Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill
The so called Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill passed in the Goa Assembly with so much haste is nothing but a fraud. A very badly drafted bill which is called by us Goans as V B Bill meaning vote bank bill is unconstitutional too. This bill ignores us Goans and makes migrants living in Goa for the last 30 years, owners of the land. The encroachments done by the migrants 30 years ago are now the owners that same land, what a joke.
According to this bill, 30 years of domicile and one and half years for the constructed structure is the requirement. Who decides this? When any bill is to be introduced, a copy of the bill is to be given to each and every member of the House, then the bill is introduced and discussed for at least 48 hours and that too during daytime and not at 2 a.m or 4 a.m when all Goans are fast as sleep. We the Goans are opposing this bill in any name, tooth and nail.
There are many Goans still living as Mundkars for generations and generations. Instead of solving their problems our Goa Government is worried about migrants, to make them Goans for their vote bank. The godfathers of these migrants are Mauvin Godinho and Michael Lobo. This bill is a harassment to us Goans and a tight slap on our faces. There is no other option but scrap this Draconian and unconstitutional bill once for all. Our Goans also stayed for decades and decades in other parts of India like Mumbai, Delhi, Belgaum, etc, but nobody legalised our dwellings there to make us Mumbaiites, Delhiites, Kannadigas, etc. Why only in Goa? It seems like they want to bring all migrants to Goa because they did not succeed to merge Goa with Maharashtra.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Promote clothes with Kun’bi saree design
It is learnt that the Goa government is making serious efforts towards securing Geographical Identification (GI) tag for Kun’bi saree. This is reportedly being done in order to showcase the Kun’bi saree as the pride of Goa at various programmes. Kun’bis are the earliest settlers of the State hence the Kun’bi saree has been manufactured even before the Portuguese rule. India is a land of diversity and also an embodiment of unity with different cultures prevalent in different States of the country. Each region has its own separate identity as far as food, language, dress, etc, is concerned.
Most of the traditional attires of the States are indeed stunning and the people of the State wear it with pride. It is said that among all the States of India, the north eastern State of Assam boasts of a traditional attire that is uniquely beautiful. In Kerala it is the white saree with golden border while men wear the traditional lungi. The Kashmiris wear clothes which are a delightful fusion of bright colours. Tamil Nadu is famous for its Kanchipuram sarees. Gagras, cholis, salwar kameez, kurtas, etc, are the other traditional attires which are unique in other States.
Goans should wear such clothes with pride which will promote the traditional Goan attire.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Goa, going, gone?
Geologically and physio-graphically Goa has three zones: on the east a part of the mighty Sahyadri, followed by plains in the middle and on the west the beautiful sandy and rocky coast. But human intervention has resulted in the loss of chunks of Goa’s land which has fallen prey to the avarice of people and authorities.
The first prey was the ore-bearing hills and mountains to miners. The 2nd target are the areas between the mountains and coast that were/are been usurped by builders and land sharks. When the Major Ports bill is implemented then large areas of Goa’s coast, the third victim, would belong to the Mormugao Port Trust.
The 4th nail on Goa’s land coffin is the Bhumiputras Adhikarni (what about Bhumiputris?) Bill. The Bill envisions allotting land to those who illegally build their houses 30 years back on government/comunidade lands.
Hope there is no 5th and final step when common people and honest and law-abiding citizens would be banished from Goa.
Sridhar D’Iyer,
Caranzalem
Goa’s controversial Bhumiputra Bill
The Goa Assembly passed the Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, 2021, which the government says will provide for a mechanism to give ownership rights to dwellers of small housing units to enable them to live with dignity, self-respect and to exercise their right to life.
Bhumiputra – which means son of the soil was a term so far used to refer to tribals of Goa – namely Gauda, Kunbi, Velip communities. But the bill will hurt the very fundamentals of Goa and its residents at large. Those who have constructed houses illegally will be rewarded, while honest people in the State who have followed legal processes will be shunned.
This Bill is nothing but a systematic attempt to defeat rule of law. This law is unheard of anywhere in the world and this legislation gives licence to grab properties. The biggest concern is that the bill may give rise to regularisation of illegal structures.
This might also open the floodgates for the migrant population that has been staying in densely populated areas in Goa and has no legality. Moreover word ‘Bhumiputra’ in the name of the bill will damage the identity and originality of the particular community in the State.
Elections to the state Assembly are scheduled to be held in early 2022. This is a jumla which is being done by the BJP government aimed at the 2022 elections.
K G Vilop,
Chorao
The Golden throw
Hats off to the golden boy with the Golden Throw, Neeraj Chopra for his stunning gold medal performance at the ongoing Olympics. But little was said about his background except that he was working for the Indian Army.
Actually Neeraj was inducted into the Indian Army as a Havaldar in 2016 in the Sports Quota. He reached his present Rank of Subedar after winning several national and International medals earlier, each major medal fetching him a promotion as well. Seeing his potential his first mentor Col Dinesh recommended him for special training in Germany where he worked his way up consistently, finally leading to his Olympic Gold.
Along with all the other awards and rewards that are sure to follow him now, I hope he would also be given an appropriate promotion in the Indian Army to suit his tremendous achievement. Being just 23, he is sure to bring more laurels for India in the coming years given the right encouragement.
Eugine Augustine,
Porvorim
Astounding throw by Neeraj in Tokyo
The astounding jumbo javelin throw by Neeraj Chopra in Tokyo that fetched India its only gold medal at the Games has sent the nation into raptures. The man with the golden arm produced a best of 87.58 metres outperforming the field by some distance. As a result, Neeraj became only the second Indian to win individual gold at the Olympics and immortalised himself as the country’s first track and field Games medal winner.
The gold, two silver and four bronze in Tokyo is India’s largest medal haul ever, bettering the tally of six in London 2012. Well done!
N J Ravi Chander,
Bengaluru
