---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Arwin Mesquita <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Jan 21, 2008 12:52 AM Subject: My Proposal to Save Goan Culture, Land & Identity To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], goa world < [EMAIL PROTECTED]>, goa world <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Goa World Canada <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Goan Alliance < [EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Goansw <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Dear Goans, At the Last NRI Global Goan Convention in January 2007, I queried the then Goa Government (Dr. Wilfred D'Souza, Mr. Digambar Kamat & Mr. Dayanand Narverkar) at the Secretariat, on the issue of preserving Goan Land, Culture & Identity; and asked how Overseas Goans can help in the same. At that point, I was requested by the NRI Commissioner Mr. Eduardo Faliero & The then Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Wilfred D'Souza to give a proposal for the same to the Goa Government. Please see my proposal below. I have followed up with the NRI commissioner to get a reply from the Goa Government at his visit to Abu Dhabi in December 07; and his office has promised to help at the earliest. To, Dr. Wilfred D'Souza, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Goa. From, Arwin Mesquita, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Dated: 03rd Feb 2007. Respected Sir, As it was requested at the Global Goans Convention, in presence of Mr. Eduardo Faliero, Commissioner of NRI Affairs; please see my proposal below to save Goan Identity. Set up a Goa Government Committee to preserve Goan Identity and initiate the below: (1) Urgent Dialogue with Government of India.(Very Important) - Initiate a Government Committee to start an urgent dialogue with the Government of India on how to protect Goan Identity, Culture & Land. Given the fact, that we are a small population and cannot afford to take in so much migration & sell out land to non-goans, at such a rapid rate. Most other states can manage to keep their identity, as their populations/states are larger. - I think that the Indian Government has an obligation to protect Goan Identity; since they had liberated Goa for the better. (2) Global and Local Awareness Programme. - Start an awareness programme on the need for Overseas Goans to return home, invest & help preserve our Identity; before its too late!! - Start an awareness programme for Local & Overseas Goans on the ill effects of selling Land/Prized Houses to Outsiders and the negative implications, it will cause for Goa's Future and its Children. (3) Culture and Language. - Make it mandatory or offer incentives to promote Goan Culture aggressively vs. other cultures. - Setup an action plan to effectively promote Goan Language and Culture. (4) Opportunities within the Indian Constitution. - Appoint a legal team to look at opportunities within the Legal Framework and Indian Constitution, on how Goa can protect its Identity & Land. There has to be something in the constitution to protect communities; where there is a real threat to its respective identity? (5) Land - Setup a Land Bank to preserve Land that can only be Sold to Goans. - Stop all land sales to Foreigners and investigate/ nullify any transfers done in the past. - Investigate all big projects thoroughly to ensure all norms are met before approval; Housing Complexes particularly that are not in the interests of Goans, should not be approved/passed i.e. ones that will not largely accommodate Goans permanently. -Set up an professional anonymous hot line to report any land violations to a vigilance cell in the Government i.e. Agricultural Land Conversions etc I strongly feel we should do something now, when we are in the majority and before its too late!! This committee I am proposing can also start getting ideas/suggestions from Goans (Local & Global) on how Best to preserve Goan Identity, Culture, Land & Language. Appreciate if you can please help address this very important issue urgently and let me have a reply at the earliest. Yours Sincerely, Arwin Mesquita, UAE.
