New forum formed to save Goa NT NETWORK
MARGAO — Prominent Goan personalities, including noted fashion designer, Wendell Rodricks, noted singer, Hema Sardessai, historian Prajal Sakhardande and others, on the occasion of the 21st state day celebrations, once again urged Goans to be united and save Goa and its identity. They were speaking at the inauguration of a new forum, Goan Solidarity for Change (GSC), at the heritage house of Ms Sara Fernandes at Cota, Chandor. The forum is a global platform to unite all Goans and non-resident Goans to engineer a change, make a fresh start and transform Goa as India's most decent and non-corrupt state. The delegates also signed on the Chandor Panchsheela and a 56-point action plan, whose demand is that the Centre should grant Goa, special status on the lines of Himachal Pradesh to ensure that land is not sold to non-Goans. They are also demanding constitutional safeguards for the communidade and that they should be declared as national heritage of India. Besides, the forum also demands that Goans and non-resident Goans be given the first preference with respect to employment and enjoying other benefits in the state and no second term be given to elected representatives including at the village level, to eliminate political dynasties besides revoking of voting rights for non-Goans and migrants who are in Goa for 10 years or lesser period. The forum also demands that non-Goans and migrants voting in Goa should produce from their places of origin, a document issued by the electoral authorities stating that their names have been cancelled from the electoral voting list; failing which they must be denied the voting right. The panel also said that non-Goans and migrants voting in Goa should produce a document from their places of origin stating that they do not have any criminal record. Speaking on the occasion, Rodricks said he is proud to be a Goan and Goa is a special place and that all Goans should be proud of their land. He said that if Goans do not rise up, the state could soon turn into another Croatia, where identity of the original Croatians has been done away with, by other cultures. He said that if Goans are united, a change can take place and vowed to fight for the cause of Goa. Expressing similar sentiments, Hema Sardessai said that true Goa lies in the villages. She said villages should not be commercialised in the name of tourism and development. Speaking further, she said we have spoken enough and now it is time to do something to save the Goan identity and urged the people to keep their differences aside and unite to save Goa. Sardessai said she is not against tourism as tourists visit Goa to appreciate its beauty while on the other hand, the land sharks come here with the intension of destroying the state. The general secretary of GSC, Mr Manuel Caldeira said that the politicians are to be blamed for selling Goa to the land sharks and for unemployment among the Goan youth and other social problems. The president of the newly formed forum, Mr Luel Fernandes, and Mr Sakhardande also spoke on the occasion. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=053157 QUESTION: How many more forums does Goa need to save itself from destruction? -- DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England
