PANJIM: Among its ‘key pledges’, Congress while releasing its manifesto, has promised to form a Tourism Development Bank to facilitate loans for new entrepreneurs in the tourism industry. The party has reiterated that a law will be passed to preserve Goa’s land and identity.
Congress leaders including GPCC president Girish Chodankar, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Babu Kavalekar, MLAs and party functionaries released the party’s manifesto for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
Laying the thrust on early resumption mining activities, Congress has promised to ‘restart mining activities in sustainable manner within the framework of the Supreme Court judgment and Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957’. The party has also promised to ‘vehemently work to convince the Parliament to pass a law to preserve Goa’s land and identity’.
Speaking about the tourism sector, Girish said “We will form Tourism Development Bank to help those who want to do business in tourism industry. In addition, we have also proposed visa on arrival across so that more tourists from different countries come to Goa and also there will be no visa fees for subsequent three years.”
Stating that the Congress manifesto has acknowledged the demands of the fishing community and a separate ministry will be established for fishing and the industry will be recognised as one of the agriculture sectors. “We will also establish fishermen welfare board for the protection and welfare of the fishermen. They will also get the benefits and subsidies on par with the agriculture sector”, Girish added.
He further said that the party has promised to reverse the CRZ notification and restore the 200 meters and provide special facilities to traditional fishermen.
The manifesto further promises to provide formalin free fish to the Goans and also de-notify the river nationalisation policy of the BJP government. The manifesto also promises review and audit of the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society and to explore the option of restoring and enhancing the monthly ex-gratia monetary assistance (MEMA) scheme.
Kavalekar said that unlike the BJP’s false promises of depositing Rs 15 lakh in everyone’s account, the NYAY scheme which promises minimum income guarantee will be implemented like the MNREGA scheme.
“Our manifesto has also promised that Dhangars will be given the Scheduled Tribe status which the BJP has only been talking and despite having the numbers did not do anything for our people”, he added.
