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Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660
Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/
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GOACAN calls for Voter Consultation Meetings
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Every five years voters are called to participate in an exercise of
choosing a candidate who when elected as Member of the Legislative
Assembly (MLA) will represent all the voters of the Constituency with
regards the various issues affecting them.
The MLA is also expected to legislate in the Goa Assembly and in
doing so take special interest in highlighting the issues of the voters
from the constituency. Unfortunately the experience of the voters
has been very negative as the candidate once elected as a MLA
fails to keep in touch with the voters of the constituency, more over
experience shows that the MLA spends time only consulting a
coterie of party workers or election campaign agents and worse
still undertakes personal favours & executes projects to suit
this coterie.
The Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN)
calls upon citizens to vote keeping in mind these experiences
and demand from all the candidates accountability and transparency
that Democracy demands.
If change has to take place then the common persons civic and
consumer issues must be centre stage of any manifesto put
forward by any candidate. After an election, history has shown us
that the VOTER is totally forgotten and therefore left out of the
decision making process. This must change and a beginning
can be made in this forthcoming by-elections
GOACAN appeals to voters in Taleigao, Cumbarjua, Benaulim,
Margao and Poinguinim to See, Judge and Act so as to change
the way citizens are treated in the democratic process. In this
direction GOACAN appeals to voters to demand:
1. that all candidates contesting this by-election must keep
constant touch with voters, post election results.
2. that the elected MLA must convene Voter Consultation Meetings
on a Quarterly basis to be held in the Village Panchayats and
Municipal jurisdictions of the constituency.
3. that a regular agenda of civic and consumers issues be taken
up at these meetings.
4. that all losing candidates from political parties as well as
independents must attend these meetings and act as a
constructive opposition.
5. that these voter consultation meetings be held prior to every
session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
6. that all Ordinances, proposed amendments to Acts and new
legislation proposed, be discussed at these meetings.
7. that an Action Taken Report (ATR) on a quarterly basis
be submitted by the MLA at these meetings
8. that all candidates offering constructive opposition must also
prepare & present agenda points at these meetings.
9. that the MLA ensures that all Village Panchayats and Municipal
Councils in the constituency have a subscription copy of the
Goa Gazette for ready reference by the citizens.
10. that the Garbage Management Committees under the
Chairmanship of the MLA be setup in all the Village
Panchayats and Municipal Councils in the constituency
under the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage Control Act.
11. that the MLA supports the proper functioning of the
Government constituted District Planning Committee (DPC )
headed by the Zilla Panchayat Chairperson as per the
Goa Panchayat Raj Act.
12. that the MLA ensures the immediate finalization and legislative
approval of the revised Goa Municipal Act so that citizens can
derive benefit of the 74th Constitutional amendment.
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GOACAN Press Release 25/05/05
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GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK
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an initiative of GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE
to promote civic and consumer rights in Goa
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GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507
Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
website: www.goacan.org
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