THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
KARSTEN MIRANDA
VELSAO: There has been a shift in gears in what has always been a people’s movement in Goa against the railway double tracking project as now the group of citizens leading the agitation are no longer just members of the public but are now members of the local panchayat bodies.
The NGO Goencho Ekvott GE), which is an umbrella group for like-minded associations, tasted success at the recently concluded panchayat elections even though they had to face pressure from the powers that be, which included tactics to get these candidates to withdraw from contesting the polls.
While GE now has elected representatives in over a dozen panchayats, their panel in Velsao is set to rule the new body as they have the numbers on their side.
Maria Diana Gouveia, Rudika Ashlina Antao, Francis Braganza, Kishan G Sankolkar & Remedios Noronha were the elected panch members of the Velsao-Pale-Issorcim panchayat.
A template of governance not just at the panchayat level but in the whole State and even the Assembly has been set.
This marks a change in outlook for these people as they now move from a position wherein, they had to put pressure on the government institutions and authorities concerned to their present position, where they are now the authority at the grassroots level of governance. In the past such members were the ones who would appeal or put pressure on the panchayats to take decisions such as resolutions that could help the movement against double tracking and by becoming the panch members, they can put pressure on the rest of the panchayat to take and implement these decisions for the betterment of the public at large.
Elsewhere, GE executive member Lopinho Xavier also won the elections in Quelossim panchayat and his panel too is likely to take charge of the panchayat body. Similarly, in the Cavelossim panchayat, GE executive member Dixon Vaz won the elections in Cavelossim village panchayat and is likely to be part of the panel that will take charge of that body. In the Majorda-Utorda-Calata panchayat, GE convenor Creson Antao won the elections and here too he is likely to be part of the majority group in the panchayat body.
“It is clear from the results that there has been a lot of resentment against the government for trying to push the double tracking project through many of the villages. It is not easy to get elected and there was pressure against our candidates before the election but we have won because the people have backed us and what we stood for,” said Orville Dourado Rodrigues, GE founder member.
Speaking about the change in position, given that so many GE members are now panch members, Rodrigues, a resident of Velsao gave the example of his home village.
“The Velsao panchayat was very cooperative with us in the past and that is why the panchayat itself approached the High Court against double tracking. However, now that GE has panch members, we will be in an even better position to help fulfil the demands of the people. The villagers have vowed not to let even an inch of their land be acquired for the double tracking project,” he added.
Given that there are already problems of coal pollution and the threat of heritage structures getting destroyed, the locals are fearful that the railway authorities will just go ahead with their plans irrespective of the opposition they have raised.
“Many of our winning candidates have sacrificed a lot to be part of this fight against double tracking. However ultimately, it is not about us but about the people and what they want and we promise to stand by them for the next five years. We can communicate directly now to the government too via the panchayat,” Rodrigues added.
While GE is not expecting the Goa government to soften its stance given that the work on double-tracking has already begun, they hope that their small victory can help encourage others who take to the streets to protest, to continue their fight to oppose the three linear projects in the State.
