Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:46:31 +0530 From: "Dr. U. G. Barad" <[email protected]>
I found Mario Goveia's personal remarks on Selma Carvalho insensitive. And I think they would divert the attention from her other points. Mario observes: Dr. Barad, INSENSITIVE? MOI? GOD FORBID! What points are you worried about? The last time I checked, Selma hasn't even made her points yet - she had just threatened to do so. I said I was holding my breath in ecstatic anticipation of her pearls of wisdom:-)) Dr. Barad wrote: He seems to imply that the way building permits are issued in Goa are not democratic. What he should say is whether the system of Gram Sabha, where the attendance is only 2% of the eligible membership, more democratic. Mario responds: This is too much. My English is much clearer than this. Without understanding what I have said, Dr. Barad has the nerve to tell me what I should say. Dr. Barad, I think you need to re-read my post: http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-July/179516.html I clearly ASKED the gracious and perspicacious Selma to tell us whether the problem with the Gram Sabhas, which SHE says is a "perversion of democracy", is the DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM of Gram Sabhas, or is it "citizen apathy", i.e. not enough citizens motivated enough to attend the meetings and participate in their serious democratic responsibility to provide their opinion. I have no idea whather the attendance is 2%, but even 50% would be too low in my opinion, even though some observers will argue that voluntarily not attending is also like voting, i.e. agreeing to agree with those who do attend the meetings. I personally don't like this careless style of democracy. Previously, the fearlessly opinionated Selma has told us that the best people to control the approval of building projects are government bureaucrats at the state government level. I suggested that, with the corruption in Goa, putting such decisions in the hands of a centralized government agency can hardly be any less of a "perversion of democracy" than the Gram Sabhas - as long as these grass roots organizations were functioning like they were supposed to with a high majority of members providing input, and not being controlled by a very few rich and famous people. Once she writes her analysis, probably titled, "Who the bleep cares about grass roots democracy" we will be in a better position to understand her opinion. Since I'm holding my breath, I only hope I don't run out of oxygen:-))
