A is for Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, which should have had better teeth to effectively prevent or check the construction of a bungalow within its precincts of the Chapel of St. Cajetan, which is a heritage site, irrespective of who the land belonged or belongs to, and irrespective of who built the bungalow.
B is for the Bhutani project which symbolizes the intersection of environmental and livelihood concerns and the lack of transparency, reminding us once again of the continuing struggle to ensure that the Town and Country Planning Act, 1974 has to be aligned with the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution of India, the Biodiversity Act, the Environment Protection Act, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, and there have to be better measures to ensure accountability of the mechanisms and authorities under the law.
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C is for the Casinos, that are legitimized despite the economic devastation of people, the complete change in the fabric of Panaji city – all in the name of revenue generation for the ‘economy’. Generate revenue we must. But pray tell us, is this a part of Indian culture to generate revenue at any cost? The Government must find sustainable ways of raising revenue – ways that will not tear apart our social and economic fabric and our safety. There is also a need to focus on budgeting that avoids profligate expenditure.
D is for DNA Test: The idea was proposed by a veteran right-wing politician who suggested conducting a DNA test on St. Francis Xavier to determine if he should be sent back to his country, despite there being no dispute over his origins. This suggestion came amidst his tirade against St. Francis Xavier, falsely linking a call for inquisition mentioned in one of the saint’s letters to the actual historical Inquisition that took place. Also, the case brought to light that the State selectively (mis)uses the criminal provisions about disrupting communal harmony.
E is for EDM festivals – events that seem to attract drug users, that were fought against and the voices against which resonated in various parts of Goa, especially where one of the biggest of such events was proposed to be held, for its noise deafening, environment and local fabric destroying potential. Goa can do without them. They make out yet another case for transparency measures and the need for critical boxes to be ticked before hosting such festivals.
F is for the farming, fishing and forestry that are under threat, despite being uniquely poised to be the USP of Goa, given its geo-historical location. Policies on each need to be tightened to do a compact report after public hearings on what has led to the decline in forest cover even going by official statistics and the pinning of accountability in the particular cases, and in legislation generally.
G is for gram sabhas, the manner of conducting which continues to be in violation of the Constitution, with weak systems for monitoring and poor enabling measures for all sections of society to speak up, about how they would like their village to be developed and for effectualising the basic aspirations.
H is for hill cutting rampantly done in Goa in the name of ‘development’ or for appropriation of the area for real estate. With all the talk of climate change, State reports seem to miss the point here. And landslides are an imminent threat.
I is for Illegal Ore Mining, the privatized version of which was stopped following Supreme Court directives, but the auction of mines, means even bigger corporate players, whose accountability is zilch in the face of a corporate state, and any attacks on local people who protest can easily be justified on the pretext of use of requisite force to disperse what they consider an unlawful gathering. What are the official mechanisms that can ensure ground justice, when mining violations take place.
J is for the Job Scam. Irrespective of whether Suleiman Siddiqui said what he did or didn’t say what he did, the fact remains that there was a job scam. And the fact remains that there is unemployment or disguised employment, that makes people vulnerable to job scam. Has anyone even checked which organisations are implementing the Minimum Wages Act? And where is the sustainable employment policy?
K is for Kala Academy, which reminds us that even if we want quality construction, issue of tenders is not about providing the contract to the lowest bidder, but the quality cum reasonably priced bidder, which should have been done.
L is for Language and the Script Issue. We could be speaking in many languages or many dialects and writing in many scripts. The point to remember is that does not weaken our language. If smallness were to be seen as a symbol of weakness, Goa itself would be considered weak.
M is for the Mhadei river issue, where the discourse keeps acquiring xenophobic tones, instead of focussing on preventing the diversion of the natural course of the river, and finding eco-friendly solutions to the water problems of the farmers in Karnataka. You can’t rob Peter to pay Paul, if the parched farming areas are indeed the reason for seeking a diversion.
N is for the Narcotic Drug Addiction – That large number of youth in Goa are vulnerable too. There seems to be little initiative to address the availability of these narcotics drugs, considering that by the very nature of the drug peddling business, the locations its availability are known.
O is for the OCI – Overseas Citizen of India card holder whose possibility of entering into/ staying in India hang perilously in balance, and in view of the citizenship amendment act 2019 and other administrative circular, hinges on passive submission and no-defend to the power of the day. This must change.
P is for Palestine- which may be far away from Goa, but through boycott, divestment and sanctions, both the Indians and Goa government can play a powerful role in leading the way to discourage genocide at Gaza.
Q is for the Questions that we need to ask – the tough questions like- about accountability, determining the caring capacity of Goa and action with responsibility by the state.
R is for the roads that are not constructed where they are required and widened for the people as such, and which are sites for disaster even the way rush and negligence riding is over looked.
S is for the Suchana Seth case, the case that hit the headline in January 2024 where the woman was reported to have murdered her minor son, apparently to evade access to the child by her husband. This bring to the fore the need for humanitarian and not mathematical or mechanical approach in child custody cases.
T is for Town and Country Planning Act- whose provisions need to be overhauled to be in alignment with other contemporary conservation and participatory laws, as mention earlier.
U is for the umbrella of accountability transparency sensitivity to the last person that is expected of good governance, which has been in short measures and which need to be enforced through provision for accountability in all laws, as there are in the right to information act.
V is for Veterinary Schemes that the government must stop out sourcing to supplier, through dubious public private partnership agreement, where no accountability is effectively exacted from such supplier
W is for water problems where water is available only for limited amount of time, reminding one of that famous adage “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink” there is an urgent need for an effective water policy, which should be connected to the moratorium on mega project in the state.
X is for xenophobia, which we must refrain, from, recognize that a large chunk of manual work in Goa is done by the migrant labour in Goa. Our battle has to be against the stinking rich for other part of India who are throwing the weight of their money power and muscle power around, as a few from Goa are also doing.
Y is for youth who must be provided with model of love and care and sensitivity to those on the margin instead of hatred being spewn around, to play the politics of divide- and- rule.
Z is for zoning, – that should not be merely change through draconian laws or through draconian amendment in existing laws, to line the pockets of a fews. The zoning must align with the eco systems and people livelihood requirements and skills.
(Albertina Almeida is a lawyer and human rights activist)
