Headline: NRIs expect something real from facilitation centre Source Navhind Times Sunday 5 May 2002 at: http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=05058&session_ID=6983fab71c44ab87e97f799eb1ea2a2e By A Staff Reporter
PANAJI, May 4: Setting-up of a NRI Goa Facilitation Centre by the present Goa government has met with a mixed response, with Goan NRIs seeking genuine concrete decisions arising from this cell instead of mere assurances on paper. The NRI Goa Facilitation Centre was established by the present government on August 15, 2001, with a view to strengthening the cultural roots of Goans residing or working abroad and mobilising their resources and talents for the development of the state. The NRI Goa cell in its recent meeting on Thursday, May 2, at the EDC House, Panaji received the following suggestions from the twenty odd NRIs attending the meet. The compilation of a Directory of NRI Goans residing or working in the Gulf and Western countries and the vigorous expansion of a membership drive to include NRI Goans through the help of Goan associations abroad. The services of talented NRI Goan professionals in the fields of medicine, engineering, architecture, etc could be utilised for the development and progress of the state when these professionals decide to settle down in their homeland. Besides, schemes of providing insurance cover, housing plots through the Housing Corporation to the NRI Goan members and their families are being deliberated upon, informed the NRI Goa Facilitation Centre chairperson, Mr Chandrakant Keni. The NRI Goa cell has also proposed certain projects it intends to implement with the aid of the government and various Goan associations abroad, like the establishment of an Old Aged Hospice, a working women’s hostel and a Hospital. While such beneficial schemes and projects are welcomed by the NRI Goans, they criticise the lack of implementation of these schemes/projects in the interest of the Goans residing/working abroad and their families. Mr Aires Rodrigues, a former NRI returned to his roots, said that such schemes or projects remain merely on paper with lack of implementation by the government. He strongly denounced all the governments who headed the state, (including the present) of simply boasting of their achievements but not initiating any action in the genuine interest of the community. ===================== I do wonder at the optimism of being able to compile a Directory of Overseas Goans. A couple of years ago I was involved in such a project to produce a Directory of UK Goans. It was decided to launch the scheme at the UK Goan Festival, which is attended by about 3,000 Goans. 1,000 forms were printed asking for brief details of each person and handed by winsome young lasses to those arriving. A travel firm offered free two weeks holiday accommodation in Goa for the winner of the free prize draw. The MC at the event continually cajoled those attending to fill in the forms. At the end of the day, the total number of completed forms handed in was nil :-( Eddie Fernandes =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
