The Herald has favored Goans largely and raised issues and taken up concerns of Goa till date which is a good thing. Because Goa has many monsters to fight like the mining lobby, the construction lobby, the tourism lobby which doesn’t think of sustainability and many other issues.
But today the bigger challenge is the Goa that has changed and changing. There is a rise of migrants in Goa but they don’t just come here to work and credit money back home. They’re here to settle and become a part of our social fabric.
As an Indian citizen once you settle anywhere in India, you soon get a residence proof and eventually you become a registered voter in the State. Now there are many non-Goans here who have voting rights.
The priority and mindset of a non-Goan is different and when that person votes and becomes a decision maker in forming the new government in Goa, then there is a problem since they will ignore our traditions and culture most often.
The new age Goan doesn’t care about culture and heritage and then the voted representative will also force us to move on, leaving behind our Goanness and also our zeal to fight for Goa to save it from many negative elements driven by money and profits.
That’s where I feel the Herald has to play its role and be a watchdog to ensure we bask and live in our Goanness and don’t compromise it for unsustainable development which leads to destruction of the environment.
The Herald needs to continue to be unbiased and take an opinion of all political parties and present those thoughts to the reader so that we as readers are awaken and continue to have the zeal to preserve our beautiful Goa.
(As told to Neshwin Almeida. Jose Maria Miranda is an active social activist, former bank manager and currently heads a currency exchange unit in Goa).
