GOA: Mathany, SEZ, GMAS, SVM, GBA, RP11 etc
Matany Saldanha is a welll known social activist. SAVE GOA is his other name.
Now-a-days, one may see many movements or organizations in the name of SAVE
GOA. But Mathany s SAVE GOA (campaign) is one of the oldest, dating back to
early 1970s.
If am not mistaken, Mathany was the first to say these 8 SEZs (now 18) are bad
for Goa.
About 18 months ago, I remember reading Mathanys Press release about the
ill-effects of the SEZs. ( JoeGoaUK came up with his two GOA: ONLY 10% WILL
BE GOANS IN 10 YEARS, IF.. and SEZz v/s RP11 (see some excerpts below)
GMAS was born about 2 months ago, where as GBA born about 12 months ago.
GMAS main aim is to SAVE GOA from SEZs where as GBA aim was to SAVE GOA from
RP11 (GBA is a group of citizens and NGOs who came together to collectively
oppose the RP11 and ensure its revocation). The RP11 revoked (Thanks to Sonia
Gandhi, Goas high Command under Congress Govt.)
As said several times, I feel, GBA should have been in the frontline in the
battle (after identifying the problems but sadly it took GBA about 15 months
to come out?). Even Churchill claimed that he was one of the first to oppose
the SEZs but again he is well known for opposing and then supporting the same
as in MOPA airport. He even has no problem with IT Habitat at Dona Paula.
About the threat to tourists saying leave Goa by 28th Dec, I am sure, it was
mainly to pressurized the Govt. Mathany also did mention about it during the
Azad Maidan Rally on 18th Dec. check this clip
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DoHcn96DGus
Sometimes, after everything fails, I guess that is the only language that Govt.
understand.
We must not forget Goa got Konkani by using the same language (violence).
I personally not in favour of violence, I am even against Road blockades (as
it was done recently by the student community for not receiving the Computers).
How nice or strong it would be if all likeminded people, groups, organizations
(including youth, students etc) come under just one umbrella and fight for the
common cause!
The present scenario gives conflicting picture.
Aam Aadmi is confused.
E.g. Priests are here , priests are there, some support GMAS some support SVM
Let us not see who or which Party the leader/s supported in the past.
Let us not see who or which Party supports the leader/s now
Let us not see or think anything else except GOA
Let us support GOA
GOA, GOA and only GOA.
Here is something to cheer you up - GOA GOA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FBvU6DEgKjg
*GMAS is a group of people (including Political Parties, NGOs, Priest etc) come
together to oppose & scrap all 18 SEZs
*SVM is also a group of people (including NGOs, Priests etc) with the same
intension as GMAS
Note: When I was writing this, I had only one thing in my mind i.e. GOA
=============================================================
Excerpts: (from Archive)
July 2006
GOA: ONLY 10% WILL BE GOANS IN 10 YEARS, IF..
So, how the above 10% worked out by JoeGoaUk ?
Well, lets take the current Goas population:
Its about 14 lakhs or 1.4 million (or about 14,00,000) as per 2001 population
census
Of which, about 33% are migrants which means 67% are Goans
Lets assume Goas Population as of now (July 2006) say 1.6million or 16,00,000
Of which, say about 45% are migrants which also mean 55% are Goans i.e.
8.8lakhs out of 16 lakhs (bearing in mind the influx during the last 5years
from year 2001 to 2006)
It is further assumed that..
- the above mega projects are completed within 6-10 years..
- 5 million migrants to be added to Goas population end of 10 years
Re.Matanhy.
- The current actual Goans figure which is about 8.8 lakhs, in 10 years
it could be just 5 lakhs (bearing in mind (a) Over 18,000 passport applications
pending at Goa Portuguese Consulate, (b) about 25,000 Indian Passports issued
per year by India Passport Office, Goa, (c)Number of wives, husbands, children,
parents etc that may leave Goa to join their spouses or family members outside
Goa/India Including joining Goan Nurses who left/leaving Goa for UK etc, etc)
So, work out yourself 10% of 50,00,000, use calculator if you wish.
What is the current situation like (migrants) in Goa ?
Some proofs: Check this yourselves
Around 6pm every day..
Just visit your local bazaar/Market areas where you will see more of migrants
than Goans sitting on the benches, fence walls etc etc.
Any market area be it Goa Velha, Agassaim, Cortalim, Cansaulim, St. Cruz,
Ribandar, Porvorim, Calangute, Betim etc etc
Or Check out the Panaji River bank fence/footpath opp Inox/Dempo House to Ferry
point
See how they sleep rough, see how they answer their natures calls there day
and night
Or Just visit the ferry crossing point at PanaJi-Betim, see how ferries are
overloaded, see how sometimes, the captain drives some people out who are
standing on the landing ramp.
Or Visit Chimbel now, soon it may change to Chimb Nagar.
Or ever heard of Ulhas-Nagar ? Upas Nagar ?There is one at Birla-Airport road
near Sancoale or ZACL.
Or Visit some Cinema halls Today e.g. El Monte showing 4 shows Malayalam so
is National Panaji, Alankar-Mapusa etc etc
What about Goas language Konkani Films?
Sorry, there are very few or no takers for Konkani films. One of the reasons
being, there are not many Goan people left in Goa to watch. Except, the
Padri which run in Goas Cinema houses for about a week and that too because
of Prince Jacob the number one crowd puller.
Who are the migrants ?
Migrants are those people who come to Goa to
work/beg/steal/murder/settle/business from other Indian states (Currently, Goa
has large population from Karnataka, Maharastra, Uttar Pradesh, Orisa, Bihar,
Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Kashmir etc even from neighbouring countries like
Nepal)
How about the availability of Labour in Goa?
Migrant labour not only available in abundant but very cheap too.
Hotel Industry pays them Av. Rs.1500 for av.11hrs job for the work seven days a
week (with meals/accommodation where up to 12 people sleep in one tiny room)
Security work av.13 hours a day seven days a week, paid av. Rs.2500 per month
(with no meals and accommodation). Security firms make lot of money by
exploiting the youngsters (migrant). You see such security personnel not only
at the big housing estates and construction sites, but also at pvt bungalows,
shops etc. Most Banks ATMs, require up to 3 security staff per ATM to guard
their Cash point outlets.
Can Govt. stops them coming to Goa ?
No. No one can stop them migrating to Goa. Indias constitution says as a
citizen of India, one can work or settle any where in India without any
restrictions and thats includes from Kashmir to Goa and from Goa to Bombay.
Can we manage without them (migrant labour) ?
Well, thats a tricky question.
No, right now, Goa cant manage without them unless..
- Goas further development stops,
- Houses/building construction stops,
- Hotel/tourism industry expansion stops
- Goans leaving Goa stops.
If that is the case, why worry too much ?
If you thing that we worry too much, then it must be because of our worries
thinking that soon Goa will not remain that Goa any more.
Goas identity, its culture, tradition, heritage etc will be lost.
There is also a fear that one day Goa will be ruled or governed by
outsiders/migrants with migrant MLAs and Ministers.
Konkani will no longer remain Goa's language and there are even more chances of
re-naming Goa.
Judging by the recent past, the present and the future of Goa, it is obvious
that..
GOA, going, going
Gone.
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/message/1957
Sancoale Panchayat: Migrants v/s Goans
Migrants outnumbered Goans in Sancoale
Latest score as follows:
Village level: Electorate 12,000
Migrants 8
Goans 4
Panchayat level: Members 11.
Migrants 6
Goans 5
With SEZs & ITs coming to Goa..
Most Panchayats will be run by Migrants and soon they will have their own Govt.
too.
Goans prefer working abroad.
Mr.Eduardo Faleiro just started his overseas employment agency serving as an
easy and sure 'exit' point for Goans.
The new Consul of Portugal in Goa also very keen in expediting the 18,000 odd
pending cases for Portuguese nationality.
Many 'tarvortis' too by using their 5 year US visa, give up their
'tarvottponn' and settle in US.
Many Students who go to US/UK etc on study visa with an intention never to come
back
Migrants babies born in Goa are added to Goa's population where as babies born
to above category of Goans are either added to UK population or EU or US or
Gulf etc. Goan names will thus automatically be deleted from the Goan electoral
roll.
CM Rane keep saying upto 100% jobs will be given to Goans (re: SEZs)
Faleiro says 80% jobs for Goans or else their license will be revoked.
but what happen when there are no enough Goans available in Goa?
Naturally, the non-Goans or Migrants will eat the cake.
And that is as simple as that.
Very nicely planned Mr. Rane, Mr. Luizinho Faleiro and others
Now, after taking into a/c the present situation (as in Sancoale) and the
above resulting situation say in next 5-10 years..
We would ask a question to ourselves..
Where are the Goans in Goa ?
Sancoale Stats taken from today's H
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/message/1603 dtd 28/12/06
SEZs v/s RP2011
Lot has been talked about RP2011 (Regional Plan 2011)..
What about SEZs (Special Economic Zones) ?
Do we need these zones ?
If answer is yes, then we would require RP2011 too. Perhaps, with modifications
but it cannot be scraped all together as we would need more land for both
industrial and settlement purposes.
There are about 8 big projects proposed under SEZs some are already approved
and some are waiting for approval. The total area putting all 8 SEZs together
is about 450 hectares (1 Hectare =10,000 sq.mtrs ?)
OK, next thing is the new employment that it would generate if all the
proposed projects come up. It is estimated that about 3,25,000 jobs would
be created.
If that is so, only up to Max 1,25, 000 jobs may go to Goans, if jobs are
offered to Goans first and also if Goans in Goa are willing to take all the
jobs (which is very unlikely).
Now, there will be still 2,00,000+ jobs left, for this, one can only see one
option, hire from outside Goa i.e. about 5,00,000 more added to Goas
population (i.e. 2,00,000+ 3,00,000 being their families, av. being 3 per
family).
Now, where these extra 5,00,000+ population going to live in Goa ? Do we have
enough land area in settlement zones or we will have to convert non-settlement
zones into settlement zones ?
It is obvious that Goa needs more to be added to the existing settlement zones.
Now, the important question is Do we really need these SEZs?
I see that about 5-6 thousand people attended RP011 rally at Azad Maidan on
Dec.18, 2006.
Is this enough ? (which is equal to less than 0.5% of Goas population)
IFFI inaugural day alone there were about 5,500 people (delegates + people
outside the stage at around 8pm).
Ok, how many of those attended at Azad Maidan knew why there were there ?
Ask few older ladies Do you know why you are here ? and the answer would be
AMI ZANNAI-IM? AMKAM APOILEAM ANI AMI EILIAIM FUNKEA BOSIN (What we know? We
came because we are invited with free transport).
How many of those attended must have come just for Remo or Hema ?
Imagine, if there was no free transport, no Remo Fernandes no Hema Sardesai..
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