This debate on bailo-bitorlo can be put rest along with rampant corruption in Town and Country Planning with amendment to Ninth Schedule to the Constitution. There are many land reforms amendment that exist in the country notably among them is in Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir. Goa too had 187 Amendment of Ninth Schedule to the Constitution - The Goa, Daman and Diu Mundkars (Protection from Eviction) Act, 1975 (Goa, Daman and Diu Act 1 of 1976).
At the time of Goa's accession into India, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had promised that Goa would retain its distinct identity. Even prior to the annexation of Goa, the government of Independent India had promised that the people of Goa would be consulted on any decision about their territory. Successive Congress leaders Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi promised special status. Sonia Gandhi during at the last election rally at Fatoda in 2007 also promised special status. 'Golden Goa 2012' was another promise but what we Goans got is 'golden corruption government'. There is no other person to my knowledge other than Dr. Jack de Sequeira who has worked so hard to keep Goan identity alive. He worked as one man army to stop merging Goa into another state as the very future of the state and the identity of the Goan people was at stake. Opinion Poll (or referendum) was his idea to save Goa from then MGP (who had majority in Goa assembly) who all set to merge with Maharashtra. Opinion poll/referendum/Plebiscite is never held free India after Goa Opinion Poll of 1967. What MGP could not achieve then will slowly but surely will be achieved by back door policies of present Government if Goans do not seek amendment to Ninth Schedule to the Constitution to grant exclusive land right to the Goans.
