The recently concluded brief Budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly in
March, proposes to bring out an amendment to the Registration Act to curb the
foreigners buying property in Goa. When this amendment comes about there would
still be doubts whether the amendment in fool proof and result in further sale
of land.
But at least in the Salcete taluka , fishing hamlet Banda, Ambelim Assolna
there is one individual of the same community a tutor in his mid forties Mr
Anthony D Silva (Sir as he is prominently called ) an undergraduate from Smt
Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts & Science Vidyanagar Gogol Fatorda and
later did his Diploma in Electronics and Television at Mumbai who believes in
what Dr B R Ambedkar’s Father of our sacred Constitution of India –whose birth
anniversary is celebrated on 14th April, 2008 ---make one “aware, educate and
agitate”.
Recently it was in March, 2008 he was agitated that “Goa was put up for sale”
in New Delhi . He was amazed at the stand of world renowned fashion designer
Mr Wendall Rodrick a "niz Goencar" who condemned the India’s No: 1 property
sale exhibition held in Tivolis Garden Chattarpur Rd Near Chattarpur Mandir
New Delhi –( refer www.magicbricks.com ) on 15th and 16th March, 2008 between
1100 to 2000 hrs an event managed by PS World Events and the Times of Inda. An
earlier exhibition was held on 12th & 13th January, 2008 at Navi Mumbai.
He could not believe that Goa his motherland was being sold to the highest
bidder. What followed was an unique education and awareness programme. He
made posters to warn Goans about the dangers of selling their lands for which
posterity would never forgive them. He even referred to a picture in the NCERT
X standard books which illustrate how the citizens of a place in Africa are
now struggling to retrieve their lost lands. To begin with Mr D Silva embarked
upon a novel idea. He used a second hand Maruti car GA-02-S-0310 with a little
modification of its back seats. He purchased a roller and reams of news print
100 metres long from Pydhonie Mimbai and initiated a signature drive.
Beginning with his own village in Assolna on 12th March, 2008 he moved on to
Chinchinim the next day followed by Margao Velim Benaulim Carmona Mapusa and
there are further plans for Vasco-da-Gama Quepem and Calangute. There are
areas too where there is demand and
Mr D Silva needs to co-ordinate the movement and looks up for funds. A single
signature drive at any one of the venues costs him Rs 1000/- to Rs. 1500/-
petrol and meals for those that accompany him and hosts; and Mr D Silva has
been thus far spending his own resources,. He admits that there are benevolent
citizens like Dr Francisco Colaco the eminent cardiologist from Margao who not
only encouraged his endeavours but even contributed to his movement.
When asked whether he would solicit donations he points out to a poster which
he ashamedly has withdrawn. He says it was an appeal but the Goans only share
emotive outbursts on saving the land but when it comes to donations even a
pittance as his endeavour necessitates they prefer to give for other grandiose
activities of course where their names would be tagged; but all this does not
deter him he admits. What hurts him that while the total land purchased by
Goans in places outside Goa in the last 48 years after Liberation (1961) will
surely be less than the land purchased in the last two yeas by the non Goans.
For the records an Brit has purchased land in Colva admeasuring over 45,000 m2.
Shoickingly cultivable land is being raped for residential and hospitality
industry etc.
Even at times he adds he has to look for funds even for his daily chores a
family Violet his wife and two children the older one a girl pursuing her CET
exams and a school going son. His parents late Mr Doming Inas D Silva and late
Ms Marrid D Silva expired long ago but he has named his extremely modest house
in a 200 m2 plot as Marrid House. There are large pictures of the two on the
inner walls a grim reminder of their contribution to his erudite upbringing,
When asked how his other four brothers and two sisters look upon him as the
youngest in this great single handed mission he states that they have been
silent watchers and are aware of his endeavours.
At the meetings when the signature drive is under way he tells those gathered –
a) let us not sell land more than required for one family a restriction of 400
to 1000 would be ideal b) Goa does not need to be advertised for sale c) Goa
is well known worldwide and too small to be exhibited.. He further goes on ---
let Goa be like a museum where the visitor come and relish its beauty our
unique hospitality and go back to from wher they come from . Do we buy a room
of the museum even if we like an item from it – NO – then why buy land in Goa?
He argues to make a point which is well received and the signature believe it
from traditional workmen priests nuns NGO's Doctors Lawyers and well meaning
citizens follow. Surprisingly when one reads that land is being sold for
crores of rupees even some foreigners argue and support his cause….. we love
Goa we love it people we want Goa to be as it is ---- we have never faced
problems so why own a land
here ?? and they have inked their signatures. When asked about elected
representatives he is not sure whether they have signed but to the best of his
knowledge. Have the Village Panchayats commended his efforts at educating and
creating an awareness he says the signatures are testimony and resolutions in
the gram Sabhas would follow. He intends to make a final presentation to the
Chief Minister of Goa of all the signatures after a public meeting at Margao
and then eventually have the voluminous signatuires kept in the Goa Science
Centre at Miramar for posterity.
Mr D Silva after his return to his roots after over 15 years service in Asha
Daan home run by Mother Theresa at Sankli street Byculla Mumbai and was
apprehensive of the lack of reading habits in his village. He mooted the idea
of having 22 reading stands in the 40 km area of the villages of Banda Ambelim
Assolna , Velim Baradi etc and had two newspapers Heraldo and Gomantak Times
displayed at these stands . At two places there were Tarun Bharat Gomantak
(Marathi ) and at one place Sunaparant. The whole idea received warm welcome
but the same could not be sustained for long owing to the exhorbitant costs and
funds constraints he spent nearly Rs.70,000.
He also started the Brain Box Institute to cater to needs of educating the
members of the community in and around the villages of Assolna and Velim . The
Institute is registered under the Department of Education Reg
No:S-36/S-38-2005. He also tutors children upto SSC and is proud to be the
only such registered institute in Assolna. Mr D Silva is an extremely
conscientious citizen and earlier he had conducted an extensive campaign to
educate his fellow men in HIV and AIDs which received a tremendous response.
Indeed when this writer visited his home this evening he was already
contemplating his next move. He can be contacted on 9422450964 or 91 0832
2773949 and donations for his genuine mission to save our motherland could be
sent to SBI Assolna Account No:30262292138 . Truly such movements at the grass
root levels need encouragement and it is with such support to individuals like
Mr D Silva Goa can be saved from the clutches of realtors.
from the Banda Ambelim Village end
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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