MARGAO: Years back Datta Naik, Aires Rodrigues, Jose Philip Rodrigues, Oscar Rebello, Dr Francisco Colaco, Sabina Martins, Patricia Pinto and many others were the names to reckon with and who steered the Goa Bachao Abhiyan in 2007 and the Village Groups of Goa in 2014 but these names have taken a back seat and this time is the time for newer faces to don the mantle and raise new issues of a different Goa.
Led by co-convenor of Goencho Avaaz, Viriato Fernandes from Salcete and Swapnesh Shelkar from Bicholim along with the otherwise shy Abhijit Prabhudessai of Federation of Rainbow Warriors from Curtorim; also Arturo D’Silva from Santa Cruz spearheading the ‘Say NO to PDAS at Santa Cruz’, Durgadas Gaonkar Convenor of GAKUVED Corlim Tiswadi fighting for justice of the backward communities where land is usurped by the industrial zone, Felly Gomes from Assagao who runs the Live Happy Foundation, KUL Munkar Group from Querim-Ponda led by Ramkrishna Jhalmi, Manoj Parab youth leader and young Olencio Simoes on behalf of the Ramponkars were the new faces that stepped up to give this presentation in Margao, lead the bus loads of people who came from all over and take a resolution to save Goa from destruction through the Regional Plan.
“I came here only because it’s an apolitical meeting and the time is to arise and save Goa from its destruction of hill cutting, our bi-diversity and greenery is at stake, fields and water bodies are being destroyed and here’s a young movement by new faces and hence it’s a new promise and for me this was what got me here from Panjim”, stated historian Prajal Sakhardande in the front seats with the public.
Interesting to watch the veterans like Dr Colaco, tiatrists Wilmix and Sharon Mazarello, Patricia Pinto and others sit in the crowds and let the younger generation lead from the front.
Abhijit Prabhudessai of Federation of Rainbow Warriors from Curtorim brought forth the over 16,000 objections in the RP 2021 that the government has not heard. He said that a draconian plan as opened that allows industry, development in the high tide line, more migrant population housing through additional twenty point programmes and what he feels can destroy the ecology of Goa.
“I am a Goan first and then a religious nun and hence as a Goan I have come out to show my solidarity with all these Goan people,” explained Sister Theresa from the Holy Cross Sisters, Cansaulim who stood through the public meeting absorbing all that was said.
Similarly another religious Catholic nun was part of the six bus loads of people that plied over the Zuari from Chimbel, Merces and Santa Cruz to object the new regional plan. The nun explained that as nuns they can be spotted in their attire but lots of priests were also in the crowd in plain clothes, and were against destruction from development, while many priests took shelter in the Opposite Grace Church premises to listen to the speakers.
While Arturo DSilva from Santa Cruz used an LED wall to explain town planning and the gaps in RP 2021, a section of the people brought coconuts to poke fun at the Goa Forward party symbol, the coconut.
Ramkrishna Jhalmi who leads the KUL Munkar Group from Querim-Ponda took everybody by surprise and stated that illegalities against Mundkars or tenants is a planned activity of the building lobby, police person, corrupt mamlatdars and land survey depart officials.
“Every leader from the tribal samaj including (Anil) Hoble, Uday Gaonkar, Govind Gaude and others have been bought out and got plump positions in governments while bureaucrats and cops take instructions from MLAs and Ministers and are involved with the land mafia,” stated Jhalmi that left the massive police force red faced and ashamed. While Felly Gomes known for his daily social media posts ranting against the government in a very different manner steered the entire Goencho Avaaz public meeting and involved all the Goans present at the meet to dance and sing Konkani songs after each speaker which was a huge change from the usual speeches.
Manoj Parab youth leader and Swapnesh Shelekar Co-Convenor of Goencho Avaaz were ably supported by Abhijit in working and discussing the presentation on land conversions which truly made the real difference at this meet.
However, mocking at an ailing Parrikar was one drawback, felt one of the attendees, Brau Coutinho from Raia.
