I read Wendell Rodricks' article (and other posts) on this topic with interest
and CONCUR ON SOME points with all of them. There are many areas where things
are easier said than done. While much of what is written in targeted to the
Diaspora Goan (and that is good), Goan Diasporas cannot come to and into Goa,
and make sure the needs and projects are implemented FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF
MANY.
In my limited experience, Goans in key positions are often the bottle-necks in
spite of their pious pronouncements. I can of course talk of generalities and
be accused of being an arm-chair Goan. So let me give specific examples without
wanting to beat my drum. I am NOT pointing a finger at any individual. Yet
there is definitely a pattern that is discouraging. And I hope this is a call
to do better.
1. A few thousand-dollar donation made to Goa Sudharop for use for a hospital
in Porvorim is still sitting in a bank in San Francisco for three years.
2. A book written on Goan culture and other factual information about Goa for
the Goan Diasporas is still way under-utilized becasue the WGD organizers and
other Goan Diaspora organizations "could care less."
3. Fund raising for repairs of Goan churches cannot be undertaken at Catholic
Goan social events in the Diaspora because the organizers claim, "there is no
time for this."
4. Suggestion to set up diabetes support groups in various villages in Goa
with blood sugar monitors donated by Diaspora Goans has yet to see the light of
day.
5. A Goan maritime museum now started on the web, gets interest from only a
handful of Goans; and no interest from the youth, for whose benefit museums are
created.
6. Instead of targeting Goan school drop-outs, who will be the next generation
of underprivileged (class of) Goans, we endlessly talk of and re-create caste
divisions of old.
7. A web-forum of Goan writers is possibly being closed down due to "only rare
posts from Goan writers."
Please let me stop here before I step on a few more toes.
Wendell's suggestions are good on paper. That's the story of Goans!
Please do not respond to me or about me; but to the issues raised in this post.
As stated above, we can certainly do better.
Kind Regards, GL
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Wendell Rodricks expresses his SOLIDARITY with Goans world wide in his
message
* GOANS WITHOUT BOUNDARIES *
Goa needs the Goan Diaspora more today than ever before. While we continue to
live our cultural heritage, it is sad to see the deterioration of the land and
Goan values. Corruption, neglect and apathy has taken its toll on Goa. It is
in this area than you my fellow Goans in the Diaspora can help.
Expose our wrongdoers. Praise the ones who work for a cause. At the moment we
have a garbage problem. Talk out it in the national and foreign press. It is
a matter that needs to be rectified. Goa's main earner is tourism. It is at
stake if the garbage issue is not addressed.
Donate information, not money ~ Very often Goans in Goa need information and
technology more than a donation in cash. Teach your villagers an alternate
method. Talk about new technologies. Gift a computer-aided gizmo to your
local Panchayat.
Contribute constructively ~ Restore a section of the temple or church
personally (or have a trusted person do it). Build a library for the villages.
Pay for cataract operations for the old. Do your bit in small ways by doing
and not donating. It is important to do what the people need. So ask around
first. People who live in Goa have different needs. Sometimes all they will
ask for is if someone can help them carry their bazaar from the city to the
village.
Begin a corpus fund for Goa ~ If every Goan worldwide donated a dollar, it
would be a staggering 1 million a month. That is 12 million a year.
Sufficient money for the Diaspora Goans to build a hospital or bridge, make
roads and solve a garbage disposable problem for
the entire state. Sufficient money to make your case heard among those in power
in the state.
Repair and restore the old homes ~ They are heritage monuments. Please
restore them and rent them in season to your own friends. Ignore family
disputes. Just do it. I saved my grandmothers house from ruin and the
emotional satisfaction was enormous. Take an active part in Goan culture. I
know many Goans who make silent contributions to Goan art, literature, music
and dance. These are our cultural pillars. They need to be strengthened. We
can only go forward if we realize the rich culture we have inherited.
Do not condemn Goa ~ Work for it. Too many Diaspora Goans come to Goa and
only criticize the way things are and how the locals do nothing for Goa.
Please remember that local Goans live in a climate of resignation. So instead
of criticising, do something constructive.
Protect the Goan environment ~ Even from across the border, you can save Goa's
air, land and water. Keep your Goan friends updated with information by email.
We need modern information on how to save and improve Goa's natural assets.
For all of you who do any of the above,
God bless you
Viva Goa !!!
