We at SGPIAG are delighted to learn that Hon'ble Mr Eduardo Faleiro, Commissioner for NRI Affairs, Government of Goa is visiting Kuwait from November 6-9, 2007. His entourage would included his office colleagues, Vice Admiral (Retd) Mr. John C. D'Silva, Chairman, Overseas Employment Agency of Goa and Mr. Ulhas D. Kamat, Director for NRI Affairs of Goa. Niether a Minister of Cabinet rank nor any MLA representing the Chief Minister will be a part of the entourage.
Hence the role of the Commissioner (whose rank is that of a State Cabinet Minister, but is not one ) would only to hear the grievances and place them for consideration of the Government of Goa. Therefore the Hon'ble Mr.Eduardo Faleiro and the delegation would like to interact freely with the Goan NRI's toascertain their problems and suggestions. It is hoped that NRIs irrespective of their affiliation to the several clubs of the Goan community in the Gulf countries would interact with the Commissioner during his brief sojourn between 6th to 9th November, 2007 in- Kuwait City. In order to make this meet more meaningful we would like to enlighten our bethren in the Gulf countries that thus far the Government of Goa has to the best of our knowledge not: a) drawn any policy on the role of NRI's vis-a-vis their state of origin viz Goa; b) made any provision in the Budget 2007-2008 for the benefit of NRI's ( visit www.goagovt.nic.in for more details ) c) agreed to the demand of NRI's for "a NRI city " while it has given the go ahead to two Special Economic Zones viz one at Bathkamb Keri Ponda Taluka and Verna Industrial Estate Salcete Taluka; while some others are being whetted by the Central Government Ministry of Commerce or have been cleared in principle by them and are awaiting clearance from the Government of Goa. d) taken any steps to ensure i) that rampant encroachment on 220 " gaunkaries" Comunidades are stopped forthwith ii)that power and water connections are not provided to wilful encroachers ( aided by elected representatives for their vote bank ) merely on the basis of a sworn on oath "affidavits" and "conditional NOC's" from the Village Panchayats and Municipality or Municipal Corporations ; on land ----acquired by the Government under Land acquisition Act ( but not put into use for the "public purpose" for which it has acquired) OR on the "gaunkaries" comunidades OR on private land of NRI's or absentee landowners. e) provided land to NRI consortiums or collectives to set up their own apartments, township, as is liberally granted to non Goans now mainly from North India; f) assured the NRI and Goan community at large the reason, for refusal to grant "official recognition" to the cultural heritage of a section of the Goan population and especially the NRI community viz our mother tongue -- which has resulted in no budgetted funds for our mother tongue in the Roman script g) to ensure that playwrights, Goan cultural music and dance or Carnaval is promoted with budgetary grants from the Department of Art and Culture AND not by using funds available from the Department of Tourism,for promotion of tourism in the State. h) to ensure "Goan Music" which is distinct from Western Music also ought to be promoted by the Department of Art and Culture; In conclusion the NRI'should demand from the Commissioner NRI Mr Eduardo Faleiro a white paper on the concrete steps taken on each of the issues raised by the NRIs during the past Goan Overseas Convention held in Goa -- and these should be in the form of Notifications available on the Official Government Gazettes Series I II or III as the case may be. In the absence of the above the NRI's should demand that the issues presented to the Commissioner NRI's are taken up in the winter session of the Goa Legislative Assembly in December, 2007 or January, 2008 and discussed debated or assurances obtained on the floor of the Assembly as this is the only legitimate forum for redressal of NRI woes and issues. For SOUTH GOA PUBLIC INTEREST ACTION GROUP Regd No 171/GOA/2000 dt 12.12.2000 sd/- TERENCE MAZARELO PRESIDENT (SGPIAG) 1st Flr Benlix Bldg Opp Fatima Convent Margao Goa India [EMAIL PROTECTED] weblink http://mumbai.sancharnet.in/manojnd FAX +91 832 2712430 HELPLINE (24 hrs) 9822158584 Tel +91 832 2731373 (O) TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GOA/INDIA visit:www.goidirectory.nic.in,www.goagovt.nic.in Now you can chat without downloading messenger. Go to http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php
