--- On Fri, 11/21/08, Matanhy Saldanha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Matanhy Saldanha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Special Status > *GOA**'S MOVEMENT FOR SPECIAL STATUS* > > *3rd Floor, **Despamonte** **Building**, St. Inez* > > *P.O. Box** 242**, Panaji – **Goa**.* > > *Ph. No.: 2222273, 9822160941** * > > ** > > > Date: 21st November, > 2008 > > * * > > *FOR FAVOUR OF PUBLICATION* > > * * > > > > Today, Goa is at crossroads. In the pursuit for development > it runs the risk > of totally losing its identity, as its limited land is > being sold for the > lure of money. The limited land of Goa is being sold to > real estate sharks, > builders and the millionaires from all over the world who > come to Goa to > exploit this beautiful land and its people. Even the land > in possession of > the schedule tribes and other backward classes, land which > belongs to the > age old institution of "Communidade" (community > land) is being acquired by > the Government and later sold to private interest. The > unique character and > topography of Goa, especially its villages are being lost > due to unabated > construction of this development which cannot be afforded > by the locals. > > > > The people of Goa are not against migrants from any state > of the country. > However, the population of Goa has exceeded its saturation > point to 15 lakhs > despite of low Goan birth rate due to large scale influx of > migrants. This > has resulted in changing the demography of the villages, > outnumbering the > local people and changing the cultural, social, economic > and political > identity of the Goan society leading to conflicts and > insecurity. The people > of Goa are finding themselves strangers in their own land > and hence the time > has come to call for a total freeze on the population of > Goa and the sale of > land, as Goa does not have the carrying capacity due to the > paucity of land, > pressure on the existing infrastructure and lack of basic > amenities like > water, sewerage, electricity and garbage disposal sites. > > > > Mega projects and grandiose plans like Sky bus, Mono rail, > 6 lane highway, > Film city and land acquisition for industries by GIDC, > besides being > unsustainable will only add to the pressure on the limited > land resources of > the state. *The hard truth is that out of the total area of > the state of ** > Goa**, which is 3,702 sq. kms, after deducting all forest > land, coast line > area and the seven rivers, all agricultural land, hill land > and the land > already used, the land remaining for future use is only 362 > sq. kms.* > > > > The people of Goa demand for Special status for Goa, within > the framework of > the Constitution of India, as in Himachal Pradesh, > Aruchanal Pradesh and the > North Eastern states of India. > > > > The people of Goa demand for Special Status for Goa, under > article 371 of > the Constitution of India, to protect the scarce land > resources of Goa, the > unique cultural identity and the social fabric of its > populace. > > > > The Special Status should devolve powers such as to: > > > > a. Immediately enact suitably protected > legislation (including > legislation in the model of old "The Goa, Daman, and > Diu Removal of > Difficulties Act", but specifically for Goa now) for > preventing and/or > removing obstacles and other conditions adverse to the > rights of Goans > within Goa, and conducive to the fulfillment of the > assurances given to > Goans at the time of Liberation of Goa. > > b. To ensure, through legislation and by other > means, that no > land can be sold or transferred to individuals who are not > natives of Goa, > protecting in particular the lands belonging to the age > old, pre-Portuguese > time institutions of Gaunkary or 'Communidades' and > to help these to become > self sustainable community endeavors. > > c. To ensure that the Personal Law of Goa, > namely the Uniform > Common Civil Code, is not abused or misused by the new > settlers in Goa to > the detriment of the people of Goa. > > d. To ensure that the SC/ST/OBC/Dangar > categories in relation to > the state of Goa should be as per the Presidential order, > provided the > migration to Goa has taken place before 19th February, > 1968, which is the > date of the Presidential order notifying the categories. > > e. To ensure that individuals who are not of > Goan origin cannot > start business in Goa, except in partnership with Goans or > with Goans as > components. > > f. To enable the Goa Legislative Assembly to > examine and decide > on approval or otherwise of all central schemes, in order > to determine their > suitability to Goa, taking into consideration the local > conditions. > > g. To deliberate, to legislate, to regulate and > to act on any or > all such other matters which may be deemed to be of vital > importance to the > unique historical circumstances and present predicament of > Goa and Goans, > always within the framework of Constitution of India. > > > > It must be noted that Goa and people of Goa are facing > insecurity at all > levels and this is heightened by the irresponsible leaders > that be, to > fulfill their personal agendas at the cost of Goa's > destruction. > > > > The demand for Special Status is totally within the > Constitution of India of > which the people of Goa are the citizens. > > > > A memorandum has been presented to the Chief Minister of > Goa in this regards > on the 20th of November 2008. The same will be handed over > to Opposition > leader, all the M.L.A's, M.P's and political > parties, so that they can take > unanimous decision to protect the interest of Goa by > seeking protection for > Goa under Art 371 of the Constitution of India. > > > > GMFSS will present a special memorandum to the President of > India, with > signatures of people from all walks of life to protect the > interest of Goa. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sd/- > Sd/- > > Matanhy Saldanha > Kisan Goankar > > (Chairperson) > (Secretary) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > *GOA**'S MOVEMENT FOR SPECIAL STATUS* > > *3rd Floor, **Daspamonte** **Building**, St. Inez* > > *P.O. Box** 242**, Panaji – **Goa**.* > > *Ph. No.: 2222273, 9822160941* > > ** > > > 20th November, 2008 > > To > > The Chief Minister > > Government of Goa > > Secretariat, Porvorim – Goa. > > > > > > Dear Sir, > > > > 2. We, the undersigned people of > Goa , Citizens of > India respectfully place before you our plea, with utmost > faith in the > Constitution of India, complete loyalty and commitment to > the integrity and > unity of India, dedication to the ideals of Democracy, > Secularism and > Justice. We trust you to galvanise your Government for due > expedition in > this matter, so as to prevent the extreme frustration among > the otherwise > peaceful people of Goa from taking an ugly turn. > > 3. *SALUTATIONS TO THE HEROES OF > OUR FREEDOM*: > Recalling once again with great joy that moment of our > freedom in 1961, we > reiterate and renew our unreserved expression of enduring > gratitude to our > freedom fighters and to each and every member of our > valiant Armed Forces > for their untiring efforts and sacrifices, including that > of laying down > life in so many cases, and to the then national leaders who > were all united > in bringing to an end the colonial subjugation of Goa. > > 4. *WITH ILL-WILL TOWARDS NONE*: > Our aspiration and > plea for a Special Status for Goa, strictly within the > ambit of the > Constitution of India, under Article 371, are not out of > any animosity, > rancour or ill-will towards any community or section of our > fellow citizens > and compatriots from any part of our Nation. They are > solely with a view to > achieve a fair measure of protection to us, the Goans, in > Goa, which is the > land of our birth and destiny. To this we are legitimately > entitled in law > and in morality among and within nations, and it was > solemnly promised to us > by leaders of our Nation at the time of our belated > liberation from the > Portuguese colonial rule in 1961. > > 5. Therefore, the various facts > adduced and > arguments formulated herein below, in support of our plea > for Special Status > for Goa, may be seen in the context of our firm desire to > exist and to live > with a strong sense of security, to prosper with equity, to > empower > ourselves socio-culturally as equals to the other more > numerous brethren in > India and capable of thwarting the designs of the more > powerful forces of > contemporary unregulated, unscrupulous and exploitative > economic activity. > Only then will Goans be able to wholeheartedly contribute > in greater measure > to the strength, well being and march forward of our > beloved Motherland. > > 6. *OUR SENSE OF FRUSTRATION & > PLEA*: However -- and > without failing to recognise and acknowledge the many > benefits and > improvements in our lives that have come about due to and > since the > Liberation of Goa -- our collective experience of political > emancipation, > economic development and socio-cultural empowerment and > progress has been > one of utter frustration and dread of obliteration of our > very existence and > identity as Goans, of being uprooted from and dispossessed > of our lands. > Unregulated mass influx of migrants and take over of huge > tracts of land and > homes of Goans by scrupulous money bags from the outside > are the bane of our > common good as an indigenous settled people comprising many > diverse > communities. > > 7. Thus, our plea for Special > Status for Goa is, at > once, a prayer for fairness to Goans and request for > opportunity to serve > the Nation with added spontaneity. Our recalling or citing > what may appear > to be flaws and failures, seeming negative aspects, of some > of the > decisions, events, arrangements and dispositions of law > during and/or after > the process of Liberation of Goa is meant to demonstrate > the rationale of > our position. None of it may ever be construed as casting > aspersion on the > legitimacy of Goa's entry into the Union of India or > harbouring any intent > counter to the unity and integrity of India. > > 8. May we also affirm unequivocally > that our plea > for Special Status for Goa is in contemplation of well > being of all the > communities and sections of Goans as citizens of India, > whatever be their > political affiliations and choices, religious professions > or lack thereof, > linguistic preferences, socio-cultural patterns and > life-styles, etc. – and > so be it understood well, not withstanding any stray > discordant voice or > noise. > > 9. May we, then, place our case – > the case for a > Special Status for Goa -- before Your Excellency: > > 10. *BACKGROUND – THE FORGOTTEN > PROMISSES*: After > ousting the Portuguese colonialists from the soil of Goa, > way back in > December 1961, our then national political leaders were > clearly inclined to > play their role in protecting the interests of Goa and > Goans. Indeed they > had made many solemn promises from the highest seats of > Legislative and > Executive power of our Republic, all of which are rightly > to be construed as > a commitment to grant an appropriate variant of Special > Status for Goa and > Goans. > > 11. But, sadly, the politically > inexperienced and utterly > devastated and divided Goans – due to the trauma of the > longest and harshest > ever colonial subjugation in the annals of human history > – could neither > grasp the situation then nor foresee the course of events > that would > overwhelm them. So they did not see the opportunity to > press for and to > obtain a Special Status for Goa, thereby making themselves > vulnerable to the > mighty external forces of competitive ingress (e.g. influx > of in-migrants) > and socio-economic exploitation (profit seeking investors > and land > purchasers), among others. > > 12. Consequently, since 1961 till now, > at every stage, > Goans had to fight to protect their identity and their > vital interests, be > it to prevent merger of Goa into the neighbouring State of > Maharashtra (for > which Goans were made to slog it out through an > unprecedented Opinion Poll > in 1967, to keep Goa as a separate political entity in the > Union of India), > or to get their language included in the VIII Schedule of > Constitution > (which was achieved through a long struggle, not > necessarily by peaceful > means always), or to stop several other onslaughts on Goa > in the name of > development. > > 13. Forty seven years after Liberation, > we have now > reached a stage where Goans feel lot more unsafe. *Indeed > we fear the > imminent loss of our identity and cultural integrity, in > the face of massive > influx of people from outside **Goa**.* The old promises of > safeguards for > the uniqueness of Goa, given by the then Prime Minister of > India Mr. > Jawaharlal Nehru and others, appear to have been forgotten > by the new > national leaders. > > 14. *THE INDIAN **CORE** & > PECULIARITIES OF OUR IDENTITY*: > In this connection we wish to emphasise that the cultural > identity and > integrity of Goans is -- in essence and at its core -- very > much Indian and > perfectly harmonious with the broad frame of the national > mosaic. However, > due to the peculiar eco-geographic conditions, historical > circumstances and > other factors, Goans have come to acquire some special and > distinctive > socio-cultural traits, which need to be protected, > preserved and allowed to > evolve for the good of Goa and of India. > > 15. In this regard, we have been let > down by some of our > own elected representatives and governments in Goa. One > situation that > demonstrates this is the case of Goans being disposed of > their lands (be > they private/personal holdings, or community-owned lands, > or even the common > lands of the State of Goa, of whatever type) with active or > tacit connivance > of official machinery. > > 16. *GOA**'S SCARSE **LAND** > RESOURCES*: For any society, > land is the pivot of its collective security, common > identity and > prosperity. In the case of Goans, the great beauty, > serenity and fertility > of the small/limited surface area of Goa is the very > essence of their > peaceful yet dynamic existence, of their tranquil yet > laborious life, of > their relaxed yet creative and enriching toil, of their > fulfilment and > progress. Now all that is being destroyed before our very > eyes, in the name > of development. > > 17. It bears to remember that the State > of Goa is a very > small place, its total land area being just 3,702 square > kilometres, > including the off shore island of Anjediva which, in an act > of national > pride and magnanimity of Goans, has been gifted to the Navy > for building a > modern naval base at Karwar. > > 18. As shown herein below, of the said > total area of > 3,702 sq. kms. of Goa, only a small part, i.e. 812 sq. > kms., consists of all > types of usable land. And since 450 sq. kms. of it have > already been used, > what remains available for the future is a tiny bit of 362 > sq. kms. spread > all over. See the succinct Table below: > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Type of land/use > Area/Sq. > Kms. Balance > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Total area of the State of Goa 3,702 > 3,702 > > Government Forests 1,340 > 2,362 > > Private Forests > 200 > 2,162 > > Coast/shore line area + 7 rivers > > (under CRZ) > 100 > 2,062 > > Agricultural / Khazan / low lying land 1,100 > 962 > > Unusable / unstable / hill land 150 > 812 > > Usable land (all types) 812 > -- 00 -- > > Less land already used 450 > > *LAND** REMAINING FOR FUTURE USE: 362 SQ. KMS.* > > 19. *DEVASTATION OF GOA*: Thus it is not > difficult to see > how precarious is the land situation in Goa, and to > understand the > corresponding rapaciousness of those with big money of all > kinds, and even > helping to launder black money, all of which also explains > the onslaught on > beaches and hills, farms and orchards, green fields and > khazans lands of > Goa, to build build beyond the legitimate needs of the > local populations. > > 20. Goa is fast becoming a devastated > land. It is a > paradox of history that, what the brutal colonial > dictatorship of Salazar > had envisaged for Goa in the event of liberation war by > India (namely, > scorched earth), is apparently being achieved by our very > own compatriots, > together with millionaires from within and outside India, > in the garb of > investors, real estate promoters, builders, industrialists, > mining magnates, > tourism promoters etc. > > 21. These so-called promoters of > development pounce on > the virgin lands of Goa to make their profits, taking > advantage of the > 'craze' conveniently generated by them to buy land > and/or real estate in > Goa, without any consideration even for the sensitive > ecological balance, > and leave this land of our birth brutalised. Often the > State Government too > has helped them to grab the land in Goa, through the Land > Acquisition laws. > There are no adequate constitutional or legal safeguards > for the ordinary > peaceful Goans to protect their birth place. > > 22. Even the land in the possession of > schedule tribes > and other backward classes -- which land in fact belongs to > the age old > institution of *'Gaonkary'* or > '*Comunidades*' (therefore, community land) > since times immemorial and much before the arrival of > Portuguese > colonialists here -- is unscrupulously being taken over or > acquired by > Government of Goa, only to be handed over to their chosen > industrialists, > businessmen and real estate developers. Almost 70-80% of > beneficiaries of > this acquired land are non-Goans. > > 23. *HOMES FOR OUTSIDERS – KEEPING > GOANS OUT*: The > rampant sale of huge areas of land in every nook and corner > of Goa and their > purchase by opportunistic big builders and politicians of > other States has > led to construction of innumerable gated housing colonies, > tourist resorts > and multi-storied building complexes, even in villages, in > violation of the > letter and spirit of several laws, rules and regulations in > force. The > settled indigenous Goans stand totally excluded from such > 'especial/exclusive' housing colonies and resorts > through many stratagems, > including that of prohibitive prices. > > 24. Such constructions, on massive > scale, have been > carried out always (repeat always) with utter disregard to > the environment > and ecology of the place, and have changed the very > topography and quaint > character of Goan villages. To that extent, the > physico-geographical > uniqueness of Goa itself is being destroyed. So also, they > have overburdened > the delicate and limited infra-structure and deprived > Goans, who are the > settled indigenous inhabitants of this place, of the basic > essentials like > water, power, sanitation, means of waste disposal etc. > > 25. *INFLUX OF OUTSIDERS*: Furthermore, > all such big > construction projects are a major cause in altering the > demographic balance > and cultural profile of Goa in several ways: > > a. These constructions are deliberately > situated at > eco-sensitive and fragile locations, such as beaches (by > destroying the sand > dunes and vegetation therein, river/lake banks (by > encroaching into rivers > and lakes, on hills (by razing them flat, irrespective of > the gradient) in > order to rig up prices based on scenic advantage. > > b. Such real estates are meant mostly, if > not exclusively, > for purchasers from outside Goa, and indeed they are > purchased mainly by > people from other States or by foreigners, thus leading to > 'ghetto' feeling > among the locals in the rural interior of Goa, which is > dangerous and > divisive. > > c. Such construction activity has resulted > in influx into > Goa of a huge work force – countless entire families – > from other States of > India who have, then, unfailingly settled down into this > State for good, > adding to all round pressures on basic amenities and social > tension/conflicts. > > d. Such influx has given rise to shanty > colonies, which in > turn have been attracting further migrants, including many > fugitives from > other States, thus making law and order situation lot more > difficult in Goa, > with the resultant rise in crime and other unlawful > activities. > > 26. The aforesaid dimension of influx of > migrant workers > and other outsiders due to construction boom, is in > addition to the other > waves of migrant workers in the fields of industries, > tourism, mechanized > fishing, mining, small businesses and trades in > vegetables-fruit-fish > markets, road side kiosks and sundry other activities. All > of this has > marginalised, if not totally displaced, the native Goans. > Even some > foreigners have made inroads, mainly via tourism sector, > into the > traditional domains of the locals by opening and operating > their own outlets > here without work visa and in violation of several laws. > > 27. *OUTSIDERS INCREASING IN NUMBERS*: > It must be noted > that, historically, the population of Goa had remained > stable for nearly two > hundred years before 1961 (at which time it was around five > to six lakh) > despite the fact that Goa had a high birth rate. Since then > the birth rate > among Goans has come down well below the national average. > Yet, Goa's > population today has shot up to almost fifteen lakh, in a > short period of 47 > years, thereby negating the achievement of the low birth > rate among Goans. > This phenomenal increase is due solely to the migrant > influx. > > 28. This situation is all the more grave > because the > influx is not confined to only the major towns, but has > truly penetrated > deep into the villages, thus changing the demographic, > disrupting the > time-tested socio-cultural patterns and values and > distorting the political > will of Goans. > > 29. *SPECIAL STATUS FOR PROTECTION OF > GOANS*: In view of > the foregoing, we deem it a national imperative that Goa is > granted some > appropriate type of Special Status under the Constitution > of India, so as to > legally empower its Legislature and Executive to device > legal mechanisms to > protect Goans and the land of Goa. This is not only a > protectionist > imperative for the small-numbered Goans, but rather an > essential requirement > to reinforce the federal make-up of our Nation by > strengthening the > legitimate regional aspirations for safe and secure > conditions of existence > and advancement to its vulnerable sections. > > 30. It is pertinent to note that, under > the very legal > dispositions of India, an adequate legal criterion of being > a Goan – i.e. a > legal criterion of our identity and, consequentially, the > basis of our claim > to be the repositories of inalienable right to distinctive > living and > culture is already laid down and can be used for the end > envisaged herein, > i.e. for the purpose of protecting the native Goans and > their ancestral Goa > under a Special Status within Union of India. > > 31. *WHO IS 'GOAN' ?– > CRITERION OF LAW*: May we recall > that at the time of Liberation of Goa in December 1961, > Goans in general > were holding Portuguese citizenship (except those of them > who had, for > whatever reason, acquired any other the citizenship, > including the > citizenship of India). > > 32. By virtue of holding Portuguese > citizenship, Goans > came to acquire a unique codified Personal Law, in the form > of *Código Civil > Português, 1867*, and other related legislation – all of > which is what we > now know as "Common Personal/Civil Law" of Goans. > > 33. Consequential to the liberation of > Goa from the > Portuguese colonial yoke and at the conclusion of the > military operations, > the Government of India conferred the citizenship of India > on those Goans > who, till then were Portuguese. This was done through > Special Order 959, > dated 28 March 1962, published in the Gazette of India, > Part II, Sec. 3 (i), > dated 29th March 1962. > > 34. By application of the said Special > Order it is > possible now to legally identify a Goan, post-Liberation or > post-19/12/1961, > as one who was born to Goan parent/s and held the > Portuguese citizenship, > then bestowed with Indian citizenship, and/or one who is > descendant of such > former holder of Portuguese citizenship with Goan > parentage. By virtue of > this, his Personal Law is the above mentioned Common Civil > Code from the > Portuguese time. Another category of Goans which is easy to > identify is that > of Goans holding Citizenship of India prior and up to 20 > December 1961. Only > these two above mentioned categories are relevant for > protection under the > Special Status for Goa as envisaged herein, within the > Constitution of > India. > > 35. *ANCESTRY/PARENTAGE FACTOR FOR > 'GOAN'*: It must be > noted that in all of the above, the element of Goan > ancestry or parentage is > the *sine qua non* of being Goan. > > 36. The aforesaid Special Order 959, > dated 28 March 1962, > is the basis and criterion of coverage of the Uniform > Personal Law, i.e. the > Common Civil Code and other legislation that continues to > be in force here. > It applies to Goans who fall within the ambit of the said > Citizenship Order > 959, and others who carried that Personal Law by virtue of > other earlier > dispositions of law. > > 37. In view of the foregoing, *we, the > people of **Goa**, > now rise to seek a Special Status for **Goa** under article > 371 of the > Constitution of **India*, to protect and enforce the > inalienable rights and > interests of Goans by saving the scarce land resources of > Goa. > > 38. *THE OBJECTIVES & CONTENTS OF > SPECIAL STATUS*: The > devolu-tion of power under this Special Status should be > such as to: > > a. To immediately enact suitably protected > legislation > (including legislation in the model of old "The Goa, > Daman, and Diu Removal > of Difficulties Act", but specifically for Goa now) > for preventing and/or > removing obstacles and other conditions adverse to the > rights of Goans > within Goa, and conducive to the fulfilment of the > assurances given to Goans > at the time of Liberation of Goa. > > b. To ensure, through legislation and by > other means, that no > land can be sold or transferred to individuals who are not > of Goan origin, > protecting in particular the lands belonging to the age > old, pre-Portuguese > time institutions of Gaunkary or 'Comunidades' and > to help these to become > self sustainable community endeavours. > > c. To ensure that the Personal Law of Goa, > namely the > Uniform Common Civil Code, is not abused or misused by the > new settlers in > Goa to the detriment of Goans. > > d. To ensure that the SC/ST/OBC/Dangar > categories in relation > to the state of Goa should be as per the Presidential > order, provided the > migration to Goa has taken place before 19th February 1968, > which is the > date of the Presidential order notifying the categories. > > e. To ensure that individuals, firms and > other corporate > bodies that are not and/or do not have partners and/or > other components of > Goan origin cannot start business in Goa, except in > partnership with Goans > or with Goans as components. > > f.To enable the Goa Legislative Assembly to examine and > decide on approval > or otherwise of all central schemes, in order to determine > their suitability > to Goa, taking into consideration the local conditions. > > g. To deliberate, to legislate, to regulate > and to act on any > or all such other matters which may be deemed to be of > vital importance to > the unique historical circumstances and present predicament > of Goa and > Goans, always within the framework of Constitution of > India. > > 39. *BASIS FOR THE PLEA FOR SPECIAL > STATUS* Furthermore, > we respectfully submit to Your Excellency, by way of > collateral support to > our plea for Special Status for Goa, the following: > > a) As Goans were not a part of or party to the > Constituent Assembly > deliberations, for Goa had no representative therein and > thus present its > case based on its different colonial experience and > political evolution, we > Goans need to be considered for and granted special > political dispensation > even if belatedly. > > b) As Goa was liberated through a somewhat uncommon > modality of > military intervention, leading to a somewhat irregular mode > of transfer of > sovereignty over Goa, and certain assurance were given to > the people of Goa, > on the floor of the Parliament and elsewhere, of special > protection, > measures and arrangements, those assurances must be > honoured howsoever > belatedly. > > c) The unique cultural mosaic and social fabric of > Goa, after an > unprecedented long and traumatic experience under > Portuguese colonialism, > unlike the British or French colonialism need to be given > due consideration. > > d) The fact that the unprecedented Opinion Poll held > in 1967 did not > offer scope for Goans to express on their basic aspirations > and on the need > for Special Status, since it was (i) designed for Goans to > choose from > extremely narrow formulation of alternatives, (ii) held in > an atmosphere of > fear of Goa being merged into the neighbouring State of > Maharashtra, and > (iii) participation and/or voting by in-migrants of > non-Goan origin was > permitted, the said Opinion Poll did not reflect the true > wishes of Goans. > Therefore these wishes must be honoured at least now. > > h) The fact that at the time of *de jure* > regularization/confirmation > of the transfer of sovereignty over Goa by Portugal to > India in 1974, after > the fall of dictatorship in Portugal and its new outlook > towards former > colonies, we, Goans, were not a party to the negotiations > and/or treaty on > condition of retrospective transfer of sovereignty, for > which reason some of > our historical-cultural interests might not have been > safeguarded. > > i) The small size/area and limited land resources > of the State of > Goa need to be protected from rampant over-exploitation and > commercialization, which are detrimental to the interests > and rights of the > long settled inhabitants that we Goans are. > > j) *Mutatis mutandis*, almost 60% of the population > of Goa being of > ST, SC and OBC, living in utmost helplessness and being > vulnerable to forces > of exploitation, it needs to be protected in a special way. > > k) Some other States in India, e. g. Himachal > Pradesh, Arunachal > Pradesh and several other north eastern States of India, > enjoy in one way or > another a Special Status under the Constitution of India > and Goa's case is, > in some ways, comparable to theirs. > > 40. We, therefore, urge Your Government > to immediately > initiate the process of consultations with Goans, as > represented by this > 'MOVEMENT FOR SPECIAL STATUS FOR GOA' and all other > stake holders so as to > finalise the details of necessary legislation and > amendments to seek Special > Status for Goa. > > > > Thanking You > > > > Yours Sincerely > > > > > > > > > > > > Matanhy Saldanha > Mahendra Prabhu Dessai > > (Chairperson) > (Vice- Chairperson) > > > > > > > > > > > > Umesh Kakode > > Upendra Gaonkar > > (Vice – Chairperson) > (Vice – Chairperson) > > > > > > > > > > K. V Gaonkar > Sashi Kamat > > > (Secretary) > (Treasurere) > > > > > > > > > > George De Souza > Sainath Zalmi > > > > > > > > > > > > Martin Menino Fernandes > Gajanan > Mutkekar > > > > > > > > > > Gurudas Kamat > Sunil Santineshka > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dr. N. S Dumo > John Travasso > > > > > > > > > > > > Fr. Bismarque Dias > > Antonio Gauncar > > > > > > > > > > > Evans > Fernandes > > > > > > C.c to : Members of Parliament- Goa. > > : Members of Legislative Assembly- Goa. > > : Presidents of political parties – Goa.