I agree wholeheartedly with what other Goanetters have written about the proposed NRI commissioner and the Annual convention. A bureaucrat is chosen by the Government to be the NRI Facilitator or Commissioner. The person chosen has never worked and lived abroad, knows absolutely nothing about the problems that NRIs face when they come to Goa, and is totally un-responsive to queries. Whether the person is called the Facilitator or Commissioner, what are his duties and responsibilities ? Will he or she be there on a daily basis or at least on published dates and time sof the week to interact with NRI s? Each year, a grand 3-day celebration is held at tax-payers expense, where bureaucrats outnumber the mere handful of NRIs and everyone congratulates each other on having organized a successful event. The name of the event is Gomant Vishwa Samelan. A great name if one is a Hindi speaker, but absolutely meaningless to many if not most NRIs form Goa. Have there been positive measurable outcomes from previous conventions ? If so, what are they ? Does the NRI center have a well defined vision and mission statement ? How many NRI have they assisted in prior years ? I spend part of the year in Goa, and have spoken to a few NRIs. Everyone I have encountered, like me, does not plan to attend the Samelan, which they consider a waste of their time. I am sure that the money spent on this event could be better utilized in addressing a host of other pressing issues in Goa, such as garbage management and disposal, crime, water shortages etc. However it is hard to change the hidebound ways of bureaucrats and their sense of self-importance. This year we have a worthwhile alternate event to attend. The annual Goa Sudharop award giving event on 3rd January 2006. I am sure I will see a lot of NRIs there.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
