HEART TO HEART (Jan 29, 2006 - Herald) By Ethel Da Costa Stand up. Speak up.
'Reuse', 'Recycle'. 'Reduce', 'Segregate at Source'. 'Care for your city', 'Ban plastic bags', 'Compulsory composting'. 'Gag the bag', 'Do not litter', 'Compost wet waste', 'Empower your community'. These are the buzz words on my lips for February, as Panjim seeks the participation of her citizens to respond with responsibility. There is enough fire in our bellies to keep us going. But this is also about passion. And commitment. And responsibility. And education. And setting the right examples for the safekeeping of our cities. This is about taking stock as citizens, exercising our right to information, awareness and empowering the younger generation as responsible custodians of their community.
Having launched the 'Mission Chaka Chak Panaji' campaign with great conviction and zeal as a whole-hearted civic and community effort to deal with Panjim's garbage crisis (after all, what you think is what you are), the campaign joins the collective efforts of civic bodies and citizens to prove that the only way to find solutions is to respond with action, instead of reconciling with adversity. 'Mission Chaka Chak Panaji' goes door-to-door, house to house, school to student and colleges educating communities that a healthy city can be built by only healthy thinking individuals, who are custodians of the safe-keeping of their neighbourhood, and in the larger picture, the safekeeping of Goa. It is only when we, the people, understand the significance of our roles in city building, can we ensure that vigilance and accountability accounts for self-growth.
It is not about violating rules, disrespecting the law and believing that a phone call to a minister can absolve your responsibility as an errant citizen. No sir, it ain't gonna work no more! Because it's time for Goa and her citizens to stop walking with their tail between their legs. Take pride in yourselves and the land blessed bountifully by Nature. By our right to assertion, we will ensure that Goans are not an endangered species in our own homeland. It's also time to empower people with information - right from how to get a water connection, to addressing consumer issues, ration card paperwork to construction licenses. Each citizen must demand access to information -- if he learns where to go and assert this rights -- without bending over backwards paying his 'darshan' to the local MLA, and hence further feeding the chains of corruption that link politicians to power.
Life is simple if we understand that politicians need us. It is we who elect them to represent us. It is we, the people, who are decision makers empowered with the power to the right to vote. 'We' must decide the fate of Goa and then get our elected representatives to chart this course into the corridors of power. But see how cunning has resulted in a role reversal. Sure, it's not easy to fight might. But this is where we need our youth to decide that it only takes intelligence and common sense to free our horse blinds, because too much back bending and kissing arse can result in a permanent hunch. There are too many arse kissers in Goa, we know that, and that's exactly what the 'system' wishes to encourage - create a crippled population dependent on petty politicking. If a revolution has to fire in our hearts, let it start with our minds. But first, take care of your own garbage!
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