There are several acres of agricultural land that are taken over through legitimate or illegitimate means for non-agicultural interests such as tourism, mining, real estate, educational institutions, roads, highways, highway expansions and industrial estates over the last three decades in the name of development. This has certainly provided big jolt to Goa's food security and traditional livelihoods systems that were essentially self-sustaining. Current churnings around drafting of Goanagricultire policy has provided added impetus for a collective reflection across state of Goa.
While it is welcome initiative from the Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik to initiate this policy there remains looming concerns about the process and the scope of the policy intentions as put out by Director of Agriculture on May 23, 2023 with later amendments.
State of Goa has brazenly launched war on Goa's food security through multi faced attacked on Goa's land that sustained people in Goa for generations together. Unfortunately State wasn't alone in this ghastly aggression. Goa Archbishop and now Cardinal too joined the race to ruin Goa. With a masterful stroke of a monster he sold off Vanxim paddy fields to his Altinho neighbour Mahendra Gaunekar at a price less than peanut in 2007. This land then got under control of Bangalore based scamster Satyamurti Vasudevan in 2015 and came under IPB jurisdiction through cabinet decision. It's classic study on abuse of position and power by State and Religious authority. Goa Archbishop's office was well aware of Vanxim paddy fields going in the hands of corporate ruffians from the agreement to sale of Vanxim that was executed by then Archbishop Raul N. Gonsalves in April 1999. Yet monstrous trail was allowed to be completed.
From 2010 Mahendra Gaunekar initiated legal proceedings against all the tenants and deemed purchasers in the office of Deputy Collector at Panjim for condonation of delay with Santa Monica Society as the interested party. Deputy Collector passed orders in favour of Mahendra Gaunekar even though deputy collector has no power to do so as argued before Administrative Tribunal by none other than Adv. Mahesh Sonak representing Mahendra Gaunekar and currently Judge at Goa Bench of Bombay High Court. The cases then got revived at Mamlatdar court at Panjim seeking erasure of tenants. Out of 70 tenants on record- 35 from Vanxim and 35 from Naroa, Bicholim (to whom Vanxim people had given to cultivate but tenancy law gave them infinite tenure right over land) nearly 66 connived into getting their names erased as tenant submitting falsely that they never cultivated paddy fields in Vanxim and their names on form I & XIV form was by mistake. Most of them never had their own lawyer and surrendered their land cheaply. Those few who had their lawyer entered into costly deals and got paid several lakh. We were offered too and we refused steadfastly and litigation continues. And this is the reason paddy fields of khazan nature in Mandovi though sold off yet remains under litigation and legal hurdles persists. In not a single instance Archbishop's lawyer in Deputy Collector's court stood up to state the truth that tenants indeed cultivated paddy fields.
Most people in Vanxim seems to have understood as to how Ozone corporate hoodwinked them are now more alert than before.
Bharat Mukti Morcha has called for the investigations into the Vanxim deal with clear terms of references. Unfortunately even CBI has refused to investigate saying that Vanxim is beyond the CBI Jurisdiction.
Inspite of all the blocks in all side we have marched on with flame of dissent in our hand. We walked for 13 years and we invite you to join the journey ahead.
Challenge for all of us is (1) How do we get Ozone kicked out from Vanxim (2) How do we reclaim legal titles again on Vanxim paddy fields (3) How do we start cultivation paddy back again with all the hard work and diligence.
How do we situate Vanxim khazan fileds in the context of Agriculture Policy for Goa much beyond State interpretation? What is people interpretation of Agriculture policy? Considering that several politicians on Goa who are in the Assembly and Parliament allegedly being palm greased by Ozone agents negative approach to Vanxim from politicians and State agencies are anticipated. What we need to focus is on People interpretation and enforcement of agriculture policy to overcome variety of official blockades to ensure Agriculture in Goa is revived inspite of all the blocks.
No comments:
Post a Comment