---------------------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be BETTER INFORMED --------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN highlights the Voters "Right to Know" and "Right to Say No" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN organized an Awareness Action in Panjim to focus on the importance of the Voter's "Right to Know" and the "Right to Say No" in the decision making process, the pressures of globalization, liberalization and privatization on Government's policy and the need for sustainable development instead of mega projects for the future of Goa.
The action which had participation of Consumer Forum volunteers from different villages was part of the final phase of the GOACAN Voter Awareness Drive which is to conclude on 30th May, Goa Statehood Day. It may be noted that in the last five years the voters in Goa have had the opportunity to see two alliance Governments being formed by the BJP and the Congress in which many situations had arisen wherein the voter sought to assert the "Right to Know" on the one hand and exercise the "Right to Say No" on the other. Voters have experienced instances like the Miramar beach privatization project,the proposal to make Goa the permanent venue for IFFI, the 6-lane Express way, the increase in number of Casino licenses, the proposed land acquisition for Golf Courses, the promotion of IT Parks and the Cricket stadium in private forest areas and University land , the granting of permissions for SEZs, the land acquisition for Food Park & its Auxiliary services, the attempted sell out of Forts & other heritage sites to private parties, the conversion of ecologically sensitive areas for building factories, Garbage dump sites and shipyards and the controversial Regional Plan of 2011. Voters have seen in the past five years that various business lobbies, vested economic interests and anti –Goa forces have tried to influence Governments decisions and policies with the sole purpose of private gains at the cost of the tax payer. Voters have seen that Govt. Departments have been bypassed through the use of Consultants, Corporations and other such agencies so as to push through the pet projects of certain MLA's and Ministers resulting in land grab and huge losses to the exchequer. The last five years have shown that Goa is vulnerable and when its political class has failed her from time to time, popular agitations at the village, town, taluka, district and the State level involving various stakeholders has been the result. GOACAN would like to remind all voters that the "Right to Know "and the "Right to Say No" is essential for democracy to work effectively in Goa. Keeping in mind that the forthcoming Assembly elections on 2nd June have been seen as Goa's second Opinion Poll, GOACAN calls upon voters in their respective constituencies to elect those candidates with a view to promote accountability, transparency, good governance and sustainable development. ------------------------------------------------------------ GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ----------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ----------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------------
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