------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to the FRIDAY BALCAO Read the Balcao Synopsis on the website http://www.goadesc.org/balcao/ ------------------------------------------------------
Dear Cybergaokars on GoaNet, Friday Balcao the fortnightly discussion event to be held on 23rd September will focus on a Consumer Manifesto for the Goa Municipal Elections. Elections will be held on 23rd October for most of the Municipal Councils of the State. Over the past few years besides the instability in some of the Councils there have been many questions being raised about governance as well as about the accountability & transparency in these local bodies. The Councils are governed by the Goa Municipalities Act 1968 and the Amendment Act of 1993 and 1997. The Councils therefore have yet to get full benefits of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA) 1992. Matters such as water supply, public health, fire services, urban forestry, garbage management, sanitation, parking, roads, street lights, inspection of eating houses/restaurants, regulation of constructions, markets, safeguarding the interests of the weaker sections, slum improvement etc. need to be handled by the Municipal Councils. So also the Councils need to have development plans for each and every ward wherein the voters who are residents of the area are consulted in the preparation of the same. These Municipal Elections offer the voters an opportunity to come forward with a civic and consumer manifesto which would pose a challenge to all the candidates in the fray Can these elections be also an opportunity to demand for a new legislation to govern the Municipalities in Goa ? Will the Councillors really be able to work for the local bodies becoming accountable and decentralized ? What kind of civic and consumer issues need to be addressed in the manifesto ? How can the 18 functions of the Council as well as the need for ward committees be tackled through the Manifestos ? The Balcao discussion will cover these questions and also evolve an agenda for action by citizens on the issue. Friday Balcao will be from 4pm to 6pm at the Goa Desc Resource Centre No.11 Liberty Apartments Feira Alta, Mapusa and is open to members of the public. We invite you to express your viewpoint by attending the Friday Balcao event but if you cannot attend, then please send your views and action plan suggestions by post to FRIDAY BALCAO Post Box 78, Mapusa 403 507 or by email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Those of you who would like to receive the regular invitation to Friday Balcao and a one page synopsis of the fortnightly session can subscribe for the same by sending Rs.100/- to cover printing and mailing costs. best wishes, Roland Martins ======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ======================================= -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.1/104 - Release Date: 9/16/2005
