For a month now, each day Herald has been highlighting and discussing the real issues that matter to us. We now urge you to become teachers and partners in this journey of information sharing it with your family, friends, neighbours and your society to discuss your future, your children’s future and Goa’s future. Herald will be with you in this journey as a friend and guide and as your Voice. Don’t you agree that it is our collective responsibility to reach the messages of key issues of Goa to more people? Starting with relatives, friends, colleagues, the larger community and the village and its surroundings? These teachings should be about the kind of people you must elect based on the main issues of Goa. Let us now look at what you should teach followed by how you should teach.
THIS IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. YOU ARE THE ONES WHO WILL KEEP THE ARTERIES OF INFORMATION CLEAN AND FREE-FLOWING.
If the arteries of information (awareness) are choked the issues of Goa that matter to the people will be blocked leading to a heart attack. Remember Goa’s heart beats to the pulse of the needs of the people
WHAT YOU SHOULD TEACH
Firstly encourage people to participate and not say “I am not in politics”
POLITICS IS NOT A DIRTY BUSINESS
We are here because of our forefathers. It is because of the sacrifices made by our forefathers, because of the battles they fought that we live in free Goa, we can go to the courts, we can speak up and lead our lives and carry out professions. We are secure because of our forefathers.
So how can anyone say they are not interested in politics? The people of Goa have to be a part of the process that elects the right people so that people power will allow the right decisions to be made for Goa for the benefit of all Goa. That is politics. And each one of you must teach the other that it is our responsibility to be in politics. If you don’t then might will become right and you will have no say.
ONLY YOU CAN DEFEAT VOTE BANK POLITICS
Different leaders win not because the whole constituency is with them. But because they capture one vote bank that lives in one part of the constituency. For example, slums. Slum politics mean outsider migrants get everything. Ration cards, Aadhar cards and voter’s cards. At the same time, they have the same documents in their local addresses in their native places, while they get the pennies from politicians and also the benefits of different welfare schemes meant for poor Goans. These schemes are funded by the hard-earned money of local Goans.
THIS IS A LOOT. EITHER PAY OR ‘COME TOMORROW’
This is nothing but loot. Migrants have double identity cards, get benefits of schemes while you the common hardworking Goan have to pay bribes for everything. From ration cards to driving licences, to getting plans passed. There is money involved everywhere. There are touts who take this money and the loot goes up, all the way to the levels of ministers. And if you refuse to pay, then you hear this “Come tomorrow”. And that tomorrow never comes.
LAND GRABBING GOAN STYLE
There are so many Goans who are seeing their lands grabbed, the papers illegally transferred and bodyguards placed on their properties. At times they don’t even know that their names are struck off their own property papers and the property “sold”. Do ask people whether they want this kind of government?
COAL DUST AND TUBERCULOSIS
It is very important to inform people about the ill effects of coal pollution and coal dust as a direct result of coal transportation which is going to only increase when double-tracking and other projects are completed against people’s interests. People are getting sick, they are choking and many are getting tuberculosis as a result of coal dust pollution. Do you want your children to suffer in this way?
HOW YOU SHOULD TEACH
Everyone needs to be a teacher. And you should teach those who in turn will teach others on how to elect your own people to power
With power comes responsibility and if you don’t elect the right people to power Goa and Goans will face a big disaster. You should begin by teaching members of your family at the dinner table, or during evening chats at the balcao, then move to the circle of close friends and extended family. Speak at homes, at small gatherings, at social functions/parties wherever possible, in the village square in the morning, in markets etc.
The idea is to build the needs of Goa and discuss them when you speak to people, educate them on what kind of People’s candidates Goa needs, unlike social media, this teaching has to be personal because this is about your future, your children’s future. While we have mentioned the kind of issues that you need to raise, do ask people and take their views of “are they are concerned” about some of these issues” such as:
Won’t you be concerned about how Goa can make you self-reliant, how Goa’s artists and craftsmen and those with other skill sets find markets?
Won’t you be concerned about how black Goa’s beaches have become due to coal, dust and tar?
Our beaches are meant to be clean and pollution-free. We walk on our beaches to enjoy and breathe fresh air. It is important to us. But the sand on our beaches is turning from white to black.
Won’t you be concerned that coal dust and tuberculosis will harm you, your families and your children?
Won’t you ask who is responsible for this? The companies will transport even more coal after double-tracking and highway expansion through Goa’s villages.
Goa has one of the richest biodiversity and natural beauty. That is getting spoilt. On the beaches, tourists are faced with migrants pushing their wares and wanting to give massages. We are also not getting the tourists we want. Just busloads and carloads of people from Dharwad and Hubli who park their cars, cook on the beaches and litter, defecate and urinate in the open and sleep in the open or in their vehicles.
Won’t you ask fellow Goans if they have not found glass pieces of broken bottles either in the sand or inside the water when they swim. Did this ever happen till a few years ago?
Do teach people that if this goes on people will stop coming to Goa and go elsewhere. And when that happens, everyone in Goa will suffer. Tourism-related businesses will shut down. There will be no money in people’s pockets, businesses will shut down in the tourism sector and other businesses will suffer because they will be no spending power.
IT’S TIME TO TEACH. GOA IS OUR RELIGION
The message must go, that Goa is land of communal harmony and the issues affecting Goa affect people, of all faiths and religions. Let us tell people GOA IS OUR RELIGION, OUR FAITH.
TEACH THAT ELECTIONS CAN BE WON WITHOUT MONEY BY VOTING FOR PEOPLE’S CANDIDATES
Politicians will come knocking at your doors to offer money. This is actually money that has been looted from you. But don’t let money sway your conscience or your faith in Goa and what it needs. Select candidates from among your selves, identify good people and elect them.
TEACH ONE TO TEACH MANY
When you teach one, you will end up teaching many if everyone taught teaches others. One of the most important aspects of this teaching is to help them identify, convince and select good leaders. Convincing the right person to contest is also an important task and must be included in your teachings.
IF WE ELECT RIGHT PEOPLE, OUR GOANS ABROAD WILL RETURN AND SO WILL FOREIGNERS
Once we establish a people’s governance which takes up people’s issues, many of our Goans abroad will return to their homeland and the increasing opportunities will draw talent from abroad too.
LET US DO THIS TOGETHER. REMEMBER WHEN A GREAT BAND LIKE BEATLE’S SPLIT, IT WASN’T THE SAME
The Beatles was a great band. But they were good because they were united. The moment one or more thought they were greater the band split. Music lovers will know that even a great like John Lenon was more followed and heard as a Beatle’s member and not as a solo lyricist and singer.
We have to teach and get others to teach in a united manner. One for all and all for one.
Let us pledge to do this. This is the only way Goa will be saved from impending disaster. Choose the right people. Herald is always there to back you, guide you and help you at each and every stage.
