------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.goacom.org/casa-de-goa/noticias.html -------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be BETTER INFORMED ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN launches the second phase of its Voters Awareness Drive ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN launched the second phase of its Voters Awareness Drive by organising a citizen's outreach in Panjim to focus on the importance of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, the need for devolution of powers to the Municipal bodies, the need for a New Municipal Act to replace the Goa Municipal Act 1968 and the importance of the Voter in making democracy work effectively at the grass root level in Goa. Consumer Forum volunteers carrying placards, banners and colourful flags distributed information slips and appealed to voters to organise and not just agonise as making democracy work with mass peoples participation is the only way to save Goa for the future generations. It may be recalled that the GOACAN 40 day Voters Awareness Drive titled GRAMSABHA ZAGRUT ZA! which began on 21st April with a focus on the village Panchayat elections will continue until 30th May Goa Statehood Day. To avoid a "top down" planning approach as seen in the controversial Regional Plan 2011, GOACAN is highlighting the importance of the powers, authority and responsibilities of Municipalities in resource mapping, local level plans for land use, employment generation with a focus on local skills and traditional occupations, preparation of annual and five year Town Development Plans and proper functioning of the District Planning Committees. Although it is mandatory as per the Goa Children's Act 2003 and the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act 1996, that Committees involving citizens be formed at the Municipal Level, the experience in the past has proven to be dismal. GOACAN is also highlighting the need to set up such Committees, training of its members, holding regular meetings and submitting their quarterly reports to the Municipal Councils. GOACAN has mooted the idea of an Environment Protection Committee and a Tourism & Heritage Management Committee at the Municipal level taking into account the Industrial Estates, mega Factories, the growing Mining Industry, its natural and built up heritage and special conditions of Goa's tourism trade. In view of the forthcoming Assembly elections on 2nd June, GOACAN is mobilising citizens through the various village based Civic and Consumer Forums to prepare for Voters Consultation Meetings so that voters can present issues to the elected MLAs at the local level before every session of the Goa Legislative Assembly. ------------------------------------------------------------ GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ----------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ----------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/attachments/20070520/2113a7db/attachment.html ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------
