SELF-SUSTAINING GOENCHI MATI PF ELVIDIO MIRANDA
The Supreme Court sanctioned Goenchi Mati Permanent Fund is a marvelous concept that if managed efficiently can become a source of steady income for everyone in Goa. However, instead of investing it for payment of a Citizen's Dividend, it would be prudent to make the Fund more self-sustaining by investing a part of the corpus in real time businesses such as sustainable water harvesting, conservation and management, electricity generation and distribution, in particular solar energy, augmentation of agricultural produce, fisheries, investing in affordable housing, as well as manufacture of fabrics for clothing so as to at least subsidize roti, kapda, makhaan, panni and bijlee, to the extent that savings are made and quality improved by its investment for maintaining, producing and preservation of these essential elements of livelihood. Through selling, while subsidizing in these invested fields, the Citizen's Dividend can be paid back to the citizen in the form of subsidized water, food, electricity, housing and clothing thus putting a check to inflation and probably curbing inflation totally in these essential sectors. This will ensure greater growth if managed professionally and will make the Goenchi Mati Permanent Fund more self-sustaining. The manpower for its implementation can be the people of Goa ourselves and this would also ensure participation of all stakeholders for the growth of the Fund. It will also mean that professional Goan entrepreneurs will get a chance to showcase their capabilities by proving their prowess at working the part of the Goenchi Mati Permanent Fund so as to promote growth and efficiency through grassroots participation of the Goans,thus making ourselves the determining factors of our own destiny. Independent Board of Directors of the formed Goenchi Mati Permanent Fund can thus assert the benefits that will accrue to all. Since this is a state-centric fund, it should give an opportunity for those meritorious leaders to channelise their prowess towards the enhancement of the Fund by way of making it work for mutual benefit. It is an opportunity for the state of Goa to become a world leader in management of its resources for the benefit of all residents. It could be a way of assuring necessities while addressing inflation in these essential segments.