Time for youths to rise up By Eugene Correia
Turkey, Eygpt and now Brazil have shown the fearsome power of its citizenry. In many ways, Brazil is like in India. In both countries corruption is endemic and the rule of law is more honoured in name than in practice. As much as the rest of India is in the grip of scandals and other social and economic maladies, Goa is not an exception. Goa and its citizenry have been moved into action over emotive issues like the Opinion Poll, Konkan Railway and the Konkani language in the past. Now the Mopa-Dabolim fuse has been lit but it hasn't sparked the emotions of the people in the north as it has done in the south. More than the singular Mopa-Dabolim issue, the other issues of mining and economic well-being of the state demand immediate public attention and, possibly, anger. The mining issue is stuck in the depths of bureaucratic and central machinations. The absence of mining activity has obviously dragged the Goan economy into the pits and to rescue both the mining sector and the allied industries is a priority that the state government is very much seized with. When it resumes, the state would heave a sigh of relief. Tangential to the resumption of mining should be the state's commitment to ensure smooth and transparent working of those in this area of economic development. Once all the clearances are obtained and the leases sanctioned, mining houses should be made to pay off for the crores of money owed to the government. Those who indulged in illegal mining are legally and morally responsible to make good the loss to the state exchequer. Though illegal mining and financial loss to the state provides the people with enough reason to erupt into a state-wide protest, the people have stayed calm and composed. A couple of flash mobs and people's protest hasn't cut much ice. The state government has shifted the blame to the centre and, hence, the people's anger may have been remained muted. Occupy Goa? Does it sound reasonable and acceptable to Goans? Toppling this government is not an idea that's going to change the equation in Goa. For it to function purposefully it should be kept on its toes by constant scrutiny by the public, more so in the current piquant scenario of a compromised Opposition. Let it run its course till the next election date. What would take the Goans to take to the streets and demand better governance and an end to the corruption raj? Manohar Parrikar is walking the moral high ground. He has shown himself as the knight in shining armour in fighting to bring prosperity and peace to the people. He has taken a few detours from the BJP manifesto and has taken missteps in either following up on his promises or completely negated them. The tall talk of getting rid of casinos on the Mandovi has remained just that. It seems the casino ships are in safe harbour and the CM has folded the sails of his statecraft over this issue and taken refuge in some policy pigeonhole. It's still a long way for those allegedly involved in the PWD scandals to be brought to justice. It's also unlikely Politicians whose banks accounts are disproportionate to their known source of incomes would be investigated and brought to court. If astuteness and forthrightness are projected attributes of Manohar Parrikar, then the CM must prove them outright. Parrikar, who has been charmed by Narendra Modi's approach and business acumen, should imitate the Gujarat model by inviting the captains of Indian industry to invest in Goa. Diversification of the economy will improve the status of Goa's economic state. There was a time when industrial houses shied away from Goa because different NGOs raised different types of objections to projects. While any industrial projects must pass feasibility studies and environmental and other essential clearances, there's no point in just raising hue and cry that industrialization of Goa could spell ruin to the beauty and natural landscape of the state. A green Goa is not always a better Goa. Economic factors should be taken into play for the future of Goan youth and for meeting the rising expectations of a new generation of Goans. With the large-scale outmigration of Goan youths, a significant portion of the Goan population lies depleted in case the call for a systematic and sustained protest is undertaken. Whatever the number of Goan youths remaining in the state, they would be better advised to learn lessons from the youths of Turkey, Egypt and Brazil to come together as one if the situation demands. Goa has been a land of rebellions. In those days, Goans took up arms but today Goans could take up Mahatma Gandhi's tool of non-violence. But putting Gandhi's weapon into practice needs patience and sacrifice. A young man in Tunisia set himself on fire and created a firestorm now known as Arab Spring. Without advocating such extreme measures, it would be pertinent to ask if the Goan youths are capable of joining forces to fight for justifiable causes. Do the Goan youths have it in them to Just Do It, as the branded Nike shirts they wear proclaim, or will they continue to wear the tag of sussegado Goans? It's time the youths shed the tag that seems anemic to this age and time and embrace the new brave world of enterprise and industriousness. -- A version of this article appeared in the August issue of Goa today.
