http://oheraldo.in/node/10160
ST panel warns against selling land to outsiders BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 21 — The Goa State Scheduled Tribes Action Committee has feared that Goa will be one day sold to the outsiders going by the acquisition of land by non-Goans either for residential or commercial purposes. "If the same trend continues, it is feared that the true sons of the soil will be left stranded in their own land," the committee said, while expressing its willingness to assist the government in identifying land village-wise, both government, Communidade and private land. Deliberating the government's stand on the Ambedkar Aawas Housing scheme, the Committee while expressed its anguish over the government's apathy in finalising the applications, has resolved to assist the government in land identification in the interest of the community members, who the committee termed as "sons of the soil and genuine landless people". The Committee also decided to oppose the move to set up a Kabrastan for the Muslim community at Manora and Arlem wards of Raia village on grounds there's hardly any land available for human habitation, leave alone for the dead. Members present at the meeting also expressed their disappointment over the delay in implementing the State Scheduled Tribe Bill, thus denying many a benefit to the STs community in the state. It was pointed out that the much-talked Scheduled Tribes Corporation is for the name sake, with none of the projects in progress, while the ST Corporation is yet to be constituted. Given that the position of SC's and OBCs too is not encouraging in Goa, members of the committee called for brining all the backward communities from Goa, STs, SCs and OBCs under one banner to jointly fight for their rights. The meeting lamented over the government's approach over the inclusion of Dhangar community in the ST list. In his address, Committee Chief Convenor, Anton Gauncar appealed to members of the backward communities to give a thought over the problems faced by Goan society vis-a-vis land encroachment and employment opportunities by non-Goans and growing unemployment amongst the educated youth from these communities. -- TUMCHE AXIRVAD ASSUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England
