Day One - Gomant Vishwa Sammelan 2005
Days without water griping the Panjimites the sorrow fear of the
Tsunami disaster the news of resignation of Minister for Town &
Country Planning Mr Antanasio (Babush ) Monseratte the MLA from
Taleigao or his imminent expulsion from the Government an announcement
expected at a Goa Cabinet meet this afternoon and his wife the Panch
of Taleigao being inducted into the United Goans Democratic Party all
reflected the tone and tenor of the extremely poor NRI NRG attendance
when the 2nd Gomant Vishwa Sammelan got underway this morning at 1023
hrs IST at the renovated Kala Academy (now not in proper settings
after the IFFI) with the Governor Mr S C Jamir a tribal from Nagaland
lighting the traditional lamp.
A beautiful rendition of the Goan Konkno Cristao chemistry bonding
Goans was the introductory song by a musical group.
The inauguration of the third Newsletter of the NRI Goa Facilitation
Centre at the hands of Speaker of Goa's Legislative Assembly who
incidentally heads the yougest and qualified legislators in the
country was followed by the Governors address.
The Governor read from a prepared speech initally stating that
history of humanity was a saga of migration and after Independence
what followed was the brain drain. The Governor indicated that
despite this the Indian wherever worldwide never severed his links
from the umbilical chord and this was the unique feature of Indians
world over.
As far as Goans were concerned the Governor stated that wherever they
were spread they preserved their culture and visited shrines
irrespective of religious affinity.
Later departing from his prepared speech in what could be seen as
hint to the Governemt in power a la IFFI extravaganza the Governor
that though Goa is known as a land of music dances and a land of
dreams unique place in India was the urban dwellers philosophy the
sons of the soil live in the villages.
It should be ones endeavour he said to bridge the gap between the
have and havenots. Those that live in the rural areas almost fifty
percent of the population. The tribals he said referring to a brief
presentation by the Gawda community at the entrance of the Kala
Academy to welcome him speak from their heart they are frank and
honest he himself being a tribal (a Christian as well) always spoke
the truth.
He referred to the skylark which goes higher and higher yet its eyes
are fixed to the nest, similarly the Goan wherever he/she is should
come back to its root.
The Chief Convenor Mr R (Dinar) Bhatkar (who infact is publicly
believed to be the eyes and ears of the CM)indirectly attempted to
refute the Governor's allegation of the neglect of rural areas that
what the Government in power believed is Goa should be better than
the best and our quest is for quality not for quantity. There is a
need for value addition and upgradation of standards.
He said rural development made it near urban and cited the case how
Palolem in Canacona was rated as one of the 10 best beaches in the
world. Apparently he meant that the paramater for such recognition
was on standards which meet the ambience and rural settings befitting
of human development.
Yet another instant was the case of a 10 year old Management school
in Ribander which stood as one the best among the 15 best management
institutes this was in the rural area.
The setting up of the state of art BITS Pilani Goa unit at Sancoale
where nearly 600 talented students are studying and several others
vying to get in is yet another instance of rural development.
This was followed by a session on Cultural History of Goa by Dr
Nandakumar Kamat right from 11 AD from the Mauryan Kingdom until the
emergence of the Portuguese rule in Goa -- the presentation by Power
Point was a repeat of the earlier session they had some months ago
at the Miramar Residency -- however the audience appreciated the
historical ground reality of pre Portuguese history in this
presentation.
The seminar Emerging Identity of Goa by Dr Arminda Fernandes and
Edgar Ribeiro Chief Town Planner New Delhi was inspiring. Mr Rajdeep
Sardessai of NDTV 24x7 convinced the audience with his curt remarks.
He stated all over India the brand image of Goa was feni, fun and
fish and this was in the minds of youth when they come to Goa at the
same time the poor image of Goans being associated with goondaism
crime as depicted in films needs to be corrected. Therefore
the real Goan is often not clearly understood at best Goans are in a
flux as far as their cultural identity is concerned. Incidentally Mr
Sardessai is a Goan and the son of emminent cricketer legend Mr Dilip
Sardessai.
The Tourism Minister's comments on the NRIs NRGs going abroad did not
cut much ice with the NRIs NRGs he felt that their expectations were
too high far beyond the ground reality.
The microphones played spoil sport a reflection of the general
feeling that the accoustics in place would meet the unfortunate
mishandling post IFFI seems to have come true.
The lunch catered to for just a little over 180 persons mainly
exhibitors delegates local officials and about 38 NRIs and NRGs was
not relished well, though the service was well arranged by the
volunteers students of the local Colleges dressed well in their
purple sarees.
The main event was the Expectation/Concerns of NRIs/NRGs. Many of the
invitees were representatives of association in the Gulf countries,
and Canada. But not all of them reflected the concerns of NRGs take
for instance the North American Goan Association President who
claimed to belong to the first generation of Goans preferred to
discuss his views in private with the NRI FC similarly the case of
representative of the Goan Welfare Society Mr Rabindra Pimenta merely
stated he had 22 years with an airline and was the President of the
GWS for 2002-03 and nothing else. But Mr B G Silveira from Abu Dhabi
did speak of the non existence of reservation for students in of NRIs
in colleges direct flights from Abu Dhabi, Identity cards for Goans
and a time frame for dealing in matters of licences for construction
power and water connections.
One Joaquim D'Souza from Abu Dhabi was very bluntly asked the
moderator Mr Herculano Dourado and the ex Member Secretary of NRI FC
Mr A V Palekar on why the Chief Minister of Goa who had assured that
overcharging of taxis was not checked despite his promise to do so at
the last Sammelan. Next he was assured of a road on 20th January 2003
last but till date the road is not forthcoming. If this is the
credibility of the Chief Minister of Goa how can one trust him he
wondered and received a thunderous applause from the audience. He
said GOANS are believed to be Greatest of all Nations.
Others who spoke was a couple who prefered to be together even on
stage Mr Lamberto and Ms Lidy Gomes were interested in ensuring that
beach cleanliness was maintained and that they could seek the
services of those organisation to clean up the plastics and litter
on the beaches with the involvement of the community.
Mr Alexander M Fernandes also spoke of providing assistance to NRIs
in the medium scale industry be it computers services, tourism,
franchises he expressed his difficultie that he encountered in
dealing with the same.
But whether it was the land matters the taxis the admissions the
direct flight the days of flights thursday instead of friday etc
there seemed to be mere promises or passing the buck.
Mr Palyekar divided the issues into NRI centric and said that direct
flight issue still being pursued, reservation for NRI students is
there (where he explained not and was trapped) on dual citizenship he
was helpless as that depends upon the bilateral agreements between
the Govt of india and that country safeguarding of landed property --
yes legislation is on the anvil.
About the NRI FC it was confirmed that it would be a registered
society and operate full fledged with a newsletter which is already
incirculation office strenghtened they claim to have collected data
of 630 NRIs but the NRIs are believed to desire that this be
maintained in strict confidence why no one could answer then there is
expectation of improvement in health and other infrastructure already
underway.
With the formation of a Builders Federation they are sure that NRIs
NRGs who have been cheated by builders will now be a thing of the
past -- Wishful thinking this one remarked an NRI from Portugal.
Single window legislation is in the anvil at drafting stage.
Amendments to both the Panchayat and Communidade legislations are in
progress then the 230 bedded hospital at Mapusa are the projects
along with several bridges. the state of art Canacona Bus Stand,
the Aldona cantilever brdige all dealt with by the Goa Infrastructure
Development Corpn headed by Mr Manohar Parrikar were displayed on a
power point presentation.
But though most NRIs and NRGs were impressed by the developments they
knew for sure it will be until the next session on 3rd to 5th January
2006 that they will await for the fulfilment of these assurances.
The remark of the Moderator Mr Herculano Dourado that NRIs can't
expect to get things done out of the purview of the legislation time
limits was objected strongly by the question poser who stood
repeatedly to allege that he was made a subject of ridicule being
asked to go again and again to the Police department for clearances
and even they visited his home this was indeed harrasment he said at
the State police not involving the Centre.
The irony of those replying viz Mr Dourado and Mr Palyekar was that
they have no powers to do so as only a Cabinet Minister or the Chief
Minister ought to give such assurances in the Legislative Assembly
for it to gain legitimacy.
The presentation on Water and Sanitation by the Secretary health
brought out an unique situation where the Secretary of Health and PWD
was the same person as a result the queries raised by her as Health
Secretary to the PWD was to be answered by herself. This was a
case when the sewer pipe lines burst and during low pressure there
was seepage of this in the water pipeline creating an outbreak of
jaundice in Panaji.
She stated that Goa is perhaps the only state where water resources
department is paid to supply water to the PWD for treatment and
distribution. The losses in water distribution at 17 crores is
negligible compared to New Delhi and government has plans to provide
24X 7 water supply in urban areas to avoid low pressure seepages then
there are plans for providing sewage connections at less than 50% of
the water bill and lower still to old house, and avoiding defecating
in the open. Streamlining the department and increasing the staff
strength at the lower level was on the anvil and better services
would be introduce by giving incentives.
It is true that all this will curb the inefficiency in the water
department and sanitation but in what way the NRI NRG is concerned
with this infrastructure one wondered.
The health presentation was by a selective group of speciality
treatment but then many felt that those close to the power centre
were called up to give a presentation and many others were left out
this does not bode well said an emminent doctor from Porvorim a
non Goan married to a Goan lady.
There were several stalls on health and tourism ayurveda and
homoepathy but the stall of the Department of Agriculture and South
Goa Public Interest action group a Margao based NGO was impressive
with the depiction of age old traditional earthen ware and dress wear
of niz Goencars.
The special cultural programme was witnessed by a small gathering but
it had a collective view of all the traditional Goan items the
bhajan, dulpod, mando, dhalo, fugdi. Many of the NRGs were never
exposed to the jagor and dhodemodni and were seen questioning whether
they belonged to Goa. Mr Pratapsing Rane leader of the Opposition was
present on the ocassion.
What was out of place was an Hindi street play which was scorned off
by the NRGs and wondered who had made the choice of this non Goan
affair amidst together for Goa the theme of this Sammelan.
>From the Kala Academy
Godfrey J I Gonsalves
Borda Margao
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
3/1/2005
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