GOA 2035 VISION AND ROADMAP – The document has no vision for Goa’s Future

Cyril Fernandes of Human Rights Monitoring Society with added comments from Bharat Mukti Morcha that are marked with highlighter.

1. Before I comment on the contents of the report, it appears and one can observe that the formation of the committee is flawed and does not compose of such characteristics that which would have made this exercise more fruitful. 1^st, there is an illogical imbalance wherein only one woman is cast among ten men. Therefore a true woman point of view would not have got the weightage it deserved. Secondly, it does not appear that any representation was considered for the youth. Did the compositors believe that the Goan youth is incapable of demarcating a role for himself and for the future youth in 2035? No representation has been provided. Similarly, another faction of Goan has gone unrepresented thus causing a major flaw in the composition thus affecting the very core of the report. I am referring to the SCs/STs and the OBCs. In this manner, whatever inputs that the committee may have relied upon, there is no proof that there was a balanced approach weighing all aspects and visualizing the pros and cons of their recommendations to affect all the stake holders. (Bharat Mukti Morcha agrees to this point of critic)
2. The report itself does not do justice to the stature of the people who were appointed on the committee. The whole report is more of a commentary on the present Goa and what it should ideally be in 2035. However, it has not spelled what is our present status on the different scales of growth in terms of development, infrastructure, economic power of its citizens, employment, education, medical facilities, facilities to senior citizens, youth, children and the especially abled. Some benchmarks of growth and development should have been spelt out and then the present status should have been compared to them. This is not done and therefore it is difficult to   gauge if we have fallen short or surpassed them. In view of not giving any data on the present status and the normal bench mark that we should have achieved, it is flawed to suggest anything for the future when you don’t know your past and present. Taking 1961 (Year from which we came under the Indian government policies and programmes), the committee should have measured our growth spelt out the figures. Only then we could gauge for ourselves if we have grown enough or need to do some more. Where should we draw the line of growth and development? (Bharat Mukti Morcha points out that this point has neglected to mention that 85% of the people appointed on this commttee are Euressian Bamons)
3. Similarly before they could even suggest some more developmental activity and provision of infrastructure, they have not spelt the actual load that Goa can carry in term of population, industry, pollution, water resources, Housing, etc.  therefore,  announcing more industrial growth without knowing what is the pollution load Goa is capable of carrying is a flawed approach to development and should be rejected to say the least.

How much Population can Goa Carry? What was Goa’s population some 50 years back, and then 100 years back, what was the percentage at which it grew, and at what percentage it will grow, what it would be 50 years from hence and 100 years from now?

What is the carrying load of Goa Vis-à-vis Industry? How much Industrial load can Goa carry considering the fact the it is surrounded by a fragile environment?

How much land would we require for our future population? Where will that land come from?

The answers to these questions are missing in the report. In addition, on the fiscal matters, it is not clarified how much income is required to administer Goa without depending on borrowings and external funding. And what the present status is,  and what scientific ways and means we need to apply to augment our income from within the available system. (Bharat Mukti Morcha agrees to this point of critic)

4. One would have expected a better deal considering that the committee comprised of such eminent people. However, it appears that the committee must have got carried away with the hospitality of the government or with a rosy picture that the government must have depicted. Because nothing is mentioned about the turmoil that is going on in the villages to protect our lands against the present real estate bulldozers. Nothing is mentioned of the peoples aspirations and demands for the special status for Goa to protect its land, its fields, its agriculture, its identity, its culture and its original “Mulnivasis”. (Bharat Mukti Morcha considers this entire exercise was to seal Bamon hold on Goa. It is wrong to expect that this committee would have interests of Mulnivasi people at their hearts).
5. The need of the hour is to conduct a social, economical and cultural audit of Goa. Only through such an audit can one gauge the status of present Goa. This audit would throw light on whether Goa has developed, under-developed, or over-developed. If it is not developed, then we need to develop it. If it is developed, then we need to freeze further development, and if it is over-developed, then we need to identify the said areas and rectify them. In the absence of such an audit, it is a futile attempt to even suggest any makeover. ‘Omtea Kollxear Udik’. (Bharat Mukti Morcha considers that the need of the hour is to overthrow Bamon Raj in Goa and in India, and for this all the mulnvasi people must join nation wide agitation headed by Bharat Mukti Morcha).
6. In the whole report, there are only two issues that have been concretely suggested and they smell of obvious interest detrimental to the Local interest. 1. A mining corridor has been suggested at page 28 (Para. 3.20). 2. That the powers of the panchayat should be withdrawn and entrusted with the government to issues construction licenses (Para 6.14).  In one stroke two majors players in today’s Goan scenario are given the benefit to loot and plunder Goa even more. (Bharat Mukti Morcha agrees to this point of critic)
7. The issue of land is not properly dealt with. Though mention is made of the positive features of the ‘Communidade’, no steps are suggested to protect the said features or to stop the plunder of these Communidades. Today land has become the most contentious issue and specially Communidade land. There is insufficient information on Communidade provided in the document. In view of this, gross injustice is done to the Gaonkars of Goa. Today ‘Communidade’ properties are used by scrupulous Goans to sell land to unwanted settlers. Today the people who wish to settle in Goa are not productive forces of the market but people who either want to have a retired life or who wish to park their illegal money here. Today the productive forces of the market are the workers, local or migrants. But there is no policy in this document addressing their housing needs. But there is lot of concern shown for not productive settlers and references are made to Bangalore and other such areas. Communidade land has been used historically by the Gaonkars and the different service providers. Therefore taking cue from Communidades. all land has to be reserved only for Goans and the different service providers. (Bharat Mukti Morcha considers Eurassian Bamon infiltration in Communidades as a burning problem of land in Goa that needs solution).
8. Similarly, Agriculture has not been given a fair deal in the said document. Pompous statement are made of organic farming. However, I don’t think there was any person from the farm sector or have they consulted any farmers or agriculturist to say the least. The true agriculturist are all marginalized and exist  in Goa on its fringes as landless laborers. Yes, I am talking the Kunbis of Goa. The first Settlers of this territory and the first right holders to development. They exist in Goa in the form of Gawddas, Kunbis and Velips. However, they are not part of our development frame. They have never been, and from this report, it does not appear that they will ever be. The Kunbis are the people who have given us the orchards, forests paddy fields and the Agricultural marvel called the ‘Khazans’. Give them back they farms and see the output from these natural farmers. Unless agriculture goes to its original owners, no amount of half hearted effort would help change the scenario. (Bharat Mukti Morcha agrees to this point of critic; further it is important to note that it is because of Bamani conspiracy that land has been taken away from tribal people in Goa. It is futile to expect that they will return back without a major agitation in non-segragated manner by combining entire mulnivasi power).
9. Some very prominent Goans concerned about Goa’s future and always working to protect it have not been consulted or invited on the sub-committees of this august body. Smt. Norma Alvares was recommended by the Goa government and therefore rewarded by the Central Government by the PADMA Award. She was awarded for her unstinting devotion to protect the Environment of Goa. This committee did not find it fit to consult her or appoint her on the sub-committee on Environment. Persons like Ramesh Gauns, Dr. Claude Alvares, Smt. Sabina Martins, Adv. Albertina Almeida find no mention anywhere in the report. People’s groups like the Goa Bachao Abhiyan, Village Voice of Goa, Chicalim Villagers Action Committee or the Goa Foundation has been overlooked while discussing the environment issues of Goa and its villagers. With such glaring anomalies staring at one who goes through the report, it reflects badly on the whole exercise. (Bharat Mukti Morcha holds that Bamons and their organizations, organizations infiltrated by bamons cannot plan and think of betterment of mulnivasis in Goa, hence it is suicidal for mulnivasis to proceed ahead in this way of thinking. Bharat Mukti Morcha does not agree with this point of critic). 
   The persons who have drafted the Vision document, are scientists by occupation and well qualified in their field of activity. However, they failed in drawing a line between a scientific approach to the issue and an emotional and irrational approach. In introducing the learned document, it was not necessary to fall back on myths to put up a point and present your views when plenty of scientific rational means were available.  Limiting themselves to Mythical History when proof of Goa’s actual and physically present history was available, it has caused a great harm to the rational and scientific Goan. 
   We don’t think the purpose of appointing this committee was to refer to myths and ignore the facts. However they have done injustice to their own effort by doing so. They must understand that in Goa live people who belong to different faiths and beliefs and limiting themselves to one particular religious belief is an injustice to the other major communities who will be affected by their work and this document. Religion is said to be the opium for the mind. And unfortunately, these learned men and women have resorted to Opium to fetch us a new and better life in the future. In their pursuit to provide us all an “Enlightened Goa”, they themselves have resorted to an unenlightened act of referring to mythological characters. (Bharat mukti Morcha considers that the myth of Parshurama is included on cover page mainly to elucidate the bamani nature of the vision for Goa that is inherently anti-mulnivasi people. Parshuram is said to have fought to annihilate mulnivasi people 21 times. Parshuram is also known for killing his own mother Renuka because she was a mulnivasi. Story of Parshuram is written by Bamons in their Puranas. These are are the guidelines of warfare by bamons against Mulnivasis. There is no religion involved here. It is a pure statement of Euressian bamon conquest.)
   I humbly request that the report be set aside. A full audit of Today’s Goa, its economy, social and environmental be conducted and only then a new roadmap may be arrived at in consultation with all those who will be affected by the said roadmap.
   The present Goa 2035 Vision is an exclusive exercise and falls short to convert it into an all inclusive programme. (Bharat Mukti Morcha considers this exercise of exclusity a deliberate attempt to for the purpose of Bamon agenda of vision and road map).
   (Bharat Mukti Morcha considers it is important to change the method of analysis of this vision document as the nature of oppression in Goa and in india is caste based and the dignosis has to be caste based and not class based. Shudra earning Rs.1000/- per week is considered socially inferior to a Bamon earning Rs. 1000/- per week purely because the oppression is not class based in nature bu caste based. Articles 340, 341, 342 are included in Indian constitution for this purpose bringing about equality. There cannot be common vision 2035 nor road map for Bamons and the rest of mulnivasi society in Goa because bamon by their nature of being invaders will have the vision of oppression, repression, suppression and making mulnivasis invisible and subservient to them so that they can continue to rule uninterrupted on mulnivasis in Goa. Aadhar Card is a mecahnism for this purpose. It is suicidal to for mulnivasis to get sucked up in the Bamani vision 2035. It is a vsion of bondage and slavery of mulnvasis. We mulnivasis must have an independent vision and an independent road map, both of them has to be independent from bamons and their mind control on us. Those willing to engage in this exercise join Bharat Mukti Morcha to carry forward the mulnivasi vision of freedom and self-respect).