Hi Rico and all on the Saligao-net, My input was designed to spur on debate as Ashley was not getting much of a response, I noticed. It did exactly that and I am glad it worked. Regards Chris in Cal.
--- On Sun, 3/8/09, Frederick [FN] Noronha * फ्रेडरिक न <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Frederick [FN] Noronha * फ्रेडरिक न <[email protected]> > Subject: [SALIGAONET] Re: RP2021 - topics that need your input - repost > To: [email protected] > Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009, 5:26 AM > Just a word of caution to the expats on this list... > it's easy to get > nostalgic and want to freeze a village in time. But if we > turn too > unrealistic, then the big-time land-sharks and building > speculators will > simply play on the fact that we're out of touch with > the aspirations of many > who live in Saligao. > > While we do appreciate the positive aspects of the past > (the charm of > Saligao, it's semi-rustic nature, open spaces, > playfields, nature's bounty > like the springs, mix of amenities and rural life or > rurbanism as someone > called it, etc), we also need to keep in mind another > reality. > > I don't know if the Regional Plan is the right place to > make these points, > but how effective is a village like Saligao when it comes > to helping its > denizens to earn a living? > > * In the past, a lot of people kept domestic animals > (goats, cattle, pigs, > poultry). That has almost completely come to an end. Why? > Can this be > resuscitated? > > * Does the social and physical infrastructure allow the > 'small guy' to start > micro-businesses and live a little less efficiently? While > the 'big player' > can always buy his way through, and doesn't need a leg > up, this is not true > of someone who could turn from being unemployed into being > a barefoot > businessperson.... > > * The fields of the village have been in a state of neglect > and decay. The > crops planted there have been the same, planted for perhaps > five centuries > and more, without any people-friendly, > technological-upgradation (apart from > Natha Umbraskar's useful innovations). What needs to be > done here? Selling > water isn't sustainable, though profitable for > individuals.... > > * The Saligao market is in abysmal shape.... > > * While everyone in power and politics focuses on the > physical > infrastructure (building, roads, electricity) and > campaigners talk about the > green infrastructure (nature, open spaces etc) what about > the people > infrastructure? Do we have enough initiatives to keep our > people gainfully > involved in work and hobbies that could give them a better, > fuller life? If > not, how do we go about this? > > * Public transport, or the lack of it, is another crying > issue for Saligao. > The buses plying on the CHOGM Road are approx the same in > number and > frequency that used to ply in 1983 when I went to college! > Maybe fewer! Just > because we have our own two- or four-wheelers, does it mean > we don't need to > be concerned about this issue? > > As I said, I don't know how many of these issues would > fit into a Regional > Plan discussion. Nonetheless, I'm raising it here, as > this is as good an > opportunity to flag such concerns. Best wishes, FN > > -- > FN * http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com > M +91-9822122436 P +91-832-2409490 http://twitter.com/fn > On Facebook: > http://www.new.facebook.com/people/Frederick-Noronha/502514643 > > "Press the button Max." - The Great Race > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ This message comes via the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net?hl=en Please post regularly to keep the e-village active! -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
