Goanet next meets in Goa: January 7, 4 pm (meeting point: Kala Academy canteen). Goanet founder Herman Carneiro will be there. See you there! ------------------------------
That the stage-managed and extravagant Gomant Vishwa Sammelan has evoked a poor response is not surprising. It was a fiasco in the waiting. The Government had claimed that 700 NRI delegates would attend the conference but in spite of all out efforts the authorities could only get around 30 NRIs to attend. The organisers must have known very well that it was a futile exercise. The grievances of NRIs have repeatedly been discussed at length and that this Sammelan was held with ulterior motives at taxpayers expense and has been a criminal waste of public funds without any concrete results and a mere merry-making party for some local people putting on a show in the name of NRIs. The event has cost the taxpayer's of Goa very dearly and the Government should make public how much has been spent on this event that could have been avoided. "NRI Goa Facilitation Centre" (GFC) set up by the Government of Goa is still to achieve any concrete results though it was started with ambitious plans. Since enough of talking has been done, it is time to start taking concrete steps to meet the aspirations of NRIs. The Government of Goa is using the GFC to present to the world a false picture that the quality of life in Goa has improved while the ground realities are a different story. The one major factor that drives NRIs from returning to their land is Corruption and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has not shown any initiative to root out corruption as was promised. The recent large numbers of Goan politicians making overseas trips at taxpayer expense have in reality been shopping and sightseeing jaunts. The Chief Minister, whilst in the Opposition, had vehemently opposed such trips. On assuming office had assured that he would not allow any. He has conveniently deviated from his assurances. The Government of Goa should be condemned for sending a delegation to the Gulf recently to study NRI grievances in spite of Government already being fully aware of the longstanding NRI grievances and needs. To encourage Goan NRIs to retire in Goa, the Government should seriously address the issue of old age and medical care, besides improving the overall infrastructure that is a matter of great concern. The steep rise in dacoities and murders is also something that scares NRIs away. Many Goans feel the urge to play a role in shaping the future of Goa but the authorities would have to encourage NRIs to return and invest their skills and savings in the land of their roots and mere holding stage managed conventions would be an exercise in vain. It is time the Government confronts the reality that NRIs cannot be lured by merely holding conventions. The authorities who are fully aware of the demands and concerns should get their act together and prove to the NRI community that they really mean business. Aires Rodrigues Ribandar ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################