at www.dervishnotes.blogspot.com)
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