Dears, The GOA BACHAO ABHIYAN [or SAVE GOA CAMPAIGN], a People's Movement turned ONE YEAR on 03 December, 2007. Started on Sunday, 03 Dec. 2006, at a meeting of the people of Goa in Don Bosco Oratary hall, Panaji-Goa, to discuss what was happening in Goa in the name of DEVELOPMENT of the state, the GBA has come a long way. The Core Group, persons who have met often to discuss, debate, strategise and lead the people's action from the front, met at Panaji to recall and evaluate the events of the year and to plan for the future.
The primary activity of the GBA has been to compel the authorities to revoke the REGIONAL PLAN 2011 and to replace it with a new Regional Plan drawn up with the People's participation. The Goa Government amended the law to enable it to fulfill this demand and revoked the Regional Plan 2011 with retrospective effect from the date it was notified. The GBA kept up the pressure till all licences, sanads and permissions issued under the Regional Plan 2011 were cancelled. Some projects which are apparently illegal, but approved under Regional Plan 2001 which is in force by default, are being challenged by various groups and NGOs. The GBA has associated itself with the legal scrutiny by the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court of the controversial ALDEIA DE GOA project between Goa Medical College, Goa University and Bambolim beach. The battles are being won, but the war against the rape of Goa's landscape is far from over. The success of the GBA movement lies in the fact that the people of Goa have accepted it as their own movement. It is on the strength of the popular support that so much has been achieved. The Core Group re-dedicated itself to remain with the people and for the people. It is , after all, a movement of the people of Goa. The GBA is not an NGO, it is a movement of the people. Success is not about money. The Core Group has endorsed my view that no one should raise funds for or on behlf of the GBA. When we need money, we will ask the people . We need the people's particiapation. Time is the most difficult to give in our busy lives. The GBA asks you for your time. Look around you, find out if it has been permitted. If it is not, file a complaint with the appropriate authority. Inform others. Follow up, use RTI Act if needed. Take collective action within the framework of the law. It takes time and effort. Do it. YOU are the GBA, the strength on which it succeeds. The progress of the re-formulation of the new Regional Plan 2021 was reviewed. The Goa Government has formed a Task Force headed by the Chief Minister to consider the methodology to be adopted for planning development of Goa. The GBA is formally a part of the Task Force. Most NGOs whose members are associated with the GBA have made presentations before the Task Force. A fresh set of presentations will be held this week. The draft Outline Development Plan 2011 have been put in the public domain for suggestions and objections. The GBA has created an awareness about them through an exhibition at Kala Academy. The ODP of Panaji was later discussed in detail at Club Vasco da Gama while the ODP of Mapusa will be discussed at an exhibition at MMC hall Mapusa on 05 December, 2007. People are invited to participate in their own area development as per the laws in force. If the laws need to be changed, this has to be considered. The democratic governments are of the people , by the people and for the people. It can be permitted to be no other way. The people of Goa live in a democratic country since 19 December, 1961 and on 26 January each year we celebrate with all Indians the rule of law as governed by the Constitution of India, as amended from time to time. The GBA is against the setting up of Special Economic Zones [SEZs] in a small state like Goa. It supports ALL movements that are against SEZ. However, as per its stated apolitical policy in a political situation it seeks to correct, it will not share a common platform with members of political parties, specially present and past legislators still active in politics. The GBA is with the people in their movement against SEZ. A DVD recording of the first GBA public rally held on 18 December, 2006, at Azad Maidan , Panaji, to launch the protest against the Regional Plan 2011 was viewed by the members. It is always good to remember where and how one began and to evaluate the progress using such a reference point. The members of GBA and all the people of Goa who have made it what it is, have a reason to smile at the end of one eventful year. Battles have been won. The people will continue to win. Says the ancient wisdom "Evil prevails because the good people remain silent spectators and do nothing." This will not be said of the state of Goa anymore. The good people of Goa have stopped being silent spectators. Evil will not prevail! As the two words in the national emblem remind us SATYAMEVA JAYATE. Truth prevails. Mog asundi. Miguel P.S. This is NOT an official press note of the GBA. These are just my views on the subject. -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
