This is a quintessential question that dogs mankind. What are we looking for? When we make decisions about life and our futures, we always look at what is in it for us. We make choices for ourselves, our families and our children. On February 4, (this Saturday) it will be time to make a decision of a higher order, for our land. For Goa. For our Goa.
To say this will be critical and game changing will be an under-statement. The fundamentals of not how we vote, but why we vote are being questioned and challenged. For too long elections have all been about political parties, their strategies, their social engineering, their guile, their ‘settings’ (a word Goa really understands). This year will actually be no different. Look at the glee with which some of the leaders in the race for Chief Ministership are actually waiting for a fractured mandate so that they can come into the mix. Some have even become coalition specialists knowing they can’t be ignored when a post poll deal needs to be made.
A fractured mandate will bring all these forces into play. The BJP, contrary to fervent claims of getting a clear majority is also preparing for a lower number of seats. Suddenly the talk is not about who is going to get a decisive endorsement of the people of the Goa, but who will manage to put together the government, which is going to a motley mix of individuals and parties.
On this chaos and confusion, what are we missing? Primarily focus on what really needs and wants, primarily, the real reasons why these elections should be fought and perhaps is being fought in the minds of many people. The real Goan is less interested in who is coming to power than whether he is being empowered. And he wants to be empowered because his sense of empowerment has been taken away.
Over the years, the Goenkar has suffered these serious losses. He has no control over the land in his village, nor does he have control over his own land. Tenants rights have been trampled repeatedly, as it happened in Tiracol when tenant land was “sold” by owners for the Golf Course and Villa Project. The sanctity of form I and IV of land ownership documents has been violated with the state not acting as protector. Goan’s land must be protected from illegal acquisition. Tenancy rights must be protected and tenanted land must not be sold. Tenancy cases must come back to mamlatdars who dispose of them in a fast track manner.
The government which comes into power must first and foremost become the protector of the common man and must start by protecting land which is legally his.
The process of participatory planning needs to be established as soon as the new government comes into play. The fact that the Regional Plan was kept in abeyance and rampant conversions and zone changes were not stopped, in violation of gram sabha resolutions and peoples wishes, is an appalling reality. The Plan cannot wait for another year. A new government must undertake to get a revised people centric plan in three months.
The sale of land has happened on a scale never before and this is not because local laws do not exist. They have happened in violation of laws like the Tenancy Act. Institutions like the Investment Promotion Board have been created in an attempt to free projects from the controls and shackles of statutory pollution and environment bodies. Approvals are first given by IPB and the statutory bodies are “expected” to comply. This arrangement cannot continue.
If you carefully notice or comprehend a lot of what you are reading now bring two words in your mind – Special Status. And then you understand that this is not about funds or projects from the Centre. Special Status is an idea or an instrument to give greater protection to the identity, needs and rights of Goans, in a State where the elected governments are unable to do so. This eulogy is for the loss of the land in which we feel less special. That’s why we need Special Status.
So what do we need to do? Simply reclaim Goa for ourselves and our children and fight for protection of the poor and the poorest of the poor, for whom Herald fights for and that is our only agenda.
To get the government we deserve, ensure that votes are not split . The equation is clear – Vote Split = Fractured Mandate = Instability.
Our government should see that the secular fabric of Goa should never be torn. It doesn’t matter which of the parties in the race comes to power, it must provide a secular government with a feeling of security. The common Goan should not feel discriminated on grounds of religion or caste.
Our government should see that Goans should not feel aliens in their own land. They get the feeling of being strangers in Goa. The new government should address that on priority.
Our government should see that a Goan’s land must be protected from illegal acquisition. Tenancy rights must be protected and tenanted land must not be sold. Tenancy cases must come back to mamlatdars who dispose of them in a fast track manner.
And finally, the freedom of the press is not just respected but becomes a non-negotiable constant. The press has the solemn duty as the watchdog of the Goan people and the right to be the voice of opposition when the need arises, on behalf of the people of Goa.
Our government should see that that the cardinal rule and principle of all governance is for the benefit of the common goenkar.
That is the only manifesto. The people’s manifesto.
