VITHALDAS HEGDE
vhegde3@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The two amendments moved at the last minute by Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar completely changed the complexion of amended The Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961 Comunidade Bill, 2023.
When the Bill was taken up for consideration and passing stage in the Assembly, Gaonkar sought leave to move two amendments to the Bill amidst heated discussion on the amended Bill.
Gaonkar sought to amend Clause 6 and said that landless children of the components of the respective Comunidades who have attained the age of 18 years be included. The explanation was that when an application falling under Clause (vii) shall support his application by a certificate issued by the concerned Comunidade duly countersigned/attested by the Administrator of the concerned zone certifying that he is jonoeiro of such Comunidade.
Gaonkar said that children of the components of the Comunidades should not be rendered ineligible for entitlement to the benefit of Clause VIII merely because either of their parents has been granted land under the Code for any purpose. He also sought to insert the word “Government institutions” after “Government undertakings”.
According to a member of the erstwhile Comunidade Commission, Tulio De Souza the amendment regarding acquiring Comunidade lands is very arbitrary and contrary to the letter and spirit of the Code of Comunidades.
Most Comunidade members opine that the government, instead of making the Comunidade a special purpose vehicle to foster and develop the fast-declining agriculture and depleting agricultural produce in the State, seems to be engaged in a development strategy. This strategy is much contrary to its utterances on improving agriculture.
The question that now needs to be asked is, was Gaonkar instructed by the legislature party to seek this amendment since it’s unlikely that this was a solo effort? Secondly, why weren’t these amendments discussed in the cabinet and made a part of the original amendments rather than hurriedly introduced and rapidly passed without at least a day-long discussion and debate?
Thirdly, such sweeping changes should have been put up to the Comunidade bodies and the long Comunidade convention- which is like the Assembly of the Comunidades called to deliberate this.
“Clearly consultation was never on the government’s mind”, said Trajano D’Mello, former President of the Guirim Comunidade.
