Goa needs sPecial Provisions under article 371, not ‘Special category'
PANJIM: Goa’s demand for special status implies special provisions through
an amendment to article 371 of the Constitution and not ‘special category’.
Apart from the nuances, the fact of the matter is that Goa is a small state
with a shrinking ethnic Goan population which faces the threat of being
overwhelmed by the influx of outside population, not for employment or
business but for purchasing limited land resources with huge capital and
settling down in the fragile state.
In larger states such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh or Karnataka the migrant
population makes a relatively insignificant impact.
Goa's key demand is to amend article 371 so as to empower the state
legislative assembly is to enact a legislation to bring in restrictions on
transfer of land and other immovable properties to protect and preserve land
resources in the state.
“Land is becoming a scarce commodity more particularly in smaller states.
Land mafias from foreign countries are landing in the states like Goa with
tons of money buying huge areas creating social and economic chaos, and some
of the interested parties have the potential to buy an entire village in a
small state like Goa”, the state’s Rajya Sabha member of parliament
Shantaram Naik told Herald.
"This special provision is required so that foreigners and others do not
monopolise our villages by buying huge chunks of land here", the MP
emphasized.
Goa is not looking for a special category status such as the north-eastern
states, due to any special conditions such as geographical terrain or
international boundaries. Special category in such circumstances is granted
by the National Development Council ( NDC) and conferred through executive
order and implies substantial financial allocations. Presently, this
category is frozen by the Centre.
The Centre is presently in the process of amending article 371 in the
ensuing session of parliament and Goa’s ruling dispensation and the
opposition Congress have to fight unitedly for this cause with a strategy,
though there are subtle attempts through a section of the media to dilute
this cause. In fact, Karnataka had a massive bandh to pressure the Centre to
amend article 371 in the budget session to give special status to parts of
the state.
Goa faces the threat of minoritisation of Goans and their culture and unique
identity, which is centuries old and calls for concerted efforts for special
provisions.
http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=6369&boxid=436178&uid=&dat=8/13/2012
Goanet News Service
www.goanet.org
