And it is so simple and easy. Take the case of Elsa. Just a few months ago, Elsa Fernandes of St Cruz village, raised a few straight forward questions at the Gram Sabha inquiring about projects undertaken by the Panchayat, funds spent on projects implemented, recording of the proceedings of the previous Gram sabha meeting, etc.
Instead of straight forward answers during the Gram Sabha, she was first ignored, then not allowed to speak or complete all her questions, the mike was snatched from her, she was humiliated and bullied. Following this, a letter of complaint was filed at the Police Station stating that she be barred from attending meetings for causing disruption.
The letter of complaint was signed by Panch members, their family and some others who were not even present at the gram sabha. After this, she was summoned to the police station for further investigation. Then a video by a local Tiatrist was released that made allegations against her, there were statements of defamation, abuses were hurled at her that were discriminatory and insulting.
And, quite predictably, the video had accolades for the Sarpanch and panch members and showcased the ‘development’ work done by the Panchayat. A paid job, indeed. Most people from the village were talking about Elsa with virulent accusations as if she was a criminal that needed to be stopped at any cost.
Even fellow villagers that had earlier joined her in the good work were now speaking in the same tone, casting the same aspersions. The same paid job seemed to have found favours with the willing and pliable. Those same voices were blurting small favours done to them by local MLAs and representatives.
A branded car given free to escort the wedding couple, pavers laid for free in the garden, cow dung cleared away overnight and fed as compost into one field, permission to build a four-room ‘pump house’ in two days in the fields, cutting of hillside, allowed to set up a small business and so forth. It seemed that many in the village had compromised themselves and to return these ‘big favours’ had turned their back on the Elsas of their village.
Who is Elsa by the way?
Elsa is a senior lecturer at the Architectural Assistantship Diploma Programme of the Government Polytechnic. She is an Indian Green Building Council Accredited Professional. She is also an Environment Architect and has a Masters in Environmental Architecture from Pune. She has worked on a scientific analysis of climate change, its impact on Goa, its agriculture and khazans. She has experience in Green Skilling for work done under the Goa State Biodiversity Board. She has also done a law course from the V M Salgaocar College of Law. This is her professional dossier.
Besides this, she has voluntarily worked as part of the BMC of St Cruz Village to list the biodiversity of the village and prepare the People’s biodiversity register. Along with other stalwarts like Arturo D’Souza, she was instrumental in the notification of the Bondvoll Lake by the Wetlands Committee of Goa. She has worked voluntarily to create awareness about the submergence of the Khazans of Tiswadi, issues pertaining to land use planning, issues concerning ODPs and land use changes, and its impact on the city/towns. She is well versed with laws and with processes, systems and schemes made available by different government departments. She guides lay people, students, professionals and others with her knowledge. She is thorough, she is genuine, she is super intelligent, she is also humble and hardworking. She is a committed mother, wife, daughter, woman. She is a responsible citizen.
So why is she a threat? Like most activists who are and continue to work hard for the welfare of the state, its environment and its people, asking questions at the gram sabha or to the government is seen today as ‘terrorism’. With high levels of corruption, channels are open for large sums of money. So, sincere work, unconditional dedication, straightforward questions are seen as an impediment and spoke in the wheels of black prosperity that the world has succumbed to today. We asked many villagers and friends in St Cruz about Elsa. At first they hesitated. Then they gently began. Did you know Elsa’s relative did this and that? Why is she against development? Why is she stopping the making of a concrete path on the dam of the lake? Why is she against filling-up the fields to build the new market? Have you seen her relative’s land with sewage spilling out? Did you know her ancestors did this and that?
But Elsa has only done good and continues to do that consistently, selflessly, diligently. In fact, because of all the work she has done so far and the expertise she has, every panchayat, town, city and the state administration should take in her inputs and engage her in all aspects of mitigation of climate change, disaster management, planning of wards, towns, cities, green skilling, green developmental planning, environmental planning, sustainable planning, etc.
And Elsa is not the only one. Goa has so many activists that have the skills, expertise and passion to help conserve and protect Goa’s pristine environment and its ecology. If each of us do not stand up to them, we are only aiding in killing them. As family members, friends, fellow villagers, colleagues, citizens we must stand up, speak up and tide over this wave of corrupt politics and open ‘killing’ of our activists. Justice for Elsa, justice for all activists.
(Tallulah D’Silva is an
Architect and silver awardee of the Golden
Door Award 2020 for truth and integrity)