SOCORRO CIVIC AND CONSUMER FORUM H.No. 1095/1, Zosvaddo ? Socorro, P.O Porvorim, 403501. Ph. 414628
Consumer's Forum formed in Socorro At a meeting of concerned citizens of Socorro village which saw good participation of 20 persons at Zoswaddo on 14 May, 2002, it was resolved to launch the Soccorro Civic and Consumer Forum. =20 Among those present were members of the erstwhile Socorro Jagrut Samitti:= =20 Soter D'Souza, Benedict Fernandes, Cajetan Viegas and John Vaz. =20 The meeting was animated by consumer activist,=20 Roland Martins of Goa Desc Resource Centre, Mapusa. The meeting discussions highlighted the following the system has collapsed with political party defections by MLA's rampant and lack of governance, accountability and transparency. =20 Therefore the only way we can make the system work is if each consumer takes responsibility to do something. It is the consumer forums that can provide a platform for social justice, political awareness and initiate the movement against bribery and corruption caused by citizens' ignorance. Rather than depend on the 'dhorum' mentality where one believes=20 that the only way to get your work done is to catch and bribe somebody in authority, the consumer must empower himself and know his rights. =20 Obtaining and using Citizens Charters from all the government departments= =20 is the first step in this direction. Mr.Martins related success stories of various consumer forums handling issues such as improved participation in Village Gram Sabhas, toxic waste dumping at Colvale, gas cylinder home delivery in the coastal villages of Salcete, excess billing by the telephone department in Tivim bus service on Mapusa-Calangute-Sinquerim route, etc. He explained some simple procedures for obtaining redressal of problems: local surveys, filing of complaints by many individuals and ultimate intervention of=A0 the consumer forum. Soter D'Souza said that the Peaceful Society <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, is due to publish small information pamphlets on various components of the Panchayati Raj and make them available cheaply to the common man as the Panchayati Raj Act and Rule books were expensive and too legalistic for the common citizen. =20 This would help the common man to participate in Gram Sabhas and be concerned about the proper working of the village panchayat.=20 Many of those present spoke about the issues that they had taken up and asked for help to continue follow-up. =20 The problem of low voltage due to replacement of a 1.5KVA transformer =20 with a 0.63KVA transformer in Zoswaddo was related by Victor Fernandes.=20 Max Mascarenhas related how he 'fixed' the problem of excess telephone billing by electronically locking his phone except when he wanted to use it.=A0 Being a working man, he also raised the problem of getting home delivery of=A0 gas cylinders. The meeting resolved that the Forum would steer clear of party politics, = =20 be free from religious focus and strive to promote the Civic and consumer = =20 rights in the village of Socorro. It was also decided to hold monthly meetings for this purpose and the next meeting will on Tuesday 11th June. Valentine Coelho (Convenor) Socorro Civic=A0 and Consumer Forum. [EMAIL PROTECTED] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-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 !!
