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Contact Rosario Fernandes - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Testing Times Are Here Again. Deliver us from all evil, I pray The children in school have finished their 'Prelims', as the Preliminary Examinations are popularly called, and are readying themselves for the Goa Board of Education's final examinations to get their SSC or HSSC marks cards as proof of their fitness to progress up the academic ladder. In days of yore, the Prelims were known as the 'Form exam'. One had to conform to the minimum standards to be permitted to fill the form of application for the Board examination. Those who did not make the grade had to prepare for another year, and another examination. Filling of an election nomination was no different. One had to conform to the "Party" standards and only after the preliminary testing of one's loyalty to the party credo was one given the "B Form" to be a party candidate. Nowadays, the Prelim is a formality and the party credo is non existent, save the 'winnability' and availability factors. One cannot find the word 'winnability' in any standard dictionary: it is purely a local political jargon. It is the difference between a party ticket and rebellion or submission to the Wizard of Oz-like "High Command". The irony of electoral politics is that, while we put school students to the test for clearing a single year, we succumb to temptation while electing an MLA or a Panch for messing up a period of five years. There are no prelims to test whether the candidate is fit for the main exam. While an IAS officer who serves under these elected Legislators has to be a graduate and undergo a Preliminary exam, a Main exam and an interview to boot, the people's representative only has to win at the polling booth. He needs no educational qualifications. He does not require any skill with the exclusion of manipulation or coercion or both. In fact, she or he needs no qualifications, save 'winnability'. There are no striking gender differences, except if it is a constituency reserved for women. After the success of the first phase of the Goa Bachao Abhiyan , or the Save Goa Campaign, there have been strident calls for the GBA to join the electoral fray. The GBA has successfully inspired the people of Goa to achieve their objective of getting the Regional Plan de-notified. It has had a 'ripple effect' in far flung places as Vathadev in Bicholim or Canaguinim in Quepem or Loliem in Canacona. It has awakened a sleeping giant within the Goan community. Should it succumb to the temptation that finished Praful Kumar Mahanta and the Asom Gana Parishad? Should a "People's Movement' mutate into a political entity? Winnability is just one issue. There is sustainability and desirability from the social point of view that need to be considered. Closer home, what was the UGDP experience as seen from perspectives of its elected triumvirate: Matanhy, Miccky and Babush? An interaction with a cross section of people in Goa [not necessarily born in Goa or of Goan parentage, but registered voters just the same] yielded the following as the top priority: Shift back to English as a "Medium of instruction" in schools, beginning with Std I from June 2008, till all primary schools [private and government run] are in English medium. Some wanted Konkani or Marathi to be a compulsory second language in all classes up to Std. IV and third language in all classes thereafter up to SSC to retain the cultural roots. Others felt that English was enough in the 'Global village'. It is becoming increasingly difficult to teach the students in English and to get the graduates to write a single sentence without spelling or grammatical errors. It is not a problem of script, unlike Konkani, it is about basic knowledge of the language. Computer proficient personnel are often stuck with 'Spell check' choices like 'persecute, prosecute and prostitute'. Blame it on the medium of instruction, if you like, but what does one do if the wrong word is put before one's own name in a judicial charge sheet? Improvement in public transport and/or parking facilities within cities is a second most common priority while improvement in eco-friendly garbage disposal is a healthy third. Planned development of urban and rural areas, with a focus on the needs of the local people first and future in-migrants thereafter, is perhaps a product of the Save Goa Campaign. It was not articulated earlier, though improvement in public water, electricity and roads were on the agenda. Preparation of a "Vision Plan" for Goa, incorporating therein the projected growth in employment opportunities, matching educational facilities, input requirements, production of goods and services as well as the infrastructural needs to support it all, is proposed by those who are familiar with the planning process. The common man wants introduction of courses suitable for training youth to meet the projected employment opportunities in Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Pharma and IT industries.The Gaunkars want the Communidades revived while others want a review and revision of the Mundkar Act, 1967 with a reversion of uncultivated tenanted agricultural lands to the original owners to boost the sluggish agricultural sector in Goa. Can we get our potential MLA candidates to state their views on these issues and get the electronic media to document their words of wisdom for future use? Miguel Braganza's column at: http://www.goanet.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=482 =========================================================== The above article appeared in the February 16, 2007 edition of Gomantak Times, Goa