Sanjeev wrote a long and thoughtful letter; my apologies for the delay in replying... which I wanted to do much earlier. My comments below in CAPS (not shouting, but just to separate my replies from S's points):
Frederick Noronha :: +91-9822122436 :: +91-832-2409490 On 26 November 2010 17:14, Sanjeev Trivedi <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Rico, > > Further to our last discussion, where in I had mention NON-LAND / > CONSTRUCTION based development in Saligao. > > Here is a wishlist , I had made more than 2 years ago, and given it to > several people , who I (naively) thought may help achieve something. > Sadly, the list is still a WISH. > > Maybe you can provoke some action with your Sword (Pen) via the > Saligaonet. Let us muster some support and enthusiasm. > > Let us work on a people's mandate and give it to the members of the > panchayat - for execution. Let us measure their performance in these areas. > > I think even the illiterate will be able to distinguish the performers from > the others, once this mandate is read out to them. > SANJEEV, MY EXPERIENCE IN A VILLAGE WHERE WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EDUCATED MIDDLE-CLASS (NOT JUST SALIGAO, BUT OTHERS TOO) IS THAT IT IS INDIVIDUALISM THAT REIGNS. INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR OTHERS TO COME ALONG, I THINK EACH ONE OF US COULD DO WHAT WE BELIEVE STRONGLY IN. OTHERWISE, WE COULD BUILD A SMALL GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE WHO COULD TAKE UP ONE OR MORE ISSUE FROM THE LIST. WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO JOIN IN, AND NOTHING HAPPENS... THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE. AGREED, I AM LESS OF A TEAM PLAYER MYSELF! > > Can there be a mandate from the people that no new (major) construction is > allowed until at least some of these are attended to ??? > I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU. HOW DO WE ENFORCE THIS? THERE COULD BE A LOT OF SQUBBLING OVER WHAT 'MAJOR' MEANS. THE PROJECT NEAR THE MATER-DEI END OF THE VILLAGE SEEMS TO BE "HOUSE REPAIRS", THOUGH IT IS ITSELF H.U.G.E! > Rico , we need your support and participation to build on this and take it > forward . I urge everyone to contribute to this discussion, and bring > citizens > pressure for better governance. > > regards > > > Sanjeev > > > ===================================================================== > > MY WISHLIST FOR SALIGAO ? > > 1. Garbage management - education, segregation, collection, > disposal. (MOST CRITICAL) > AGREED WITH ALL. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO CURTAIN CONSUMPTION (SPECIALLY OF PLASTICS). OTHERWISE, WE END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE THE PLASTICS IS CLEARED FROM MY BACKYARD, AND I FEEL VERY ECOLOGICALLY-FRIENDLY; TILL I REALISE THAT IT IS ONLY TAKEN TO SOME OTHER VILLAGE AND DUMPED... WHILE THE GARBAGE FROM THE COASTAL CALANGUTE BELT ENDS UP IN OR NEAR THE SALIGAO HILLOCK! > > 2. Playgrounds for children. > AS SOMEONE HAVING A "VESTED INTEREST" IN THIS, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE. WE ONLY NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE BUILDER-FRIENDLY SECTOR TRYING TO PUSH A CONCRETE PROJECT (MAINLY A SHOPPING CENTRE) IN THE WETLANDS AND FIELDS, UNDER THE GUISE OF IT BEING A "MINI STADIUM" OR WHATEVER. IN ADDITION TO SIMPLE PLAYGROUNDS, WE ALSO NEED MORE OPEN SPACES, AND POSSIBLY VOLUNTEERS WILLING TO LEAD THE CHILDREN IN SPECIFIC ACTIVITY. IF ANYONE HAS THE INTEREST, I COULD VOLUNTEER FOR THINGS LIKE CYCLING, CHESS AND COMPUTERS (MY KNOWLEDGE IS LIMITED HERE BUT I HAVE TONNES OF STUFF TO READ AND SOFTWARE THAT CAN BE LEGALLY SHARED. > > 3. Youth councelling, career guidance , vocational training centres. > WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THOSE ALREADY DOING THIS. I'VE BOUGHT A BOOK AT A THROWAWAY PRICE (GURVIS, CAREERS FOR NONCONFORMISTS) FOR YVONNE VAZ-EZDANI, WHO I KNOW WILL BE EMBARASSED WHEN I SAY SHE IS SILENTLY DOING A VERY GOOD JOB. HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE HER TO DO MORE? HOW DO WE GET MORE KIDS TO TAKE BENEFIT OF WHAT EXISTS? > > 4. STOP : Village level corruption / harassment. Illegal > structures coming up, demolish road encroachments. > LET'S FIND SOME MECHANISM THAT CAN HELP US ON THIS. A SALIGAO RIGHT TO INFORMATION CELL COULD BE A PRACTICAL IDEA TO START ON. AM WILLING TO VOLUNTEER MY TIME, TYPING AND INFORMATION ACTIVISM. > 5. Punish law breakers. > > 6. Improve law and order , security , safety. > THERE CAN BE NO DEBATE ON THE ABOVE TWO, AS BEING ESSENTIAL. BUT HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT THEM? > > 7. Census of migrants. Settlement plan for them > > 8. Check on voting cards – cancel fraudulent cards. > ANOTHER ISSUE ABOUT VOTING CARDS IS ABOUT LEGITIMATE VOTERS BEING DROPPED DUE TO EVEN A SHORT STAY OUT OF THE VILLAGE, FOR PURPOSE OF WORK, ETC. TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, ONE HAS TO BE 'ORDINARILY RESIDENT' IN THE VILLAGE/CONSTITUENCY. WHAT IF YOU LIVE IN ANOTHER VILLAGE OF GOA? THE DEFINITION OF 'ORDINARY RESIDENT' IS VAGUE AND DEFINES MORE WHAT IT IS NOT: [(1) A person shall not be deemed to be ordinarily resident in a constituency on the ground only that he owns, or is in possession of, a dwelling house therein. (1A) A person absenting himself temporarily from his place of ordinary residence shall not by reason thereof cease to be ordinarily resident therein.... 62[(7) If in any case a question arises as to where a person is ordinarily resident at any relevant time, the question shall be determined with reference to all the facts of the case and to such rules as may be made in this behalf by the Central Government in consultation with the Election Commission. http://www.advocatekhoj.com/library/bareacts/representation/20.php?Title=Representation%20of%20the%20People%20Act,%201950&STitle=Meaning%20of%20ordinarily%20resident > 9. Stop Ground water depletion. > > 10. Renovate Saligao market - create parking space - village square where > people can meet - plans languishing for 2 years > > 12. Sewage treatment – especially with the growth in population. we > need to slowly convert open / piggy toilets to septic anks. > > 13. A 24 hr clinic - for minor treatments - emergencies. > > 14. Help Desk for citizens - assistance in liaising with governmental > agencies, filling forms procedures etc. > > 15. Foster Community spirit - events - sports etc. > > 16. Work to integrate people - eliminate religious divides. > > 17. Better electricity supply - do not issue more connections - > especially LARGE ONES - until more supply is obtained. > > AGREED, BUT WE NEED SOME WAY TO DIG OUT THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THIS FRONT, SHARE IT AMONG ALL AND PUBLICISE IT IF NEEDED. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL POINTS. LET'S START WITH ONE SMALL THING WE CAN DO AND CONTRIBUTE IN SOME SMALL WAY. I'M THINKING OF SHARING MAGAZINES FROM MY SUPPLY, TO WHOEVER WANTS TO BORROW. OUR VILLAGE HAS LONG BEEN DEPRIVED OF A LIBRARY, AND I FEEL BAD ABOUT THIS, KNOWING THE KIND OF IMPACT IT COULD HAVE. FN -- 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!
