HERALD REPORTER http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Help-regulate-land-transactions-in-Goa-Shantaram-urges-PM/34711.html
Pleads for special category status for State HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAR CH16 Goa’s Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik M.P today called on the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh and requested him to make special provisions for Goa by amending Article 371 of the Constitution of India to empower the Goa Legislature to enact a law to regulate the land transactions in the State. He also pleaded for special category status for Goa. In his memorandum submitted to PM in his office at Parliament House Mr Naik said that land is becoming a scarce commodity more particularly in smaller States and that land mafias from foreign countries are landing in States like Goa with tons of money buying huge areas creating social and economic chaos. Some of the parties are potential enough to buy a whole village in a smaller State like Goa, he said. Persons in real estate in the country too, are resorting to similar purchases disturbing the social fabric in the State, said the MP in the memorandum. Naik further said that rights existing under the constitution should not be so unfettered so as to change economic scenario of a smaller State, particularly its villages, much to the disadvantage of the State and its people. Anti-social elements which become a part of such uncontrolled transactions are proving disastrous for a State like Goa. Therefore, he said, States have to be empowered to enact appropriate legislations to bring in restrictions on transfer of land and other immovable properties on grounds of duration of residential requirement in the State, social and economic needs of the State, environment and public interest, as may be specified by the law, he pleaded. Similarly, the State of Goa consist of hardly 3,702 sq meters of land with a population of roughly 14 lakhs, increasing number of migrant population has reached to an unmanageable proportions. While it is the fundamental right of every citizen under Article 19 of the Constitution to move freely throughout the territory of India, it is also the fundamental right of others to live a decent life with basic amenities provided by the State. In order to safeguard the basic rights of those Goans as also non-Goans who are settled in Goa for a number of years, further inflow has to be regulated to avoid a virtual stampede in near future, he stated. Mr Naik also raised the issue of activities of Russians in the State with the PM. SPECIAL CATEGORY: In the second memorandum Mr Naik demanded special category for the State. Mr Naik said that at present, there are 11 states which enjoy the status of Special Category which are: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. The State of Goa has achieved a high Human Development Index and has been consistently performing well in financial parameters as well. However, the recent global recession has adversely affected the revenue collection of the State, memorandum says To revive the situation, the State requires fiscal stimulus in the form of higher investment for creation of infrastructure in key sectors of the economy such as Agriculture, Health, Education, and Social Sector. SEPARATE CADRE: Through a third memorandum Mr Naik has demanded a Special Cadre of All India Services for the State of Goa. In his memorandum Mr Naik has said that IAS officers, come with the objective of having a short stint, most of them keeping the families in Delhi. Hence they are popularly called as brief case officers indicating thereby they come only with a brief case as they have to go back soon, he said. Mr Naik further said it is proper guidance and innovative ideas coming from bureaucracy that makes every project a success story. But IAS officers posted in Goa play a very limited role of disposing files routinely, without getting to much involved in any project. Goa’s interest would be better served by the Central Government granting a` separate All India Services Cadre to the State, Mr Naik said in his memorandum Pending the creation of Separate Cadre Mr Naik has demanded that the strength of Goa segment of AGMUT cadre be increased from 12 to 22. Prime Minister assured Mr Naik to examine all his demand and do the needful. -- Please post your comments on my Blog: http://goanidentity.blogspot.com/ Please also see below: 1. Benaulim Village Action Committee: http://www.bvacbenaulim.blogspot.com/ 2. "Rape of Goa" : http://www.parrikar.com/blog/the-rape-of-goa/ 3. MAND - an adivasi-rights resource centre : http://mandgoa.blogspot.com/ 4. EVERY GOAN SHOULD SEE THIS VIDEO: http://infochangeindia.org/Infochange-documentary.html 5. For the Love of Konkani: http://www.radiogoa.net/ 6. Goa's Identity Movement website: http://www.goamag.net/gim 7. Goa's Identity Movement group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com//#/group.php?gid=193497031686 8. Official Government Site NRI Office (GOA): http://www.globalgoans.org.in/
