Now - Calangute gives wake up call

a report by Godfrey Gonsalves


A surprisingly high turnout of men, women and children gathered at the St Alex Church square Calangute on Sunday evening at 5.00 p,m to the call of the Calangute Front for Responsible Tourism (CFRT) whose convenor Anthony D Souza of Calangute painstakingly organized.


Geraldine Fernandes Chairperson of the Benaulim Citizens Action Committee appealed to the people of Goa to unite under one banner to save Goa. She stated that the Ganv Ghor Rakhan Manch was a forum to cover all villages in Go and that the collective efforts would stop the rampant destruction going on.


Adolphine Thamm an activist from Sinquerim highlighted the issue at Sinquerim plateu way back in 200 when the Taj Group of hotels intended to open up a three and a half lakh square meters recreation park with cine houses swimming pools and hundred houses. This was opposed tooth and nail until the Management took the Directorate of Panchayat to Court and pursued the matter for six long years. With the help of the Parish priest of Sinquerim Fr David Filinto the issues of sewage waste etc they pursued the matter with the authorities. It was an unfortunate experience for all Sinquerim residents that the historic fort would be declared out of bounds and eventually visitors would have to take passes to visit the Fort. How can the state permit such things when there is no sufficient power water supply and garbage strewn drown the hills or even sewage at their door step.


Pravin Sabnis sang a beautiful primer 'My Goa lies over the mountains , My Goa lies besides the sea, Bring back oh bring back my Goa to me to me'. He complimented the people of Chandor Mr Lincoln Fernandes and others who had brought out the Chandor Village Deelopment Plan and is now a basis for all other to follow. Recently Ms Vinita Coelho took time out and did the Moira Village Development Plan. He reminded the people that while Government does development to satiate its greed the people should make out one for their needs. To achieve this he said the Goans should have to put in place a moratorium of no fights with one another, visit the villages themselves and make an inventory of the things around the village and then have a development plan. Sabnis was shocked that a Minister for Panchayati Raj was taking an unconstitutional stand declaring that he would permit mega projects if Panchayats through the GramSabhas opposed them . This runs contrary to oath sworn by him to protect the Constitution. As the 73rd Constitutional amendment had in 1992 given full powers to village development plans and the gram sabhas. He warned the Police officials at Orlim that the people of Goa would take the law in their own hand if they continued to harass the peaceful agitators. (Referring to a large number of people from Orlim who had attended this meet


Ben Evangelist tiatrist from Benaulim wittingly spoke about his own social background that he came from the family of Kharvis and that during his youth he would see the Rampons along the beach now where stand the walls the starred hotels declared out of bounds for locals . The traditional fishermen went to trawler at 5 fanthoms into the sea and now the motor boats have replaced the purseiners along the beach. He quoted late Chirs Perry from Margao who had a love for Goa's tourism cradle Calangute and said he would roll in the grave to see Calngute destroyed and warned Goans to wake up and safeguard our lands. He blamed the Bhatcars of Goa (some of whom were on the crowd for selling the land to non goans and now partaking in such movements.


Shyamsunder Naik from Advalpal in Bicholim narrated how his village which was named as a jungle area was being destroyed. Mining had stopped in 2000 but the slag flowed from the pits from the mined earth (remember for every 1 part of ore there are threeParts of rejects. Now with the China demand for low grade ore. There are several leases being opened and the field have been destroyed.


Ramesh Gauns from Bicholim activist (Mining areas) reminded people that the Government was like the blind men who were feeling the elephant. They do not know what they are doing . He said the people of Calangute are affected by Assonora for it is from her that their water needs are met. He said that there are nearly seven water networks of which five are in the area of mining belt which is spread along 95 kms. There are 42 tributaries and four rivers and these will be saturated with over 610 leases oif mining being permitted. There are nearly 40, 000 traditional fishermen etc who would be affected with the saturation of water. There will be no tourism. (Incidentally the Carambolim lake has suddenly dried up baffling all )


Soter D Souza an activist on Panchayati Raj urged the people to demand a social audit on development during the last 20 years and the benefit to Goans. He asked the people to urge the government to carry out rural based housing industries etc iostead of mega projects.


Anthony Veronica Fernandes from Candolim recalled that he as an activist had always kept the interest of Goans in mind. He likened the Goan issue to Palestines who were fighting for their homeland. He said Candolim in the early 1970 started to be the hippies bastion. He had protested their presence because of drugs . Today they have come in a high profile life styles. He pledged full support for the agitation.


Fr Maverick Fernandes, Council for Social Justice and Action reminded the large gathering that article 21 of the Constitution not only safeguarded the right to life but also to decent living. Are we being permitted decent living ? he questioned.. He said that there was no need for the government to take action against the will of the people. He said the 73rd amendment had already allowed gram sabhas to decide what is best for the village. Hence if every Goan is concerned with the future of Goa and they love their children then they should spare some time to put in place village development plans. The issue of Free Port the issue of Regional Plan SEZ and several other movements Nylon 66, Meta strips, Konkan Railway and now the casinos were all agitations which were led as the Government actions were against the will of the people.


Rajan Korgaonkar from Baga was surprised to see how the development had changed. He stated that there was an occasion when there was a person from south who visited north Goa and was shocked that narrow by lanes drains lakes were destroyed. He could even not identify prominent landmarks. A number of foreigners who came to Goa in the early seventies were surprised at the changes and said this does not auger well for the Goans. We need to spare time for the future of Goa.


The following resolution were read by Anthony D Souza Convenor &passed with few additions


1) Freeze the sale of land and the approval of new projects until the necessary village development plans have been prepared with the active involvement of the villagers.
2) Information of all ongoing mega projects (including all correspondence) should be made available to the Gram Sabha. All objections by the Gramsabha should result in public inspection and immediate action.
3) All new building projects should have mandatory provisions for rainwater harvesting, garbage management, etc
4) The basic needs of water, electricity and other basic needs of the village must be addressed on an urgent and priority basis.
5) Traditional houses repaired/re-constructed in CRZ should be regularized.
6) Total ban on massage parlours. No combined ladies’ and gents parlours.
7) Ban on noise pollution should be strictly observed and necessary action taken on the violators to be imposed.
8) We will oppose all forms of irresponsible tourism based on sex and drugs.
9) Total support and solidarity is extended to the villagers fighting the mining menace


10) Goa does not need a single casino and government should cancel all casinos



The other highlights of the meet


a) the prayer song and dance was invoked by small children


b) there was skit showing how parents lured by the tourism activity neglected their children who were eventually weaned away to night clubs massage parlours drigs and prostitution. The act of the participants earned the cheers of the audience


c) Mr Herman Abreu of Raia who now lives in Sinquerim sang a beautiful composition of Bob Marlee --- urging Goans to stand up and act. The audience stood on its feet and then clapped and sang in unison at the beat.


d) Some of the posters on the walls were Responsible tourism, no noise pollution, no mobile towers in residential ares, Clean tourism, no garbage , no mega projects


Rape of Goa was presented by Rajan Parikar describing the destruction along the coastline from Polem to Patradevi.


It may be recalled that the tourism industry began with the arrival of the hippies in Candolim/ Calangute and now it seems it has turned full circle. There are more non Goans at every corner and to those who remember the nights of the Simla beat contests during the summer seasons they will need to do something to revive this. The ground swell is visible and the moment to strike is well nigh. This seems to be the underlining message meanwhile the elected representatives need to stand fore warned that they are being selected for ostracization in their villages if they act against the will of the people. The landowners are also warned that they would have to be cautious in their land dealings . Their insatiable greed for crores instead of lacs has been the cause of the sucess of the megsa projects and nongoan arrivals.


From the Calangute Church end by GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,

Colva Gram Sabha (25 May)

COLVA GRAM SABHA TURNS TABLES AGAINST PANCHAS
A report by Godfrey Gonsalves
A marathon Gram Sabha today 25th May, 2008 near the Village Panchayat of Sernabatim Vanelim Colva and Gandaulim witnessed an adjourned unconcluded agenda following a spirited disussion between the Chairman (Deputy Sarpanch Mama who took charge of the proceedings in the absence of the Sarpanch who proceeded on a months leave from 5th May to 5th June) and others. This meeting was called by a group of Gram Sabha members as the earlier one could not be held in April 2008.
There were major issues of grant of licences to mega projects the inaction of the Panchas. The first issue invloved a spirited discussion by one Ms Juliet Rodrigues from Grande Vanelim Colva who alleged that at least 20 residents were victims of malaria owing to migrants settled near the sites where mega projects are underway. She demanded that the Panchayat should pay the medical bills of the affected villagers as it was their imisdeeds that had brought disease in the area.
Mr Camilson suggested a panel of architects (Mr Dean D Cruz Sarto Almeida or from Colva Village ) ward panch and three members to examine the profile of each project and make the same available to the public before granting them permission. It was pointed out by the Chairman that the buildings with Ground + two floors were given a different touch following an amendment by the then Town and Country Planning Minister Mr Antanasio (Babush ) Monseratte and hence any change to this rule would need Government intervention by an act of the Legislature.
There were no roads in the jurisdiction of the Village Panchayat which were beyond 6 metres and therefore the need for 8 metres road was questioned. Some of the members alleged that after 1987 when metered water connections were introduced ther were no changes in the pipelines as a result there was shortfall of water supply. Similarly there was failure of power supply and there is a need for proper distribution system. There was an heated argument as to what constituted infra structure amongs the panchas and the members.
One member brought the demand to scrap the yellow and black taxis, in toto as nowehere in Goa were they operating. Instead they proposed that KTC should introduce buses via the old bridge at Mungul instead of the circutious route via Dando Benaulim as the women did not like travelling with tourists and migrants cramped in the taxis. The Chairman agreed to put up this proposal with both the Chairman Mr Aleixo Lourenco in consultation with the MLA.
Another member Xavier Fernandes alleged that the builder Akar Creations Pvt Ltd Fatorda, Goa had agreed to take care of the mundcars and had signed a sworn affidavit dated 31.3.2007 regd no; 3223 in that but without pursuing the clauses 2 . 3 & 4 of the agreement the builder had neared completion of the project. Incidentally their well was buried and large mounds of mud was placed in their fields destroying their livelihood. They were pained to note that the Panch failed to respect their views and therefore unable to bear the sufferings they have now decided that the Gram Sabha should revoke the licences instead of a mere stop work. They also demanded that the notice be served on Monday 26th May. 2008 and that the well and the dump be cleared.
One Terezinha made it clear ----when it was alleged that the Panch were afraid to take on the might of the builder --- that Builders should stand forewarned that they should heed to wishes of the people not the other way round. There was an uproarious applause at this suggestions. Some villagers also allleged that diseases like malaria were unheard of in the past but it was the influx of migrants. They alleged that ponds lakes rivers were full of garbage stench and filth and therefore warned the Panchayat to stand forewarned on the nuanaces.
There was another incident where permission was granted for a religous place of worship Shri Mahalakshmi Saunstha Trust Colva way back in 2003 but there were no parking space as a result there was rampant parking on open spaces inconveniencing the villagers. They demanded that it was the neglect of the Panchayat for granting permission without the provision of parking. When the Chairman Mr Sukhanand P Panandikar assured that new plans were submitted he wondered how a project which was almost completed was given the NOC and now fresh plans were accepted for a mutistoreyed parking.
There was also a suggestion that when new drains were being proposed on the eve of the oncoming monsoon they should ensure that roads are suitably widened to atleast 6 metres and then only after clearing the traditional drains the news drains could be put in place. At one instance it was pointed out that if this excercise of planning was taken those who sufferred flooding would be affected it was agreed that emergency cases could be attended to. The villagers resolved to clear of the village of all the scrapyards, There were several instances of subletting and therefore the name photograph of the licence holder should be displayed on the (gaddas) kiosks.
Infact what would otherwise have been a peaceful gram sabha turned out in a fiasco which required the presence of police force and special armed police as well to quell frayed tempers . The meeting in the first place began at 11.00 hrs. The mike arrangements were put in place much after the crowd had already assembled. This resulted in the gathering being annoyed. Then the sudden absence of the Sarpanch too annoyed the gathering. There were no sufficient chair to meet the needs of the gathering. In fact one supporter of a panch member told this writer that in the past there was never such an unprecedented meeting as this one. One member made a demand that the traditional houses in the CRZ zones be permitted to continue and reconstructed with additions and the local MLA who is a Minister should put this proposal in the Cabinet before the next monsoon session
A plan showing in green orange and red was shown to the gathering. He said that in any battle there were Constitutional Judicial and Peoples views viz Gram Sabhas and therfore we need to send this resolution to the Government.
There were heated exchanges between two panch members one Mr Calvert Gonsalves who was seen in almost a verbiose exchange of personal attacks on one Camilson Barretto of Sernabattim. There was another incident when in the heat of the argument Mr Gonsalves also uttered a word which earned him the wrath of the women. So furious were the women that they all gathered around the table with the police trying to defuse the frayed tempers but not until Mr Gonsalves apologsing for this unintended remark. Inicidentally as the meeting proceeded until well past three it was suggested to be adjourned but surprisingly Mr Rajesh Naik the Secretary of the Panchayat went away from the scene infuriating the villagers. They refused to accept a delayed meet as the monsoons were expected and therefore in the absence of any fixed date, the members decided to hold a public meeting tommorrow evening at the same venue to decide the future course of action. Mr Panndikar also distributed an undertaking dated 9.1.2006.
A purported to be forged document issued by Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority was circulated to the members present pertaining to demarcation oif property No 44/2 of Sernabatim village issued on 24/03/06 to Akar Creations Pvt Ltd Lake Plaza, Opp Nehru Stadium Fatorda from the Colva end.

Moira follows the Chandor inspiration

Venita Coelho gets the villagers of Moira
to script their collective destiny
MOIRA ACTION COMMITEE
follows the Chandor example
and starts the creation of a village development plan
with a hugely attended Awareness Meeting

Building a Better Goa

Goa Sudharop
&
Council for Social Justice & Peace
had organised a symposium
'Building a Better Goa"
on 24 May 2008 at Seminar Hall of Caritas Holiday Home

Carmona Village: Power of collective will

Faced with rampant, mindless development in Goa, a citizens' forum strikes back - Savia Viegas

FUELLED BY a tourism-driven image of Bacchnalian Haven and with 'new money' chasing to acquire a piece of paradise, northern Goa stands denuded of its rich cultural ambience by the imposing walls of apartment complexes.The real estate developers have now been pushing down towards the southern parts of Goa, attracting the second-home seekers to its lush serenity and its snowy white beaches.
Recently the Mumbai-based builder, K Raheja Universal Private Ltd, announced the 'mother of all projects' to build 618 apartments in sleepy Carmona. The company had purchased two large estates called Chulibhat bearing Nos 64\\1 and 67 at Tamdeg ward for a reported consideration of Rs 45 crore.
Three decades of tourism have brought about a plethora of changes in the tiny feudal village of Carmona, situated on the southern coast of Goa and hemmed-in by the large and prosperous villages or quasi-towns of Benaulim and Varca on one side and the popular tourist hinterlands of Cavelossim-Mobor on the other.
With large tracts of land now being acquired to provide luxury housing to the holiday-home buyers, villagers grew concerned about the impending scarcity and the rising land prices. The Raheja project, if allowed to take shape, was increasingly seen as creating havoc by putting tremendous pressure on the existing, rudimentary infrastructure including water resources, electricity roads, garbage disposal and sewage systems, among others.
Like many Goan villages, Carmona has a perennial water problem and the government-supplied pipeline lacks adequate pressure. This is not surprising since the villages along the tourist-favourite, coastal belt compete with the starred hotels which are often the biggest guzzlers of water.
Similarly the village suffers frequent , power breakdowns, non-existent garbage disposal system, and narrow roads. There were concerns about environment too. One of the major attractions of Goa is its unique rurality its architectural beauty its , thickly-wooded environ, and the open spaces with clear divisions of land into agricultural, horticultural and settlement zones. International and Indian tourists come to Goa to enjoy this very special blend of nature, architectural traditions and a quaint urbanity that sets Goan villages apart from their counterparts in India or elsewhere. This is particularly true of villages like Carmona which are well-visualised in terms of space conceptualization and are blessed with huge green tracts.

The plans for the project submitted for approval to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) were acquired under the RTI Act by the fearless and upright Orlando Da Silva, one of the seven-member village panchayat body
A heated gram sabha meeting in December 2007 had to be hastily adjourned inconclusively as violence , marred the proceedings. Not to be outdone, the villagers formed a Carmona Citizens' Forum and drew up a memorandum to oppose the project. A signature campaign resulted in 80 per cent of the households signing against it. Of course, there was the small coterie of villagers who argued that the project would bring development to the village. But for the Forum, development itself had become a debatable term.
Sensing the people's mood, the builder subsequently submitted revised plans. The new plan envisaged building 71 'villas which, quaintly, were four-storied stilted structures with an internal lift and eight car parks. Each building had a plunge pool too. So, the project as a whole was to house 93 private (plunge) and public (swimming) pools and 71 lifts.

Imagine all this in a village which does have a single private pool or a public pool either, and suffers from water scarcity. The lack of guide lines for the 'development of rural areas' have created fears that urban developers are replicating city structures which would destroy the unique architectural flavour of Goa. It is time that governments ensure that architects assigned to visualise 'sensitive' structures should not only have technical expertise but reflexive sensibilities to respect and preserve the culture of a region.
Considering all this, the Carmona Citizens' Forum demanded that the proposed project be thoroughly discussed in the gram sabha held on March 30, 2008. The meeting was truly extraordinary. A posse of khaki-clad police constables stood by as the villagers trooped in large numbers, majority of them women. The meeting soon became chaotic and violent, and plastic chairs were pitched as weapons, injuring two participants, Volsy Da Silva and Ms Juliana Da Silva.
Surprisingly, the police who had assembled before the start of the meeting had quietly disappeared. They had to be recalled after frantic telephone calls. It was then that villagers started asking questions: Were the police hand-in-gloves with the developers?
However, the gram sabha meeting succeeded in moving the landmark memorandum that the project be stalled and the file be recalled from the TCP offices within seven days. Moreover, it was decided that the incumbent and the future sarpanches would not approve any mega projects without people's consent.
After the meeting, Juliana da Silva said: "We need not stop development but as a people we can certainly give it shape and direction in a manner that suits and enriches our lives, not destroys them." Her head was throbbing from the injuries she had sustained earlier in the meeting, and there were deep marks on her breasts too." Yet Julie, as everyone knows her, walked fearless. "What are a few injuries if I can save my village! I would do it again if other threats came," she said dabbing a wet towel on the wound on her head.

Savia Viegas is writer and social activist living in Carmona. Her book, Tales from the Attic, is set in Carmona. She is completing a sequel to her earlier work entitled In the Hour of Eclipse.Photos @http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=05_05_2008_019_008&typ=0&pub=264

reports of GGRM press conference of 23 may

photo: GGRM press conference on 23 May 2008

Anti-realty drive set to move north (Times of India)

After connecting with the people in the coastal belt of south Goa, the Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch (GGRM) has decided to move north. The GGRM plans to bring uprisings taking place in several villages under one banner, inorder to 'drive the forces out that are bent on destroying Goa'. Besides, they are also working towards helping create the village development plans with guidance from the Chandor villagers and others. Their aim is now to support all issues concerning villages and villagers of Goa. "We have closely followed the statements made in favour of the builders lobby by those constituting the government and it is crystal clear that the statements questioning the authority and validity of the resolutions of the gram sabhas are not only unconstitutional but also malafide, as they are made only to threaten and confuse the masses," said GGRM convenor Geraldine Fernandes. Fernandes said that it is the panchayat's responsibility to fulfill the demands put up by the people in the gram sabhas. "There are lot of mega housing projects which are coming up in the state without valid documents and when we ask for these documents, which are being forged," said Fernandes. Alleging several irregularities and forgeries involved in seeking permissions for the mega projects, Fernandes said that the government has connived with the forces to give back door entry for all those who were curtailed by the scrapping of the Regional Plan 2011. "We will expose all these designs and those responsible at the appropriate fora. The struggle against the mega projects involves not only the bureaucrats bypassing all required formalities but also the local self governing bodies," added Fernandes. Another member Soter D'Souza said, "Nothing stops the gram sabha from passing a resolution, asking the panchayat to revoke the licence. The gram sabha is binding on the village panchayat and if the sarpanch doesn't act on the decision of the gram sabha, then he can also be removed." According to GGRM, there are about 11 mega housing projects coming up in Benaulim and about 30 in Colva. "So far when anyone raised their voice, they were threatened with dire consequences. But now if we don't wake up, we will lose our land," said Anthony D'Souza from Calangute. Calangute will have an awareness programme for the whole of north Goa on Sunday.

GGRM demands demolition of illegal projects (Navhind Times )

" The Ganv Ghor Rakhaonn Manch (GGRM) on Friday demanded thatall mega projects in Benaulim should be demolished and the area brought back to its original state if they were found to havecommitted in any irregularities. Sources also say that work has been halted in most projects under the scanner. At a press conference held at Panaji the GGRM has criticised the Panchayat Minister, Mr Manohar Azgaokar, saying that he should notmake such irresponsible statements when he has failed in his duty to implement the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments. They also said that the panchayat is duty bound to go by the directions issued by the gram sabhas and if they (the panchayats did not feel like doing so they had to challenge it before the directorateof panchayats. Two among the 11 projects in question have been inspected and showcause notices have also been issued to them. The convenor of the GGRM, Ms Geraldine Fernandes said that they havedemanded that balance from among the 11 projects be inspected as soonas possible.The manch has also demanded that no projects should be cleared without the clearance of the gram sabhas as ultimately the people have to suffer as scarce resources have to be shared by so many others andwanted to know why the villagers have to go without water and children suffer without electricity for someone else's profits. Replying to a question, the manch also said that they felt that someof the projects were from the RP2011 era and had to be automatically cancelled and said that they would give details about these later. It may be recalled that the Benaulim gram sabha, where over 600 peoplehad gathered, had recently passed a resolution seeking revocation oflicences to all the mega housing projects in Benaulim village with retrospective effect from January 26, 2007. Due to public pressure all the panchas, including the sarpanch, Ms Maria Fernandes, assured the villagers that they would not allow anymega housing projects in their respective wards and the village at large.

Mega projects under GGRM’s magnet (Herald)

Projects coming up in the Goan countryside have come under the scanner of newly formed Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch, which is in the process of getting information on each and every one of them to check for their legality. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Goa Bachao Abhiyan’s Pravin Sabnis in the presence of GGRM Convenor Geraldine Fernandes said during an inspection in Benaulim a builder had himself confessed to violations. The Government’s statement challenging the powers of gram sabhas to seek revocation of construction licenses has not gone well with activists and at today’s press briefing this issue was highlighted. Director Institute of Panchayati Raj (Peaceful Society) Soter D’Souza maintained, “There’s a misinformation campaign being spread by builders and politicians on the powers of the gram sabhas. Gram sabha decisions or resolutions are binding on the panchayats, but they can be appealed before the director of panchayat.”“Development impacts the people and as such the panchayat has to make village plans, but there’s gross negligence by the Government in this area. People’s livelihood is threatened by mega housing projects,” Soter asserted. Geraldine said statements questioning the authority and validity of resolutions of gram sabhas are not only unconstitutional, but also malafide as they made to threaten the masses. She maintained that a project coming up on an area more than 800 sq metre of land should be considered as mega. She informed that in Benaulim, the place where she hails from, 11 mega housing projects are coming. At most of the sites there are no proper boards giving information on the works, she held. Two of the representatives from Colva, Alvito Fernandes and Jimmy Gracias, produced before media persons two CRZ clearances for a construction from the same authority. The clearances have the same reference number indicating hanky panky business. General Secretary Council for Social Justice and Peace Fr Maverick Fernandes was also present. GGRM has raised suspicion over many such illegalities by builders to get permissions for constructions. It has now decided to bring uprisings taking place in villages under one banner and have asked locals to check its blog http://www.ganv-ghor.blogspot.com/ to share their grievances. GGRM is working towards helping create village development plans with guidance from villagers of Chandor and others.

Rahul Goswami on the Chandor plan

Amcho ganv, amcho jiv, salvar koria - by Rahul Goswami (march2007)

The community of Chandor has made and delivered an emphatic statement. The ‘Five Year People’s Plan for the Sustainable Development of Chandor (2007-2012)’ is a document whose importance cannot be overstated for Goa. A work-in-progress, for that is what it is, it contains the spirit and confidence of a community in itself, awareness of its location as a unit and of the desired future of that unit, and it shines with a sense of belief, enthusiasm and community solidarity. Chandor has gifted Goa a model of thought and intent, no less.

Even as, through 2006, the sound and fury about Goa’s Regional Plan 2011 gathered and grew, the Chandor Development Forum was putting in place the very mechanisms, the very processes, that had been found to be absent in the state-level plan. “A development plan is ideally prepared with the active participation of all the people for whom it is intended,” states the preface to the Chandor document. “It was therefore proposed that the views of all the residents in the village should be sought and their aspiration and hopes understood before the plan was finalised. Subsequently, some villagers took it on ourselves to go around every corner of Chandor and ask people for their views on how our village must develop over the next few years.”

How very different, how much more truly democratic, more genuinely representative than the ‘official’ plan for the state of Goa, which was dislodged only via popular outrage, public protest and legal challenge. Indeed, independent of state-sanctioned departments and methods — and of the the reformed planning paradigms that are only very slowly taking root in the country — the Chandor Development Forum has shown how ‘participation’ must work in theory and practice.
The Planning Commission, in its direction to the state of India for the preparation of district level plans, wanted that “the early part of the year 2006-07 should be devoted to preparing for each district a vision, through a participative process starting from the grassroots, as to what would be the perspective for development over the next 10 to 15 years.”

The articulation of such a vision is best done in each planning unit, right down to the gram panchayat level, stating with respect to each area what the needs and potential are, what the attainable levels are and what the goals to be reached could be. A basic requirement, the Planning Commission tells us, is that the preparation of the vision is not conditioned by schemes and programmes. I shall repeat that for the benefit of Goa’s ‘monntris’ (ministers, or, losely, politicians) who spawn schemes and programmes with the speed and alacrity of the anopheles mosquito — community vision is not equal to socio-political bribery.

This vision is needed to primarily articulated in terms of goals and outcomes and would address basically, three aspects of development: human development indicators, infrastructure development and development in the productive sector. The Chandor document is excellently articulated (Linken Fernandes and comrades, take a bow) and it has put in place the structures that will enable the community — Chandor-Cavorim and Guirdolim — to fill in the three aspects of development.

The idea is that the envisioning process, being participative, builds a spirit of teamwork and begins the process of breaking down the departmentwise ‘planning’ that is now dominant and which plagues Indian national and state planning. Are we happy living the way we do now? Does Chandor’s physical environment and living spaces promote a healthy, stress-free life for our children and us? Are all the conditions present that can ensure that our lives will continue to flourish?

Are the institutions which have such a big influence on our lives locally — the school, the panchayat, the comunidades, the fabrica — performing optimally and in our best interests? These are the key questions that the Chandor document asks and then proceeds to find answers to. At the national level, such a question-and-answer approach is called ‘envisioning’ and incorporates ideas of attainment regarding vital social needs such as education, health, water supply and sanitation.

At a central level, the means for inclusion of women in development planning and implementation is to ensure that part of sectoral funding is available and used for women. However, equality has to be built into the envisioning process as a whole by ensuring that women have an important role in the design of the entire panchayat/community plan, rather than only in the ‘womens’ component’.

For example, in surveys involved in the planning process, it needs to be ensured that womens’ views are especially sought, including through focus group discussions. Women community leadership will need to be identified and included in committees that may be formed under various sectors, to ensure that women are included in planning for sectors other that social development, such as infrastructure, use of common lands, natural resources and employment.
In ensuring meaningful participation of traditionally muted and excluded groups like tribals, dalits, women and minorities in the envisioning exercise, there is need for special capacity building for them. Networks of elected women members ought to be encouraged so that they can exert collective pressure as well as throw up leadership.

Chandor’s example has shown that what was brought about by design in Kerala — the democratic decentralisation of economic planning — is now ‘development from below’ in Goa. Choices of local development projects need to be left to the community, for they are th best placed to assess and judge. Projects are to be conceived, formulated, implemented, and maintained by the local self-governments, including those empowered under the Panchayati Raj Act. In such a process of change, the role of the state government in local level development will be reduced — as is the case in Kerala — to that of a facilitator providing funds and guidance. This is a landmark for the state, and Goa’s 189 panchayats must make — right now — a reading of the Chandor document mandatory for themselves and their communities.

12 May Benaulim meeting photos by Rajan Parrikar

The villagers of coastal Salcette held a meeting this evening at the Dando ground in Benaulim to kick off their campaign to opposethe large construction projects mushrooming all around their villages

For more on the "Devastation at Benaulim," referto my earlier post archived at -http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-May/073237.html

Warm regards,

r

BENAULIM-DANDO meeting 12 May, 2008; Godfrey's report

An impressive gathering of villagers, well meaning citizens ofvillagers of Cavelossim, Carmona, Orlim, Varca, Benaulim, Colva, Betalbatim, Majorda and other villages bordering these areas attended the solidarity meet held today 12 May, 2008 from 5 .00 p.m to 8.00 p.m at the Dando Grounds at Benaulim Salcete, to warn the Government to desist from hobnobbing with real estate agents to promote mega projects in the villages of Goa.

Fr Maverick Fernandes , Executive Secretary of the Council for Social Justice and Peace [CSJP] stated that the will of the people will prevail. Whether it was the Keri movement, the SEZ, the casino at Cavelossim, the Regional Plan 2011 and now the mega projects cannot be permitted if the people decide so. The implementation of the Village Development Plan as enshrined in the 73rd Constitutional amendment is of vital importance and the deliberations at the Gram Sabhas was a message to the Government that it reflects the will of the people. He stated that a plan for such a people participative action was proposed to the Government but there was no response. He said the Regional Plan has no meaning without a village development plan. Goans need houses affordable in the range of five to six lacs with additional hike as and when price of steel cement brick and allied material inflates but not at suicidal costs of twenty five to a crore.

Pravin Sabnis of the Goa Bachao Abhiyan cautioned the people that the political establishment was hand in glove with the realtors and also the mining lobby. This was clear the Chief Minister himself is involved in the real estate business and holds the mining portfolios.

Ramesh Gauns a teacher from Bicholim and an activist in the mining talukas fighting against the ills of mining that threatens to ruin these talukas in the Novas Conquestas also cautioned that the same fate that befell the people of these mining areas would befall the coastal areas with the mega projects which are all designed for investments and will be beyond the reach of the common man.. The "Go Goa" slogan of the Government litterallymeant that Goa should disintegrate making way for a Mumbai, Delhi or Bihar inplace of Goa.

Miguel Braganza elucidated the events in the mining areas of Colamb in Sanguem where local women who were arrested by the police and locked up for a day but came back undaunted and registered their protest de novo and succeeded in stopping the trucks carrying ores [through a road made in the forest] for well over a fortnight. This showed that if one is determined none can challenge their might. Mr Braganza complimented the people of Salcete for their role in the historic Opinion Poll in 1967 the Language agitation in 1987 and the Regional Plan in 2007. [He said that the people should ask their Village Panchayats to constitute the Ward Development Committees to prepare the Local Development Plans for each ward and the whole village. The WDC process was already notified on 13 March, 2008 in the Official Gazette of Goa, he said.]

Serafino Antao an activist from Carmona [Goa Hit Rakhan Manch] elaborated the role of mega projects. He stated that these projects are pre-determined not according to the choice of the buyer but according to the developer. They are sold as an investment for rupees twenty lacs to to sevently lacs well beyond the reach of Goans. The apartments are alloted community based for Sikhs Moslems Biharis Maharastrians each in separate wings He advised Goans to be cautious for this will reduce us to a minority.

Lincoln Fernandes from Chandor who had earlier prepared a visiondocument for the people of Chandor village speaking to this writer stated thatthe plan would now be whetted to give it a force for implementation . He agreed to the suggestion of this writer that the plan should be written inKonkani (Roman script) for the understanding of all the people.

Rama Velip of GAKUVED a tribal group active in the belt of Sattari Sanguem and Canacona spoke of the ills of mining and given the Chineseboom rampant mining has destroyed all the water bodies and caused pollution. The incentives given to opposing villagers is in cash or kind, trucks totransport ore

Sabina Martins a social activist [of Bailancho Saad] said that the Government was actually promoting SEX tourism not family tourism. The result is that 5 casinos are granted licences on land on river and others will follow suit. Rent aroom and apartments in mega projects which are usually unoccupied are usedfor prostitution and drug trade , these being the components of sextourism.

Others who spoke or were seated on the dais were Cassiano Furtado, Rosario Fernandes, Ms Ida Coutinho, Arnaldo Rodrigues, Antonio D'Silva, Alvito Fernandes, Kim Miranda Lincoln Fernandes. Tio Fernandes, Ciriaco Barretto .

Ms Geraldina Fernandes the Chairperson of the Benaulim Citizen Action Committee complimented the audio visual and print media for their extensive coverage of the peoples movement and hoped that the unity of the people will result in saving Goa from treacherous hands. Roses were offered to each of the news men as a token of appreciation of their co-operation.

The following resolution was read out and passed unanimously:

This solidarity meet of the villagers of Cavelossim, Carmona, Orlim, Varca, Benaulim, Colva ,Betalbatim, Majorda and elsewhere gathered here underthe banner of "Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch" resolves that:

a) all proposals of communities and mega projects must be scrutinisedand studied by the Gram Sabha

b) the VP and all government agencies must facilitate the process of creating need based village development plans with the activeinvolvement of the villagers

c) the basic needs of water electricity and other needs of affordable housing be addressed on an urgent and priority basis.

d) all new building projects should have mandatory provisions for rain water harvesting, garbage management, sewage treatment plants, plantingtrees etc;

e) we will strive to connect to all village movements and work togetherto secure our right as enshrined in the 73rd amendment of the Constitution

f) the regional plan should be created on basis of the villagedevelopment plans, till such time no mega projects should be permitted.

This resolution will be sent for signature in all the coastal villagesin the Salcete belt and forwarded to the Government.sidelights

a) When this writer went around the venue it appeared that many representatives of the hotel lobby and the developers were present at the venue

b) some non goans too were nervous of the impending events

c) one Sindhi industrialist who had invested in an apartment last Marchwas apprehensive that if villagers resent out presence it will be difficult for them to live in a congenial atmosphere

d) the police force was present in a sizable number and they expected the organisers of the meet to wind up by 8.00 p.m., which they did.

e) a number of people were blaming the landlords most of whom live in Margao who were responsible for selling large tracts of land tooutsiders though some of them were seen amidst the crowd.

f) one villager expressed shock that projects are planned higher than coconut trees i.e approx 9 metres and above . The apartment owners desire a birds view of the sea paddy fields etc he remarked.

g) several panch members were also seen in corners far from public gazefor fear of earning the wrath ot the people

h) six hundred signatures were collected on books circulated at thevenue.

from the Dando Benaulim grounds [Words in brackets added by Miguel Braganza]

Ganv Ghor Rakhonn Manch

GANV GHOR RAKHONN MANCH (GGRM)
is a growing collective of the determined citizens of Cavelossim, Carmona, Orlim, Varca, Benaulim, Colva, Betalbatim, Majorda
and all villages of Goa who are fighting
MEGA-PROJECTS, MINING, SEZs
& attacks on the lives, livelihoods & environment of Goan villages.
The GGRM seeks to connect the solidarity with all peoples' movements in Goan villages
against GREED-based development
and seeks to empower the Gram Sabhas to
create NEED-based planning
taking inspiration from the Village Development Plan by the people of Chandor.
The GGRM will function as a grassroots collective. Decisions on local issues will be done by the village groups themselves and the solidarity will take up common issues.