THIS IS A PRESENTATION FROM OUR NGO AT THE SECOND VISHWA SAMMELAN AT KALA ACADEMY PANAJI GOA *******************************************************
In our form of governance elected representatives either form the Ruling Party ( or Treasury benches because they control the purse-string of the Government and can dispense finance without accountability atleast in the true sense of the word. The other is the Opposition, which historically is known to oppose for opposition sake for that way they can keep the voters on their side. (meaning to mourn with voters until they rule or seek the votes at the next hustings). But in the new era of coalition governments which is now here to stay if the parties that form the coalition are of different ideologies and agree to “come together on a common minimum program “ then there arises an “ opposition party within the ruling party” which results in the Opposition members which lack the numbers being relegated to “mere paper tigers” and never constitute a threat to stability of the government in power. With amendments to the popularly known Anti- Defection Law their fate seems now sealed, until they resign and seek re-elections or await the next hustings. Ultimately opposition members within the ruling party and the opposition members that lack the numbers merely debate for the galleries and now live telecast of the proceedings --but in reality are silenced once they get their pound of flesh from the “treasury” But the voter understands its own dilemma. For once elected the representatives whether in ruling or opposition they are the boss his / her view is “law “ and there can be no confrontation leave aside asserting the public view point. To reach to the predicament of these voters --- the Non Governmental organizations have come to be as the true voice of the masses . It is NGOs though small in numbers that raise vociferously or put a spirited selfless struggle and act as the true voice of the masses and keep elected representatives on their toes. Political party affiliations do not matter .The emphasis of NGOs is on SOCIAL JUSTICE, WORKING FOR AN EQUITABLE SOCIETY, UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW and IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE and assisting the Government in whatever its endeavour towards the above. There is a well known maxim --------the least governed are the best governed. If this be the policy of any government in power it is obvious that the NGOs the Industry and the Press can be given a share in the responsibility of governance as its arm to carry out its agenda. What has been the role of the Goa Government towards the NGOs thus far? Registered NGOs came into being in the late eighties They were dealing with Social Justice issues of Women and Children or social evils like Prostitution, Alcoholism , Matka gambling , lately Paedophiles AIDS etc and have had their hands full either because the powers that be preferred these social evils to continue as an universal reality in a developing society OR some of the NGOs themselves preferred to sustain such numbers with the intent of making their social responsibility a full time endeavour with fudged figures to ensure receipt of funds from Government or other bodies. Later there came NGOs to address consumerism . The maxim “buyer’s beware was the raison d etre for such a beginning. Whether it is errant power supply the LPG supply the water supply the telephones were the subject matter. But with Liberalisation Privatisation and Globalisation emerged a buyers market from a hitherto sellers market and thus there was a shift by NGOs from these issues to others viz Internet towers in residential areas Video Piracy , Cable Networks fees etc. However there are several other NGOs which have brought about a social change the SELF HELP GROUPS, that have been able to organize men women to earn a livelihood and thereby achieve economic empowerment . There are other NGOs who act as Action Groups or indulge in Advocacy and these have either checkmated several moves of the Government to ride rough shod over laws and rules enacted by themselves when the situation warrants ; or cleverly loop holes in the laws to ensure that though enacted out of public pressure they “ lack the teeth to bite “ It is in this background that the Non Governmental organizations in Goa have been consistently doing amazing work. Some of the enactments that have come about in Goa like the Right to Information, The Goa Children’s Act & Rules the Women Cell in Department of Police the Waste Management – enactments on Bio-degradable and Non Bio degradable substances etc were all as a result of the NGOs unstinted . Many of the NRI and NRGs gathered at this august gathering have had an opportunity to spell out their emotive feelings their concern for the land of their roots and their willingness to extend a helping hand to their fellow men . They often feel that while Goa is making rapid strides and growing to join the national mainstream. They are willing to offer help but such direct help is not reciprocated by the elected representatives. The elected representatives believe that the NRI/NRG should merely “ park your funds with us (government ) and we know best what is good for you “ this contradicts the NRI/NRG ‘s viewpoint who want an emotive bonding with the Government and their land. NGO organizations demand and this is justified that the Government recognizes the role of registered NGOs the Government should provide to registered NGOs the bare minimum infrastructure may be premises, computers, email facilities telephone etc to carry out their activities the Government should either exempt the registered NGOs or lower the fees required to provide concessions to them while seeking documents under the Right to Information Act the Government should use the NGOs to implement the various schemes it formulates for the welfare of its people to ensure that there is no favouritism and that the benefits percolate to those intended. the Government should use the NGOs as an arm to carry out the endeavours of our NRI s and NRGs by providing them smooth clearances to the developmental and non developmental projects routed through registered NGOs. The Government could conduct a survey on needs of all that is required at the village and Municipality level and make a check list of these needs and throw them open for the NGOs to achieve these tasks and NRI s and NRG s could be drawn in to play an important role in cash or kind. In conclusion it is the view point of the NGO in matters of governance that should be encouraged as the litmus test of the Government in power. For SOUTH GOA PUBLIC INTEREST ACTION GROUP Regd No 171/GOA/2000 dt 12.12.2000 sd/- TERENCE MAZARELO PRESIDENT (SGPIAG) 1st Flr Benlix Bldg Opp Fatima Convent Margao Goa India [EMAIL PROTECTED] weblink http://mumbai.sancharnet.in/manojnd FAX +91 832 2712430 HELPLINE (24 hrs) 9822158584 Tel +91 832 2731373 (O) ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony
