PANJIM, MAY 6
Claiming to be working behind the scenes the lesser known All India Congress Seva Dal on Thursday assured to take up issues pertaining to Goa’s environment and other matters having social implications, including casino gambling.
Addressing a press conference, chief organiser of All India Congress Seva Dal Mahendra Joshi said this was his second visit to Goa, but first as far as attending an organisational meeting was concerned. Yes there are issues and in this regard I have come to Goa to strengthen the Seva Dal here, he mentioned and added, “There are many problems which have to be looked into.”
However, when questioned whether he was given the knowledge of the issues facing Goa Joshi turned to the State chief organiser who said they were abreast of the issues and were working silently without coming to the press to publicise their work.
Joshi on being questioned by the press on the casino gambling issue in Goa maintained it was against the principles of Seva Dal and he would talk to the Congress leaders in the State about the same.
When questioned about the mining issue having implications on the environment of the State, he said now that the matter was before him he had taken note of it and would seek more details.
Joshi said the Seva Dal had planned training camps for which they would select two each from the 7,500 blocks across the country. Nearly 15,000 and more Seva Dal volunteers would be trained so as to make them responsible citizens. In Goa we are holding a training camp in August, he mentioned.
He said Seva Dal had started a membership drive to enrol youngsters because the youth showed more inclination towards joining the Youth Congress. Even though we are looking for youngsters the major criteria for their selection would be the ideological commitment they would offer to the organistaion, he observed.
Joshi said though Seva Dal was one of the frontal organisations of the Congress it was not a full-fledged political organisation. Dal is the parent party’s nursery where youth are trained for handling themselves in the Congress party and to become responsible Indians, he mentioned.
