Goa’s NGO movement is a silver lining – besides fighting environmental issues, these warriors confront bureaucracy, approach courts, work on public awakening
Dark clouds often show a silver lining. This is the natural law existing across the universe. It should be our endeavor to get the best out of the positive and negative energy and not be waylaid into the calmness of neutrality.
We all are aware since 2012 and specifically in 2013, whilst BJP was in control of the government in Goa and Narendra Modi was vying for power at the Centre, our altar girl of the BJP who was a Minister had then proclaimed, that she would resign if Modi came to power and did not give Goa a special status.
As we stand today, over six years have passed by and Narendra Modi and the altar girl along with the 6 altar boys supporting the Jhumla ridden governments both at the Centre and in the State of Goa are aspiring that the era of gloom, despair and morbidity would soon see the silver lining of “Acche din”.
But Goans by and large believe in “the other” or somebody but not themselves, to do the job, of change.
Unfortunately, Goa is plagued with mining gloom, agriculture strangulation, coal dust and industrial pollution adversely affecting our health and as insolent Goans have allowed ourselves to be fooled by BJP jhumlas, the return of black money, good relationship with our neigbhours, end of terrorism, growth in employment, etc. Haphazardly implemented demonetization and the GST has killed the poor instead of killing poverty.
Now, rolling the clock backwards and presenting the silver lining amidst the gloom are the continuous and consistent efforts of our NGOs who are working hard to protect and preserve the Goans resources, ecosystem, our health and culture for prosperity.
Besides fighting the Goa related environmental issues on the ground, they are also confronting the obliging bureaucracy which is helping accelerate the destruction of Goa and addressing these issues in courts of law as well as resorting to public awakening.
The NGO movement in Goa is a silver lining. In the last two months we are able to see cultural activism centred around preserving our history, culture, folklore, music, dances and literature which has earned our creative hard working Goans state distinctions.
Messias Tavares, Lourdes Bravo Rodrigues among other writers, poets, dramatists receiving awards was significant, as haphazard development of Goa is making Goa loose its gleaming culture and identity. We must remind ourselves that Goa today is losing its traditional past and over 40% of Goa consisting of migrants, who are absolutely disconnected with the rich Goan identity, traditions, dances, folk lore music, language and history, which makes Goa unique across India and the world at large. We must acknowledge that it is the Goan singers, tiatrists, dramatists that have, and will continue to awaken the “sleeping Goans” from the guiles of crooked politicians, during the election seasons to follow.
Sadly, Goan scientists, professionals and University professors are marginalized by the Parrikar government.
The Goa University is working to 50% capacity. The research carried out in Goa, which is relevant to the State of Goa is negligible. There is absolutely no research funding and project assistance for Goa related issues: thus Mhadei issue, Mopa imbroglio, Mandovi pollution in particular and the environmental damage to River Sal, River Zuari and others is an immense disaster. It is imperative therefore for us all to raise our ‘hamla against the jhumlas’ destroying Goan education and research.
Unlike professors across India who have given India a bad name by taking Indian science back and equating it with mythology, Goan scientists have unequivocally denounced that the 100 Kaurava siblings had anything to do with the modern stem cell research. Sadly, it is nothing but a scientific jhumla by brain washed Indian scientists who are egged on by a pseudo nationalistic temper.
Looking pensively over the last decade, Goans were made to suffer from the illegal mining scams; equating a coconut tree to grass and thus undermining the importance of these trees and rampantly cutting them across Goa. We were promised that off shore casinos would be out of Mandovi, the pollution would stop, and the health of our rivers would be the prime focus. It was also promised to us that the waters of Mandovi would be made drinkable. But sadly, Mandovi river is dying and drying, mangroves on river banks are mercilessly cut and three bridges are put in the same place.
Our regional plans, TCP alterations, CRZ changes allowing constructions within 50 meters of the river bank or coasts only spells gloom and doom. The aggravation of susceptibility to disease in Goa, has increased suicides, depression and extremely poor quality of life due to overall pollution, contamination and societal decline has reduced the level of “Happiness index” in Goa considerable. From Rafale corruption to Mandovi destruction jhumlas are killing the people in India and Goa particularly.
I have already written earlier in these columns that the Goan society is wealthy but unhealthy. It is time enough for the Goans to pull up their socks and take a march forward, to register their hamla against the jhumlas of the politicians in power, before we stand accused as a Goan society which did nothing but rituals, allowing Goa to be doomed forever.
