Ethel Dacosta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in her column in Herald last week.
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Heart to heart By Ethel da Costa
When Goa calls 'Utt Goenkara�
Fellow Goans,
Salutations! But first a `Thank You� to the Almighty for the gift of words. The dogged commitment in the pursuit of truth (some tough choices too). And the constant strength of self-evaluation and dedication to the pen that is NOT for sale. Not for any price.
When the mind is unshackled by fear and experience it teaches you lessons in sniffing an opportunist from a genuine soul, it is time for every Goenkar to do a thorough soul check. If the questions that it throws up causes you discomfort and distress, understand that the buck stops with you. Simple. Clear.
The five sacrosanct principles of responsible, ethical journalism � Who, What, Why, When, Where � also applies to our day-to-day living. It would do much to use the same principles to bring about accountability in our public lives too.
Right now, we are dealing with a bunch of shamsters. The 'Yes Sir, Yes Sir. Two bags full Sir,� brigade actively colluding, abetting and orchestrating a symphony of organised corruption in the guise of good governance. The earlier voices of concern have been drowned. Now, rules are flouted with arrogance and scant respect is accorded to the written word of law. They are convinced it is their prerogative to bend and break rules, because the boss says so. Also because they are actually convinced we are all lame, ignorant ducks waiting to be led up the rosy path of enlightenment. And they, the chosen ones, to lead us up the path of glory.
Knights in Goa�s 'shining� armour. Councilors and sundry benders with recyclable purchase value. The system sucks. For once, this sarcasm is causing me deep pain.
Dear Goenkar, it is time you start thinking for yourself. To use the faculties of your mind intelligently (because Goans are capable men and women of intelligence, yet kept intentionally dumb to suit political pocket lining). Let those rose petals fall off, to see beyond the years of brainwashing Goans have subjected their minds to, believing that everything is hunky dory with the modern look and new paint jobs on old walls. There is a systematic whitewashing exercise conducted at the subliminal level to ensure Goa is a `model� state for a much higher agenda. The agenda is very simple, hint my former college mates settled in Gujarat.
A systematic cleansing of potential voices of dissent that don�t 'fall in,� that don�t 'conform� who don�t `toe the line.� On the contrary, they would be happy if you didn�t 'think� at all. Hence, the intelligent collective elevation to a state of supreme bliss � give the peasants their gardens, give them their music, give them their festivals, give them their pau, pork and feni. If our taps are running dry (and they�re already dry this early March in Panjim), it�s because the authorities are seriously contemplating water harvesting in summer! If our sewage systems are falling apart, it is because the Portuguese were foolish, shortsighted ignoramuses and hence let�s do away with the heritage buildings and rename streets.
Or better still, glorify and use them as PR exercises. Too many illegal concrete extensions in the city? No sweat. Let�s form a committee, ask for more funds to conduct extensive documentation (so they can differentiate between the 'yield� and the 'yield not�). Once the backbreaking dirty job is relegated to black and white, sincere people committed to setting the system straight are dropped cold, without so much as a notice or letter to do the honours. Different yardsticks are applied to different people. Power games with the carrot or stick.
Letters that bypass illegal construction, while the small time are harassed to close down. Back dated letters, unjustified sanctions for the 'favoured��.it�s a Pandora�s box. I�m sure Patricia Pinto agrees.
Unlike previous governments so blase about everything, the new improved accomplices have a sophisticated modus operandi in bribe taking. Yup, they�re not immune to straight-faced side pocket money (as we�ve been told otherwise) given the rising number of files on desks these days. If you are one of those on the brink of losing your livelihood, because your file of pending bills won�t move despite exhausting your resources and patience, than good luck to you. I�ve met a couple of such victims. The Corporation recently charged up a hefty Rs 1 lakh to a Hollywood film production house who wanted to use public facilities (the CCP says Rs 50,000) while the general public was put to untold inconveniences) even as funds accumulated through taxation, illegal parking etc., find themselves periodically channelised into self-promotional activities/ festivals/ tea parties.
Personally, I�m all for people festivals (I do them too). But I�m against lop-sided priorities. Not when the city has pressing issues of health, sanitation, construction illegalities, water shortages (what happened to all talk about water harvesting?) vandalism and a lack of transparency in public works that affect the common man that needs to be dealt with. To give credit where due, the Corporation has done some fantastic work. However, rather than coming across as an organisation blowing its own trumpet, leave the festivals to individuals/societies and concentrate on cleaning up your act.
Please, let�s not twist this criticism to suit petty interests or egos. I�m simply not interested in resorting to ego-inflating techniques. The truth hurts.I know that too. These concerns are genuine. Having worked with the Corporation closely, there are good people who need to be encouraged to stick to the straight and narrow. Yes, despite the pressures to 'toe the line.� Because it is healthy for the mind, conscience and heart to look at the larger picture, realistically. The greater Goan good. And let nobody compromise on that. If we�re looking for honest people (we need more selfless people in Goa who put words into action), then stand up and be counted.
This state-of-mind follows the council meeting I attended last week at the city hall. The meeting was an eye-opener. I would sincerely encourage more citizens to attend these meetings to learn the truth. This way, it would bring about more visibility, accountability and responsibility in the functioning of public servants. Yes, the dirt is thick behind the facelift. And the common man taken for granted and a ride, simply because of his/her lack of information. Goa�s day light robberies are happening under our very noses, because of our non-involvement in questioning authorities that serve the State. We must demand total transparency.
We, the people, have to set these wheels into motion.
It is a plea of awakening I wish to make. To get every Goenkar who cares for his soil, who respects the fabric of secularism, who toils hard for his livelihood and often gets kicked in the back � WAKE UP! The stink is in your veranda, so stop looking at your neighbour�s backyard. Let the 'Why and How� flow. I do. Everytime. Even if it causes to tread toes. Your concerns are misread. And you figure in more 'hate lists.�
You have the right, fellow Goans, to know what happens to the exorbitant taxes you pay the government. Specially how they use it, where and why. You have the right of say to agree or disagree to a project that will burden you and your grandchildren to pay the debts incurred in the name of 'European� development. You have the right to reject or accept a political candidate, if you suspect him of devious plans, especially if your land and dignity is at stake. You have the right to demand better, clean and efficient public hospitals, ambulance services to save lives, subsidized medicines to heal diseases, thrown up periodically by the bugs that feast on garbage, open sewage and badly maintained drains. And let�s not forget malaria. You have the right to question the government and public servants for plans they hide from the people using legal books. You have the right to a healthy debate, just as a sincere government encourages healthy participation of ideas and suggestions from its people. It is because of our silence that the Right to Information Act has been reduced to a callous piece of paper, because the law has no teeth in making the GSIDC and the CCP accountable for its acts of omission and commission, despite crores of rupees passing to-and-fro for developmental works.
Similarly, with the IFFI almost on our heads, plans are also afoot for the destruction of picturesque Dona Paula, the riverfront of Panjim and the quaint boulevard of Campal with the fly-over and four-lane project (and there goes the axe on our rain trees again), given the fact that Dean D�Cruz�s eco-friendly plan has been dumped into the sewage overflowing in the Mandovi. Add dust and exhaust pollution flying straight into your soup bowls. That�s if the resident from Campal makes it for lunch in one piece, given speeding vehicular traffic on the proposed four-lane. I totally agree when my former senior colleague in journalism, Rajan Narayan calls this act the `beastification of Panjim.� A zoo would complete the scene.
Strangely enough, 99.9% of the people have no clue what the IFFI will do for the common man on the street in terms of employment, inflation, escalating prices and through-the-roof standard of living. Simply because empowering the common man with information has never been the government�s priority � in the past and present. Why are you then fellow Goenkar, taking everything lying down?
The decision today is to be the vigilant watchdog, otherwise resigned to being tied to a leash in the backyard. Snap those chains and assume watch over the front door. It is not wrong to think from the heart.
Utt Goenkara! Utt!
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