The land to the Tiller act as was pointed out by a goanetter is very different from the nebulous one that protects tenants like the one described below by Wilson. As stated by Miguel for all its benefits and all its successes in other states (and here Tariq has a point when he writes about the Zamindaris) the land to the Tiller Act did very little good to anyone expect the few who could usurp land from the Communidades. Ironically although a few deserving tillers did get to keep the lands that they had tilled and toiled over for generations its the many landlords who were 'members' of these communidades or who had a say in its working who were the ones who reaped the bounty! During the building boom many 'green' lands were turned into residential areas by builders and politicians (like corals they live symbiotically!) who in turn fed some detritus to these small time batkars and gaukars who were part of the communidades. Its only as I write this that I realize how similar this set up is to the marine food chain!! Seems like the only one who do any work are the Tillers who unfortunately are at the bottom of the food chain for I haven't heard of anyone getting rich from growing rice in Goa. Perhaps the Mundar act which like many laws has also been abused may have served to ameliorate the disproportionate ownership of land and the homeless got to own their houses and to improve them. I think that is a human right. I say this although my family has been battered and bruised by this law. Its up to the judicial system to make sure that this law which was created precisely to grant a home and respect to every person is not abused. As for Wilson I do sympathize with you and I do hope you get your home back. Oddly, I know of plenty of people in Goa and elsewhere who live in rented apartments especially in cities to which they cling tenaciously much to the despair of their landlords while at the same time cry until they are blue in the face because they are losing their house or land elsewhere. They neither see the humor nor the irony of their situation. And its not only Catholic landlords who are the victims and Hindu who are the land grabbers and Keralites who rent from these unscrupulous sorts - its an abuse of laws that has affected everyone and its up to our judges to understand the laws and to apply them and its up to the government to protect the Communidade lands from the symbionts!!!!!!!!
----- Original Message ----- From: "WILSON SOARES" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 2:54 AM Subject: Re: [Goanet]Land to the Owner's Act > When I was young and my dad running the show, he felt > sorry for this Hindu family as they had no house of > ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
