----- > The Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) > is organizing a Workshop on Civic and Consumers Issues > and the forthcoming Municipal Elections. > > The Workshop seeks to bring together various citizens initiatives > to discuss experiences at the ground level of governance, > transparency and accountability in Municipal Councils as well > as to address civic and consumer issues for Neighbourhood/ > Ward level manifestos. > > Hi all, > > Today I attended the workshop of the GOACAN(Goa consumer and civic issues -) > at Margao and I really have to commend the tireless work of Roland Martins > and his team of enthusiastic workers .He is one man who never gives up. > > The program began on time,a proper schedule was maintained and it ended on > time , unlike susssegad goan functions and events.Participants were > encouraged ,motivated ,challenged to do their bit for Goa.Participants > expressed their rage at corruption and an ineffective Government and they > also gave their suggestions on an action plan for the future. > > Many of the citizens forums expressed their helplessness about one > particular issue - "the apathy of the people". > > Given the present political scenario,the only thing one can do, is make a > noise - individually or collectively.We cannot afford to be bystanders any > more - garbage infested Goa is really going to the dogs,cats and all manner > of vermin. > > I find that through civic forums like "Goacan" we can question authorities > and make them accountable.Nothing else seems to work.Futile though the > struggle might seem,it is the only solution that seems to be somewhat > working. > > I urge people to be more involved in their local communities.We need to come > out of our cocoons,we need to come out of hibernation ,we need to question > what is happening around us.We need to make democracy work. > > > Cheers, > > Melinda Coutinho Powell >
