A possible recipe for Change: IN GOA FIRST

It was like a whiff of fresh air, away from the beaten track. Normally one community criticies the other for the various ills of the country. But last month, "The Goan Observer", a weekly, saw a prominent Hindu businessman Datta Naik pillorying the religious and political bigots from his own religion. He attacked their right to speak for moderate Hindus like him, and questioned their decision to say that Hindus alone are patriotic. He went a step further to ridicule discrimination amongst Hindus based on caste.
This I feel is the best way to combat communal, religious and political bigots. It is the moderate forces within each religious group that has to stand up and put the bigots within that religious group in their place. It would now be very difficult for these bigots to question the credentials of Mr. Naik. Similarly, as a Christian I feel it is time the Christians took a stand and distanced themselves from religious politics. It is time the Church took a Christian look at politics to save this crumbling edifice of public morality called politics. These unscrupulous and corrupt Christian politicians also use caste and community to further their own agendas with the church acting as a silent spectator.

Accusing the church of being a silent spectator to the sordid behavior of these so-called Catholic elected representative would be too mild. By omission or commission, it is unfortunate that the church actually participates actively in making these politicians pillars of our society. These corrupt politicians contribute financially to Church activities and in return are given pride of place in Church affairs. So how can one blame the youth for taking up the path of such leaders? What example is this for the youth, who emulate the “rags to riches” successes story of these elected representatives? We in turn create more corrupt leaders rather than grooming better leaders. The Church needs to break this vicious cycle.

There is little doubt that the church hierarchy -- and not Christian individuals -- ought to take the imitative. This is because Christians have an advantage by having Pope as the one religious leader. Then, there are the Bishops, who together form the Catholic Bishops Conference of India. Under this leadership, and with the Church network to back its decisions, it is indeed much easier to give the entire community, even the society, direction.

In the recent Lok Sabba elections in, until about two weeks before the election, I would not have wagered Re 1 on the Congress candidate. At least until the Church stepped in. Why the Church intervened I am not certain, but I am happy they did.. The intervention was in a veiled manner by way of issuing guidelines to voters not to vote for communal parties. Of course, no party was named. Come results, and the Congress candidate won by a thumping majority. That is the power of the Church. It did two things right -- first, gave its flock direction. Second, it trusted its flock to decide.

Recently, media reported of widespread protests by Catholic groups against a movie. They protested evidently because it depicted Catholics in a bad light. Are we not wasting our energies on inconsequential protests? Do real life Catholic politicians who cheat, are corrupt and communal not depicting Catholics in bad light, then how come there are no protests. Maybe we have come to accept this situation as a way of life.

It is time now for the Church to give its flock direction, by discarding, banishing and evicting corrupt politicians. This message must go out loud and clear at every opportunity. Then, let the people decide. People are aware of corrupt politicians, even those running illegal rackets. The media can play an important role of providing information on politicians. Together, the Church and the media can play an important role in cleaning society of corrupt and communal politicians.

You can be sure this is one time when corrupt politician will not want to face people’s verdict. The judicial courts may allow him to get away scot free, but with proper direction and information, the verdict of people’s court will sound the death knell for the immoral holding public office.

The communal side of the corrupt politician will argue that this will allow politicians of other religions to come to power. So be it, we do not want corrupt Christian politicians to be in power. Just because a Christian politician says the rosary does not give him the right to garner Christian votes. Christian votes should be for a politician who has a Christian way of life, irrespective of religious affiliation. This is what I meant by asking the church to shift from Catholic perspective to Christian politics.

The church can do it if we again consider the example available in the places I have lived in Mumbai, Aurangabad and Pune – predominantly Marathi speaking areas. Yet, 90 per cent of the religious services are in English. However, the church in Goa has decided to safeguard Konkani. So, while there are English masses, all children have to prepare for their first Holy Communion in Konkani because the church has decided that if they do not speak Konkani they are not Goans. Nowhere is it said that Catholics must speak Konkani. The point is, if required the church can and will doggedly follow its ideals, in this case to protect Konkani. So, if the church decides to cleanse public life it will have many soldiers who will execute these plans to the hilt.

When our non-Christian friends see us taking the lead in cleansing public life, they too will follow our example. Predictably, they will insist that their leaders on being non corrupt and non-communal.

I can see of no better way for the Church to play a reformist and active role, to bring Christian living in public life. As a Christian, one may sit back and say, `Well, let’s wait for the CHURCH to get its act together’. If your attitude is that, just remember, it is “CH” -- on the left and right “Ú”“R” in the middle. So more of us who are fed up with these corrupt and communal politicians must ask the church to step in and make the vital difference

CONTRIBUTE FOR A BETTER GOA

DRP2021: Your Opportunity to Act

The idea behind this article is to motivate as many to read the actual text and having read it, to make comments, suggestions and objections to the TCP Department. It in no way will attempt to be a synopsis of the actual document.

The RP task force was formed against a backdrop of the most successful people’s movement in recent times. Hence any group, starting a new exercise to frame the RP for Goa would have the people’s aspirations in front of them.

Still rather than depend on media reports and believe what was said during the agitation to be the people’s will, the TF opened it doors to individuals (letters also received), NGO’s, peoples rep, government departments who stated the situation and their future plans. It was a massive exercise, but the underlying appeal in all interactions was “Preserve Green & Golden Goa”. The TF attempted to keep minutes but to my mind an impossible task since the final product was arrived by listening, reading, discussion, email, changing, adding, subtracting in no particular order. My suggestion for future such exercises would be to video record every meeting for posterity.

Old wine in a new bottle seems to be the establishments response to the fact that Eco I and Eco II are marked accounting for almost 80% of Goa’s land area. What is different this time is it is marked and the map is available to every Tom, Dick and Bostiao. This was not true previously. Hence now that every one is aware it will be more difficult to manipulate on a case to case basis.

This reference to mapping brings me to what I consider the best part of RP2021. One thing that even if all else fails (which it will not) still the RP2021 will be a very progressive document. That one aspect is mapping. For the first time the maps have been digitized. The base document was the TOPOGRAPHICAL (topo) sheet and survey maps. These were correlated and reconciled. The reconciled maps were then cross checked with aerial and satellite to confirm the maps made.

These digitized maps have now been overlaid with plans/data of Government departments (power/ water) but more importantly map accurately the eco-senstitive zones of the State, non developable slopes have been identified, paddy field marked based on land revenue records. All this points to one thing: TRANSPERANCY FOR AAM ADMI. Earlier the 2D paper maps allowed for a great deal of ambiguity and flexibility for interpretation. They were not easily available, now the digitized maps will be available at every panchayat/ Taluka office.

The Draft RP 2021 also has not converted a square inch of land. The land use as shown in the maps is based on the RP2001, plus the approx 2000 gazette changes made after that and 1971 settlements which were not shown in RP2001 earlier. This implies that if you know a particular land was say an orchard and now in the DRP21 you notice it is showing as settlement, please notify the TCP department. They will check if what you say is true, because it is possible between 2001 and 2008, the land use might have been changed by a gazette notification. If there is no notification then the error can and must be rectified. The people must be vigilant; the TF has not changed any land use status. But the TF will accept that since the maps were built from scratch there is a possibility of errors creeping in. Doing a 100% check before releasing would have meant holding back the entire plan for eternity.

Coming back to the reason why we needed an RP: Planned, sustainable development. The TF has recommended that the Government develops the hinterland (midlands) to A) prevent the intra migration from Midlands to costal belt. B) Give opportunity to population around the areas selected. The hubs proposed are Pernem, Usgao-Dharbandora and Quepem. The logic was that these places lie on nodes created by the intersection of major roads or with the railway. The major road is the proposed bypass from Pernem to Canacona. This bypass would do two things it will take the load of the existing NH17, and two connect the hinterland better. Through traffic ie traffic passing through Goa could use this bypass and thus reduce the traffic congestion on NH17. By developing nodes industrially it would provide alternative job options for locals and they would not have to migrate to the coastal areas for livelihood.

The hubs have been designated as educational, medical, logistics and industrial. A cruise terminal and marinas have also been proposed to attract high end tourists. Given the unutilized land or buildings in industrial estates, the TF recommended IDC to look at their future acquisitions again. The acquisitions should only be in the areas around the proposed hubs and there should be transparency in allotment and utilization which was found lacking.

Despite objections from industry the DRP recommended restrictions on mining, due to the inherent nature of the business. Thus they felt that having mining activity near a water body or inside the forest would not fit the description of sustainable. An emphasis was made on biotechnology as it supports enhancing the agricultural activity which is important. Suggestions have been made to increase the agricultural land under cultivation. Chief among them is if a tenant keeps his land fallow, it should revert to the Government and then handed over to either a society or an individual who will till the same. This is actually an existing law which needs strong political will to be implemented.

Education was another area where despite Goa’s high literacy rate, the system was found wanting. The jobs and the education was mismatched. The jobs and the preferences were mismatched. For eg: why have steel units in the State when locals do not want to work in them, they also use a lot of Goa’s scarce resource- power. Hence in future, non polluting industry which Goans prefer to work in should be encouraged.

This can go on but that would distract the reader from the actual objective, which is to motivate the reader to pick up the DPR 2021 and get involved. This is your chance to participate in the future of this State, if you care. A copy of the DRP can be got form the TCP office on payment of Rs 400/- else visit the VP or Taluka office and see the same there. The exercise will end Feb 15, 2009. oppose if you must but be constructive and give an alternative. Awake dear friend, you have a lot at stake – “YOUR FUTURE”.