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HEART TO HEART (Herald - 16th October)
BY ETHEL DA COSTA
Say 'Yes' to the `Clean Goa Initiative'
It seems to be that time of the year when you're suddenly woken up to take
stock. The unrest in your heart finds a motive for action, energizing your
body with adrenalin. The voices inside you find a platform, and as you
forge on this self discovery you find that there are people willing to
listen. To lend a hand. Willing to go the extra mile to contribute towards
a healthy, humane society.
Every initiative starts with a 'Yes.' It's just a matter of time when
conviction turns it into 'We Can.' That's how Wendell woke me up one early
Sunday morning to tell me that we had to do, what we had to do for Goa. The
time was now. The time was right. When I got to my email, there was a
letter waiting from Margaret. Goa had had her share of rubbish upto her
gills. The people of Curca had had their share of filth shoved down their
throat. Calangute-Candolim-Baga had no idea what to do with their waste.
Panjim was gagging with the stench and Colvale ready and up in arms if
another truck sneaked by with plastic and garbage for their hills.
An initiative can turn into mass momentum if fueled by people power.
Unfortunately, a section of the media has been more interested in
'snubbing' the issue rather than taking the problem to the streets and
seeking immediate redressal. Garbage is not a `celebrity' issue. It affects
the lives of the common man. Sure, it took a celebrity to bring the issue
to the national forefront, even as we were getting pretty comfortable
barking and getting back into the doghouse with no action.
The mantra of any evolving community is the ability of its people to
question authority. Because it takes more than just a government to keep
the wheels of an economy grinding. This slow awakening is our first step
towards declaring 'NO' to garbage. It has begun. It is a `Yes' to Clean
Goa. And it's about time.
As Goa decks up yet again donning the war paint to host the 36th
International Film Festival of India, no fancy cars and glittering dinners
will quieten the disquiet stirring in the homes of the people of Curca and
Colvale as more trucks head their way laden with the garbage of the city.
The villagers do not care about the foreign delegates. They do not care
about the awards. They do not care about stars canoodling under the palm
trees or going ga-ga over prawn balchao. Surely, the film festival has
given Goa the credit she deserves internationally as the unrivalled jewel
of the country. She is, undoubtedly. But the needs of the people of Goa
still continue to be basic. Safe drinking water, uninterrupted power
supply, competitive education and a healthy environment for growth continue
to be our priorities. The `Clean Goa Initiative' seeks to find solutions to
diffuse Goa's humungous garbage time-bomb through a solution driven public
campaign at the Mermaid Garden on October 17 (a peaceful rally will begin
from the Church Square, 5.30pm onwards to the garden) even as the
government struggles to find solutions to Goa's waste management. But does
it only take a government to make a healthy State? What is our contribution
in maintaining vigilance? Have we educated ourselves enough on how not to
generate excess garbage? Are we brushing up on our civic responsibility as
bonafide citizens? It is us, the people of Goa, who must now step forward
and assist in finding solutions at our own grassroot levels through
self-help community programmes and initiatives, since every government in
Goa has failed to identify and work towards providing long term solutions
that could buffer Goa's economic prosperity.
You and I are equally responsible to ensure that we are alert of the ways
in which the government spends the tax-payers money. You and I must doubly
ensure that the government spends wisely on providing basic infrastructure
to enhance our quality of life. You and I must assist in building a society
that seeks solutions. When we are vigilant at home can we rise up to being
vigilant citizens of the world. The Chief Minister offers sincere
assistance in solution finding, but it is the people of Goa with the help
of the media (too much negative press lately only blinds readers towards
more prejudices, instead of getting to the bottom of the problem), who must
ensure that the government keeps its commitment strong (Goa needs garbage
treatment plants and desperately). And that we all join hands and work
toward building a healthy, safe Goa for the children of tomorrow. Time to
join forces of conviction and selflessness to walk Goa proudly towards the
21st century.
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| 1st Young Goans International Essay contest 2005 |
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| Theme: WHAT CAN I DO FOR GOA |
| More details at |
| http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/034190.html |
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