A Sensitive Message to GOANS
By: MSSG - MOVEMENT for SPECIAL STATUS for GOA.
Late Jawaharlal Nehru, both before and after 19th. December, 1961, had
assured the Goan people that Goa's unique character would be protected. To
quote Nehru:
"GOA'S INDIVIDUALITY SHOULD REMAIN AND WHENEVER THE TIME COMES FOR ANY
CHANGES, INTERNAL OR OTHER, IT WILL BE FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOA, ACTING FREELY
, TO DECIDE UPON THEM"
Goa, five decades later, is on the verge of losing its Goan Identity!. Our
unique character and way of life is being drowned out by the uncontrolled
influx of people of non-Goan origin migrating into Goa. We are about to
become a minority in our own State!
Our precious and limited land resources are being taken over by slums and
bought-out, at an alarming rate, by mega builders form Delhi, Mumbai and
Gujarat at prices that are out of reach of the average Goan. The Indian
Army and the Navy are occupying large portions of our land and still not
satisfied, are demanding more from the Government of Goa. The Mormugao Port
Trust has taken over all land bordering the rivers and the sea. Our mineral
resources are being depleted and our forests destroyed.
Industries have been set-up in Goa which depend on manual labour which is
not available locally. On the other hand, in industries where Goan talent is
available, vacancies are being filled-up by non-Goans. As a result our Goan
youth is left jobless and forced to migrate. Vote bank politics of the
Government is jeopardizing the interests of Goans.
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED IN THE FIRHT FOR GOA.. THE TIME TO DO SO IS NOW FOR
TOMORROW WILL BE TOO LATE!
The Movement for Special Status for Goa [MSSG] urges Goans to join in the
struggle to attain Special Status for Goa. Such special status needs to
ensure that only we can determine our fate and the fate of our homeland.
MSSG has been formed by activists and concerned citizens who have been
fighting for Goan causes for most of their lives and who have taken this
initiative in order to mobilize support for this all-important cause. We
cannot stop until the Indian Government grants Goa the SPECIAL STATUS.
Such grant of Special Status requires an amendment of Article 371 of the
Indian Constitution so that Goa's Legislature may have ample powers to
regulate on:
a) The customary law and procedure, it's language, culture and ethos.
b) Ownership and transfer of land and the exploitation of it's resources
and the preservation of it's natural and architectural heritage.
c) The regulation of entry and settlement of persons who are not of
Goan origin [Migrants].
d) Establishment of industries and employment therein.
e) Protection of age-old traditional institutions such as Gaunkaris
[Comunidades] and their assets.
f) Protection of the original SCs, STs and Gounli [Dhangars]
belonging to the State.
It is imperative that the Government of India realizes that Goans are no
longer going to be dictated to and trampled upon. That Goa cannot be treated
as a Colony to sub-serve the selfish interests of the politicians at the
cost of the present and of the future generations of Goans.. Let us join
hands and come together in masses and unitedly raise our voices to demand
that this Special Status be granted to Goa!
Join MSSG in the battle to SAVE GOA!
LET US NOT ALLOW INDIA TO FORGET THE PROMISE SOLEMNLY MADE BY NEHRU TO GOA
AND GOANS.
Sd/-
Adv. Antonio J.B. Lobo
Convener
MSSG
[9850809902]
NOTE: Symposium on Special Status for Goa is scheduled to be held at the
'Menezes Braganza Hall' , Panjim, from 09:30 to 13:00 hours on 14th. April
[Sunday], 2013. Newspaper Editors are kindly requested to insert this
announcement accordingly. Thank you.
