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LIMELIGHT GRABBERS?
P P
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FUTURE TENSE
The story behind the Churchs advisory
AJAY THAKUR / THE GOAN
VASCO DA GAMA:
A hush descends on one of the many
Lenten services at St. Andres Church
in Vasco, as one of Catholic Goas
most celebrated yet controversial par-
ish priests begins to speak in Konk-
ani. I have two announcements to
make, says the bespectacled man in
a white cassock with a red sash. As
you would be aware, a Jesuit Priest (Fr.
Cedric Prakash) is visiting this state
from Gujarat. He tells us how di cult
it is to register inter-faith marriages
over there. How the people over there
are suering. My rst announcement
is actually to plead to you, this time
please vote for a secular party can-
didate, said Fr Jose Anton da Costa,
Parish Priest, St. Andres Church, at
the jam packed 9.30 am mass last Sun-
day. His second announcement was
that he was leaving the parish for an-
other assignment. The inuential and
politically inclined Fr Costa had, in
just two years, helped whip a political
wave against Congress and its allied
parties by imploring people to vote
against corruption that had helped
BJP win three of Mormugao Talukas
four Assembly seats. This congrega-
tion had, amongst others, Vascos
former NCP MLA Jose Philip, who fell
out of favour with Fr. Costa and lost
the election to BJPs Carlos Almeida.
Times have changed ever since and Fr
Costa no more looks at the local city,
taluka or state level politics. It is about
India this time and the Church is in no
mood to let go o its pro-secular turf.
The trigger
Last weeks advisory of Council for
Social Justice and Peace, the Churchs
popular voice, may have looked as
yet another of the routine letters that
is sent out to the media to ensure that
people vote, free, fair and conscien-
tiously in the upcoming Parliamenta-
ry polls. Yet, scratch the surface, and
it is a deant Church that is taking a
worried, yet rm stand against the
Bharatiya Janata Partys media hype
that revolves around one man, its
prime ministerial candidate Naren-
dra Modi. Listen to the radio jingles
and read the print advertisements, it
is not about NDA or UPA, but Modi
Sarkaar (government) which is com-
plicated. We live in a Parliamentary
democracy and the approach to the
polls here is like a presidential form
of government, says Fr. Maverick
Fernandes, Director, Caritas Goa.
The Church had in its letter to the
people said It is convincingly ap-
parent that the Election Campaign
even in these rst stages, supported
by the Media, is geared towards the
promotion of one individual as if this
is a Presidential election. Church of-
cials point out that unlike other par-
ties who were promoting individual
parliamentary representatives across
the country, BJP was pushing just
one individual forward.
Last year, the states BJP govern-
ment which had been famously
backed by the Church in the last as-
sembly polls of 2012, went in an over-
drive to host the partys National Ex-
ecutive in Goa where Narendra Modi
was appointed the partys national
campaign chief, his rst and crucial
step towards prime minister-ship
from the BJP.
While the partys local unit went
overboard, the Church had made a
silent note of it. While nationwide
they may be attacking the UPA at the
Centre over the price rise, but what is
happening out here? There has been
a huge increase in taxes ranging from
Rs 150 to Rs 3000 and the brunt borne
by poor taxi drivers and shack own-
ers. The common mans life is di -
cult, says Fr. Savio Fernandes, Sec-
retary, CSJP. Fr Savio, who had visited
Gujarat weeks before the letter was
sent out, pooh-poohs BJPs claims
of a vibrant and developed Gujarat,
Modis home state. A developed Gu-
jarat is a media hype and is about the
development of a chosen few. The
condition in many of its villages, its
towns remain as it is. There is nothing
extraordinary out there, observes Fr.
Savio.
The battle for South Goa
Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco and
Narendra Sawaikar debate key issues
related to Goa, the denition of the word
secular government and trade potshots
over their respective partys decisions in
the past
P 8-9
GOENCHO MP >>
ell
st
is a Presidential election . Chu
cials point out that unlike oth
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
continued on page 4
THE BACKSTORY>>
CREATIVE: MAHENDRA BELEKAR
A NEW DIMENSION?
>>GOAN GRILL P6
Saturday, March 29, 2014 log on to thegoan.net
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STEPHEN DIAS/IATG 005
There exists a gross violation
on the waterfront near Aivao
Village- Caranzalem (Dona Pau-
la), where a project is coming
up and is approved by the Gov-
ernment of Goa. Water sports,
which comes under Central
Government National Institute
of Water Sports Authority, is a
project already been signed with
the Goa State Infrastructure De-
velopment Corporation on Janu-
ary 26, 2014.
Engineers from National In-
stitute of Water Sports Authority
state that there will be a swim-
ming pool and a huge building
for the water sports complex
which is likely to be completed
within two years. Huge excava-
tion of sand with a quantity of
more than 1,000 trucks is seen
at the venue. The work comes
under Coastal Regulation Zone.
The Coastal Zone Management
Authority (GCZMA) should take
immediate action by deputing
their team for inspection. A nec-
essary complaint has already
been lodged by Dr Joe DSousa,
a member from Goa State Diver-
sity Board, on March 18, 2014.
Water sports institute
to be new attraction
KIMBERLY COLAO/
THE GOAN
It wasnt a pleasing sight when
a group of boys dressed in their
football jerseys walked through
the uneven, bumpy roads in
Aivao. It is a small village which
is situated in Caranzalem. They
feel their rights to play in the
open are shattered. We used
to play on the grounds, where
there is a water sport institute
coming up. We also have our
goalpost still there. Now we
play on the beach, informed a
young boy who seemed to have
nished his match and was re-
turning home.
The land is acquired to build
the National Institute of Water
Sports (NIWS) and some of the
locals are surely having issues
with it. But there are few who
have absolutely no clue as to
what is coming up there. I dont
know what is coming up here.
What can we do? Please ask
people who would know I dont
know anything said a villager.
A government o cial who lives
in the village said, Over a few
years Goa will not remain open
and free like it used to be. When
we have our houses around the
CRZ zone they want to come and
destroy them but the govern-
ment ocials can build their
institutes? The law should be
same for all, he added.
The locals feel that the land
acquired by the government to
build the water sports institute
will aect them in the long run,
especially when their wells get
dried.
The project has a series of
plans lined up for the locals and
ones who might be interested in
learning the techniques of water
activity. It plans to have teach-
ing activities like pool manage-
ment, cannoning, managing
tourism bustle, boat supervis-
ing/ repairs, raing, life guards,
rescue training/operations, etc.
It claims that all the courses will
be certied by the authority.
The project was started on the
February 1, 2014 and is assumed
to be completed by January 31,
2016. Tendered by the Goa State
Infrastructure Development
Corporation (GSIDC) and recog-
nised by the Union Ministry of
tourism, the approximate cost
of the building would be worth
crores and the area of construc-
tion is 65,509 sq meters. Ac-
cording to information from the
authorities, the building will be
built in such a way where there
will be no destruction of any
kind of ora and fauna. There
will be less damage to the place
as the material used will be eco-
friendly. But, for those boys who
used to run around with a ball
in the area where the building is
now coming up, their little play-
ground is long gone.
Coasting through
regulations
Regulation of Permissible Activities:
1. Clearance shall be given for any activity within the
Coastal Regulation Zone only if it requires water front and
foreshore facilities.
2. The following activities will require environmental
clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Government of India, namely:
(i)Construction activities related to projects of Depart-
ment of Atomic Energy or Defence requirements for which
foreshore facilities are essential such as- slipways, jetties,
wharves, quays; except for classied operational compo-
nent of defence projects for which a separate procedure
shall be followed. (Residential buildings, o ce buildings,
hospital complexes, workshops shall not come within the
denition of operational requirements except in very spe-
cial cases and shall not normally be permitted in the CRZ)
(ii)Operational constructions for ports and harbours
and light houses and constructions for activities such as
jetties, wharves, quays and slipways, pipelines, conveying
systems including transmission lines;
(ii a) Exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas and
all associated activities and facilities thereto;
(iv) All other activities with investment exceeding rupees
ve crores except those activities which are to be regulated
by the concerned authorities at the State/Union Territory
level in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 6,
sub-paragraph (2) of Annexure 1 of the notication.
3. (i) The Coastal States and Union Territory Administra-
tions shall prepare, within a period of one year from the
date of this Notication, Coastal Zone Management Plans
identifying and classifying the CRZ areas within their
respective territories in accordance with the guidelines
given in Annexures I and II of the Notication and obtain
approval of the Central Government in the Ministry of Envi-
ronment & Forests;
(ii) Within the framework of such approved plans, all de-
velopment and activities within the CRZ shall be regulated
by the State Govt, Union Territory Administration or the
local authority as the case may be in accordance with the
guidelines given in Annexure-I and II of the Notication;
(iii) In the interim period till the Coastal Zone Manage-
ment Plans mentioned are prepared and approved, all de-
velopments and activities within the CRZ shall not violate
the provisions of this Notication. State Governments and
Union Territory Administrations shall ensure adherence to
these regulations and violations, if any, shall be subject to
the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Source: http://moef.nic.in/divisions/iass/notif/crz.htm
This used to be their playground
What were the documents in
place to allow for the conver-
sion of agricultural land into
commercial land?
The property has been under
settlement zone as per the
regional plan of Goa, 2001. To
remove any doubt, Shree Balaji
Concepts had sought a specic
conrmation from the Town &
Country Planning Department
which they conrmed on Sep-
tember 7, 2007. The Sanad was
issued by the Oce of the Col-
lector on October 3, 2010.
How were the water bodies
covered with boulders and
mud when there was a letter
sent by the water resource
department to stop these
activities in the water bodies
and restore them?
During the process of approval
of the project, the Deputy Col-
lector vide letter of 2009 had
asked us to obtain a NOC from
the Water Resource Depart-
ment. The Department had
replied in July 2009 and had
not stated any objection. The
Water Resource Depart-
ment had also con-
rmed that the ground
levels at the site are
higher than the high
tide level.
The entire land under
reference has been a
coconut plantation.
The irrigation drains
have separate survey
numbers indicated on
the cadastral plan and
they have been under
possession and owner-
ship of Shree Balaji
Concepts. The Sanad
has been granted for
the entire property in-
cluding the irrigational
drains with their survey
numbers. There were
open shallow wells
for collection of water
that were used for the
coconut plantation and
it has been made out
in the media report as
if these are ponds not
owned by Shree Balaji
Concepts. The construction at
the site is being carried out in
accordance with the plan ap-
proved by the Town & Country
Planning Department.
It is noteworthy that all the old
irrigational drains and open
wells have been planned for
retention and usage as a part
of the landscaping plan of the
project. There are very minor
deviations and we have
sought approval of the
Water Resource Depart-
ment in this regard as
we have now been in-
formed. Therefore, con-
trary to what has been
reported, the irrigation
drains have not been
covered with boulders
and mud.
The nullahs which are
connecting to dier-
ent elds are covered
by sand, there is no
passage for the water
to flow by, how are
the elds to get wa-
tered?
As explained above,
they are not public
nullahs but irrigation
drains have been re-
tained and they are in
accordance with the
plan approved by the
Town & Country Plan-
ning Department and
thus, there is a passage
for the water to flow
has been maintained.
Are there any provisions
made for the rainwater to en-
ter the river?
The irrigational drains have
been retained and the excess
water during the monsoons will
naturally flow through these to
the river.
What measures have you
taken to save the bio- diver-
sity of the village?
The main theme of the project
revolves around nature and
sustainability is the prime fo-
cus. We have deployed leading
international consultants like
CPG and Belt Collins specically
to create an environment which
maintains the natural bio-
diversity of the project. Some
of these features are explained
below:
(i) The project site was a co-
conut plantation where there
were irrigation drains and
open wells. All such drains
and wells are being retained
and enhanced as a part of the
landscaping plan. Construction
is happening only on 31% of
the area and the rest will all be
richly landscaped in addition to
the existing coconut plantation.
(ii) With the intent of minimis-
ing the wastage of potable
water, the distribution of water
is through a hydro-pneumatic
system with pressure reducers
such that there is minimal flow
and wastage at usage points.
The flushing system has been
selected for minimal flow of
water and consequently mini-
mal wastage of this precious
resource.
(iii) The entire sewage generat-
ed in the project will be treated
through a high technology
EDOX type sewage treatment
plant. The quality of the water
can be precisely controlled and
the entire treated water will be
reused for the purpose of land-
scaping of the vast area.
(iv) The solid waste will be seg-
regated as per modern prac-
tises and an organic waste con-
verter shall be installed at the
project site. The output from
the organic waste converter is
essentially manure.
Due to stagnation of water in
the elds the locals are fac-
ing health issues, what have
you planned to do?
The existing irrigational drains
allow any excess water to flow
out from the elds. We see
stagnation in the adjoining
property which ultimately tries
to flow though our property
and as one can understand
there cannot be stagnation in
summer seasons when there is
no rain. The stagnation is on ac-
count of over-flow of untreated
sewage. This is a matter of con-
cern for Shree Balaji Concepts
too and formal complaint has
been lodged with the Pollution
Control Board in this regard.
SPOKESPERSON,
BALAJI CONCEPTS
YOU REPORT >>
WE COVER >>
On March 22, the people of Cavellossim wrote to
I Am The Goan regarding an alleged illegality in their village.
The Goan contacted the company Balaji Concepts to reply to
these allegations. To read the full transcript as well as our
previous report, visit our online edition at thegoan.net
2
A citizen journalist campaign
Facebook.com/TheGoan @TheGoanOnSat
DENNIS DIAS/IATG 0038
There is a problem looming in
Cavelossim, my village, a village
I grewup in. Ahuge tract of agri-
cultural landhas beenconverted
into settlements to build around
30 odd villas. Two large water
bodies approximately around
400 sq mts have been lled up
with boulders and mud. These
ponds were once home to many
oras and fauna of the locality
and with the lling of the ponds
will lead to many ecological dis-
turbances. Five villas built in
one of the ponds. The company
Balaji Concepts has been out-
ing all norms to get this work
done and I fear that this may
lead to serious consequences,
both social and ecological.
The village was constructed
in such a manner that the en-
tire water ow was managed
properly. The nullahs were con-
nected to the ponds and the
neighbouring elds and the
excess water supply was let out
in the river. Due to the blockage
of these nullahs, the stagnant
rain water settles in the paddy
elds, which not only destroys
the crops but is a perfect breed-
ing ground for the mosquitoes.
With the construction of the vil-
las, the traditional access to the
locals has also been disrupted.
The village panchayat is turning
a blind eye towards the illegali-
ties which are taking place.
Its almost been ve years
since the Balaji Concept project
was initiated in our village in
Cavelossim. It is a major project
which was started by a Banga-
lore based building rmand has
scoed almost 37,500 sq mts of
land under the survey number
of 90/91. I also feel that they
have encroached into the survey
no 92. The ex- sarpanch, Edwin
Barreto informed us that the
Balaji Concept project was to be
villas for a resort, but later we
found out that these villas were
actually for sale as it was men-
tioned on the internet. We were
shocked to nd out about it.
This project has four inspec-
tions done by the panchayat,
the water resource department
and the Cavelossim Villagers
Forum. As a citizen it becomes
my responsibility to take care
of my village, especially when it
comes to the health and wellbe-
ing of the society. There was a
desperate need to settle issues,
which were aecting the lives
of the people of Khandi Bandoi
where the villas are being built.
We also found that there are
many aws in the architectural
designs of the constructions.
It was until we realised that
there were issues that the locals
were facing and the panchayat
was not helping us in any way,
some of the locals decided to
gang up together and form a
forum and we named it the
Cavelossim Villagers Forum.
Our ultimate motto is to help
the people of my village from
all the atrocities that they face.
The forum currently consists of
35 members and there are still
many who want to come in to
join us. We need to solve these
issues as soon as possible, be-
fore our village suers from ir-
reversible eects.
The Goan tried to contact
Mr Prasad B.H.M. the Deputy
General Manager of Balagi
Concepts but our calls were
not attended to.
Deep down south in Cavelossim, a storm
is brewing, a group of residents came
together to ght against what they perceive
as the degradation of the ecosystemin
the village. Dennis Dias, a member of the
CavelossimVillagers Forumgives
I AmThe Goan the grave details
AN ENVIRONMENTAL
HAZARD IN CAVELOSSIM?
TIMELINE >>
May/ June 2010, the plans
were approved to construct
35 villas
November/December
2010, the construction work
began
December 2013: First
inspection held by the
CavelossimVillagers Forum
along with the Panchayat
January 2014: Second
inspection held by the Water
Resource Department along
with the CavelossimVillagers
Forum
February 2014: Third
inspection held by the
Panchayat along with the
Town and Country Planning
o cials
March 2014: Fourth
inspection held by the Pan-
chayat, the Town and Country
Planning o cials and the
CavelossimVillagers Forum
I do not know any details about this
issue. I do not know whether there were
ponds there. The project was passed
when the previous sarpanch was in
power. I have no idea of the Balaji
Concept project, I was elected this year.
The locals have no problemat all but
the CavelossimVillagers Forumhave
been raising this issue for no reason.
The Balaji Concepts builders have all the
permissions and the panchayat cannot
tell themto stop their work. We are wait-
ing for Water Resource Department and
Town and Country Planning o cials to
give their take on the recent inspections.
Only after receiving the responses, the
Panchayat members will sit together and
gure out what we can do
Viola DCosta, Sarpanch
The Water Resource Department sent a letter to
Balaji Concepts, to the collector, and a copy to the
CavelossimVillagers Forum, directing the builders
to stop the activities in the water bodies and to
restore them. The builders have neither stopped
the work nor have they restored it, instead they
have gone ahead with it. There was no action taken
either. Being a low-lying area there are chances
that during the rains there could be floods, this will
create problems for the locals especially during the
monsoons. In survey no 92 there are huge sh-
ing bodies which were connected to the survey no
90/91. Water bodies in survey no. 90/91 which are
now covered with mud and boulders will aect the
other water bodies and the paddy elds in the area.
Where the water will flow once it starts pouring
heavily? The entire ecosystemis being disturbed
Iris Passanha,
President of CavelossimVillagers Forum
As a child, my friends and I used
to play in the area where we see
the villas coming up. There used
to be ponds where we would go
shing, but now to see what has
happened to the place is really
frustrating. I work on the cruise
liners and when I came down I
saw the entire place being covered
with corrugated sheets. Nobody
knew what was happening.
Though Imnot a member of the
forumI strongly support them. The
village plans show that there are
water bodies existing. If things
dont stop now, we will organise
dharnas
Rosevelt Rodrigues, resident
I dont know how the builders managed
to get the agricultural land converted into
settlement land. They have lled up the wa-
ter bodies which are in the low-lying areas
which is ocially not correct. I personally
asked the environmental department,
they told me they cannot ll up any water
bodies. I have done many inspections and
have found a lot of illegalities. Though Im
a panch member I will support the truth.
Imgoing to be with the people. There are
a lot of people who own elds around the
construction site and are now suering due
to the blockage of the nullahs. My elds too
suered as there is no flow of water. There
was no GramSabha meeting held since and
the dates have been postponed every-time.
James Barreto, Panch Member
u
o
te
ro
o
m
CAMPAIGN
THEGOAN
THE GOAN
SOMETHING FISHY?: The construction project in Cavelossimapparently opposed by locals. (Below) An inspection being carried out at the site
3
SCRUTINY>>P15 The recent
judgement against the Grand Hyatt
delights petitioners
GOA DEEP WITHIN>>P13
Garbage woes in Merces and along
the NH17
INSIDE:
4
Saturday, March 29, 2014
COVER STORY
We need to speak when it
matters
Fr Maverick, Caritas Goa
Our thoughts reflect aspirations, concerns
and viewpoints of people at the grassroots
Fr Savio Fernandes, CSJP
For views, opinions and more, mail
us: letters@thegoan.net
log on to thegoan.net
FUTURE TENSE
The story behind the Churchs advisory
continued from pg 1
The truths
CSJPs observance assumes
special signicance as the letter
has none other than Archbishop
of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri
Ferros blessings and reects
the Churchs point of view. The
Archdiocese traditionally inu-
enced the views of the eastern
hemisphere ranging from the
Cape of Good Hope in South
Africa, to China and Japan in
East Asia, as these were the
rst boundaries of the Archdio-
cese. Over a period of time more
administratively manageable
Archdioceses may have been
carved out, but the Archbishop
of Goa still is called the Patriarch
of East Indies. And his word has
considerable inuence around
the Christian world in Asia. This
time around too the CSJPs letter
advisory has gone beyond the
borders of the state across the
country. And political parties es-
pecially BJP shall have a tough
time convincing the Church why
people should vote for a single
prime ministerial candidate
when there are 543 odd parlia-
mentarians to be voted in. More
so when the prime ministerial
candidate feels saddened and
is not repentant of the 2002 Gu-
jarat riots.
We found that media was not
being responsible enough and
started weighing more on one
side and the other side of same
story, especially this myth about
a model of good governance, the
stress on one individual was not
coming out, explains Fr. Savio,
the man who prepared the rst
dra of this crucial advisory
which sent all political parties
in a tizzy. The letter had said,
some Models of Good Gov-
ernance presented to Society
are a myth as they are ridden
with lack of transparency, ac-
countability and participatory
equality as exposed in various
reports. The Church isnt very
convinced with the numbers,
the hype that shrouds the real
truth about marginal or medio-
cre development from Gujarat to
Goa.
The heartbreak
Little known to Goa, the
Church does not believe that
it backed BJP in last Assembly
elections. We had only advised
people not to vote for greedy
and corrupt. Our guidelines do
not go to pointing out the party
to be voted or the people to be
elected. The ruling party now
may have been an indirect ben-
eciary of that advice, claries
Fr. Savio, shedding light on the
fact that BJPs much tom tom-ed
Goa model for polls that involves
opinion makers from dierent
religious faiths may not have ac-
tually worked in Goa itself. And
the ghosts of the past is what
will make the going di cult
for BJP in the state.
On March 5, 2006 in an un-
precedented letter aer the Cur-
chorem riots, Archbishop Ferrao
had said, The only explanation
one nds for the rst provoca-
tion and the ensuing riots in
that town is that they appear to
be engineered by vested politi-
cal interests whose main agenda
seemed to be to divide at any
cost in order to rule. All the
40 accused in the rioting includ-
ing BJPs Organising General
Secretary Satish Dhond and its
former Margao Assembly can-
didate Sharmad Raiturcar were
acquitted a month aer the BJP
came to power in March 2012.
The Church hasnt forgotten
that. The way Sanvordem riots
were handled, the way the Goa
Abattoir issue was handled were
amongst the major issues that
shall aect our viewpoint, con-
rms Fr. Savio.
But then there is more. Cor-
ruption. Look at these new
schemes, Laadli Laxmi or others
where the MLA or the ministers
endorsement is required. Once
a candidate gets elected, he be-
longs to the entire constituency
not his vote bank. Wasnt this
another form of corruption? In
fact, corruption still exists and
has not been eradicated, says
CSJPs Fr. Savio. The tendency
towards corruption is mani-
fest in the failure of successive
governments to establish peo-
ple-serving Institutions/Com-
missions like the Lokayukta,
Information and Minority Com-
missions, CSJPs letter had
observed. A stung BJP through
its Catholic Vice President /
Spokesman Wilfred Mesquita
tried to defend themselves.
They have every right to com-
ment and speak their mind. Who
has stopped the Church? asks
Dr. Mesquita. This is too feeble,
too late an argument against a
resurgent and restive Church re-
fusing to restrain stepping into
the political thought processes
in the country.
Interestingly, the Church
is also livid with the cultural
branding of other migrant reli-
gious minorities. Demonising
of Muslim migrants within the
country vis--vis other migrants
from majority communities is
something that is being exploit-
ed again and again. In these
elections, it has again taken
centre stage thanks to the Gu-
jarat riots and a Gujarati Prime
Ministerial candidate, explains
a Salcette based Parish Priest.
These elections, the Church
may well end up being a rally-
ing force for minority religious
groups against exploitation by
any political party BJP or Con-
gress or anybody else.
We need to speak when it
matters, asserts Caritas Goas
Fr. Maverick explaining why
the Church has to step into poli-
tics despite being a religious
body. Politics is about how we
transform the society which
is intrinsic to our faith. If we
havent brought that transfor-
mation, we have failed in our
faith. Even Christ came here
for our transformation. That
is why we speak, explains Fr.
Maverick. And he isnt alone.
In the annual Lenten season of
prayer, penance, repentance of
sins, alms-giving, atonement
and self-denial, the Church and
many a believer shall be praying
hard and repenting for their po-
litical decisions of the past. This
time around they will be work-
ing hard to build as the Church
most famously remarked a tru-
ly vibrant, secular, democratic
republic of the People of India.
A tongue in cheek, cock-a-snook
at political parties claiming vi-
brant economies, forced secular
societies and promoting mono-
lithic leadership instead of dem-
ocratic ones.
AJAY THAKUR / THE GOAN
PANJIM:
Council of Social Justice and
Peaces (CSJP) Secretary Fr. Sav-
io Fernandes explains the im-
portance of its advisory, the one
that was sent out on March 18,
2014 asking people to exercise
his/her Constitutional Rights
and Duties to vote and to revi-
talize a truly Secular Republic.
CSJPs say is the o cial view of
Archbishop of Goa and Daman,
he says.
The advisory, cutting across
any communal lines, took pains
to explain, albeit subtly, how a
biased media and conniving pol-
iticians were misleading the vot-
ers and that people should not
get swept up by this misinforma-
tion when they step out to vote.
Yet, despite the Archbishops
own stamp of approval, CSJPs
advisory is neither a religious
decree nor a fatwa. It is one of
the most intricate and nely wo-
ven experiments of democratic
thought, borne out of months of
painstaking research, consulta-
tion and democratic participa-
tion that traverses across all par-
ishes in Goa.
Our thoughts reect aspira-
tions, concerns and viewpoints
of people at the grassroots ex-
plains CSJPs Fr. Savio. Spread
over three to four months, as
it happened in the case of the
current advisory, word was sent
across to all the three zones,
twenty deaneries and 159 par-
ishes in Goa about what were
their viewpoints with regards
the present socio-eco-political
conditions prevailing across the
state in particular and the coun-
try in general. There were un-
dercurrents of unease that was
not clearly out in the open but
perceivable, explains CSJPs
Chief, about the di culty of
making people crystallise their
thoughts and putting a nger a
on the problems that need to be
highlighted in the advisory. The
Church stuck to the Constitution
of India to help crystallise those
thoughts.
The advisory starts three-four
months before the nal dra of
the letter, where opinion leaders
from dierent parishes across
Goa discuss and collate their
feedbacks and send it through
their parish priests to CSJP. The
voices of the lay is most crucial
part of these letters, explains
Fr. Savio dwelling on the grass-
roots approach to opinion build-
ing. The process is democratic
and transparent as all view-
points, negative as well as posi-
tive are put together and sent to
CSJP.
At the Council, a Church ap-
pointed consultative group goes
through the list of recommen-
dations and viewpoints over a
month. The rst dra is then
prepared incorporating the sa-
lient points of these months and
weeks of deliberations and sent
to the Archbishops O ce.
The Archbishop has his own
team of analysts who then go
through each and every word of
the letter and suggest changes if
any and then resend it back to
us, says Fr. Savio. The advisory
is then ready for public in gener-
al as well as that of the dierent
parishes. The people who make
these letters are themselves a re-
cipient of their own thoughts, al-
beit with a religious Patriarchs
endorsement.
It is very important to un-
derstand that our guidelines
are principles in nature and
not specic prescriptions for
whom to vote for or who not to,
explains Fr. Savio. The parish
priests then go about explaining
these letters in bits and pieces
as much as time permits in each
of the services to the dierent
parishes. While the educated, as
in the case of the present advi-
sory, do not take much time to
understand and were very ap-
preciative of the letter as per
CSJP, the non-comprehending
members of the parish are given
an explanation as to what the
letter means in a language that
is more acceptable and compre-
hensible to them.
The Church does not disagree
that sporadic incidents of name
dropping might happen just as
an example when parish priests
explain these letters. The aber-
ration more incidental than a
general thumb rule.
Vox Populi, Vox Dei:
How the people write the Churchs letter
Church advisory is a reflections of the peoples aspirations, not a religious diktat
Painstaking research, consultation and democratic participation go into making of an advisory
It is very important
to understand that our
guidelines are principles
in nature and not specic
prescriptions for whom
to vote for or who not to
5
COVER STORY
Point 1: However, sadly, in the past few years the Secular
Spirit has been inltrated by corporate communal forces visible
even in Goa.
The Goan view: Is corporate communal force an allusion to BJPs
proximity to influential corporations and business houses, includ-
ing the influential Casino lobby? This is further explained in the
advisory in the next line unfortunately also, a very large number
of citizens are lured by materialism, consumerism and greed for
power and wealth. The Church has always had very strong views
against Casinos. Was it this what it was referring to?
Point 2: It is convincingly apparent that the Election
Campaign even in these rst stages, supported by the Media,
is geared towards the promotion of one individual as if this is a
Presidential Election.
The Goan view: Probably the most convincing anti-Modi reference
as the Church attacked the whole media frenzy about one candi-
date, which interestingly nds a mention in BJPs election message
too Ab ki baar, Modi sarkaar. The mention of Presidential Election
is too an indirect hint at BJP. Congress despite projecting Rahul
Gandhi has steered clear of naming him.
Point 3: The Secular Democratic System is subtly corrupted
when Senior Intelligence and Defence Personnel, on retirement,
join selected Political Parties professing them to be the only Na-
tionalist Parties.
The Goan view: Again an indirect reference to former Research &
Analysis Wing RAW Chief Sanjeev Tripathi and former Army Chief
General V. K. Singh joining the BJP. The duo had been unequivocal
in their support for their party calling it the only nationalist one.
Point 4: The winnability factor underlines the choice of
candidates in every Political Party, despite lofty claims that there is
urgent need for a transformation of the Political System.
The Goan view: A fair Church as Congress has elded both its can-
didates based on winnability rather than the work they have done.
Point 5: The tendency towards corruption is manifest in
the failure of successive Governments to establish People-serving
Institutions/Commissions like the LOKAYUKTA, INFORMATION and
MINORITY COMMISSIONS.
The Goan view: Again the feet dragging by the present BJP led Goa
Government on setting up Lokayuktas oce and replacing the out-
going one, the controversial appointments of Information Commis-
sioners and setting up of the Minority Commissioner, have served
the create a shadow of doubt as to their intentions in eradicating
corruption.
Point 6: The Minorities of India whether ethnic, linguistic,
religious or cultural have an equal Right in the development of the
Nation. However, they need to be protected and assisted to work
in the mainstream, with freedom, and without discrimination and
fear.
The Goan view: One of the most pragmatic stands by the Church
is on protection of rights of the migrant as well as other minori-
ties across dierent states. From attack on Biharis in Mumbai to
branding of Muslim migrant neighbourhoods across the country as
violent and anti-social, the Church has raised the bar for minority
rights.
Point 7: In various parts of the Country, the Indigenous
People who are the undisputed owners of the land, water and for-
ests are being blatantly denied their Rights and are, in fact, mar-
ginalised and deprived, in favour of Communal-Corporate Interests.
The Goan view: Though rendering of adivasis and poor farmers
landless spreads from Orissa to Chattisgarh to Goa to other states
too, this is another one of Churchs observation that has a universal
appeal cutting across party lines.
Point 8: In the above context, some Models of Good Gov-
ernance presented to Society are a myth as they are ridden with
lack of transparency, accountability and participatory equality as
exposed in various Reports.
The Goan view: Another damning indictment of BJPs pet obses-
sion Model of Good Governance especially with respect to Gu-
jarat and Goa. This is yet another place where the Churchs line of
thinking is very clear.
In Goa the 16
th
Lok Sabha Election is scheduled for Saturday 12
th
April 2014.
This is a CALL for every citizen to exercise his/her Constitutional Rights and Duties to VOTE and to revitalize a
truly Secular REPUBLIC.
However, sadly, in the past few years the Secular Spirit has been inltrated by corporate communal forces visible
even in Goa. Unfortunately also, a very large number of citizens are lured by materialism, consumerism and greed for
power and wealth resulting in a decline in upholding moral and ethical values which are the intrinsic root of human
life. It is convincingly apparent that the Election Campaign even in these rst stages, supported by the Media, is
geared towards the promotion of one individual as if this is a Presidential Election.
The Secular Democratic System is subtly corrupted when Senior Intelligence and Defence Personnel, on retirement,
join selected Political Parties professing them to be the only Nationalist Parties.
The winnability factor underlines the choice of candidates in every Political Party, despite loy claims that there is
urgent need for a transformation of the Political System. The tendency towards corruption is manifest in the failure of
successive Governments to establish People-serving Institutions/Commissions like the LOKAYUKTA, INFORMATION
and MINORITY COMMISSIONS.
The Minorities of India whether ethnic, linguistic, religious or cultural have an equal Right in the development of
the Nation. However, they need to be protected and assisted to work in the mainstream, with freedom, and without
discrimination and fear.
In various parts of the Country, the Indigenous People who are the undisputed owners of the land, water and forests
are being blatantly denied their Rights and are, in fact, marginalised and deprived, in favour of Communal-Corporate
Interests.
In the above context, some Models of Good Governance presented to Society are a myth as they are ridden with
lack of transparency, accountability and participatory equality as exposed in various Reports.
From the Peaks of the Himalayas to the waters of the Arabian Sea the degradation of environment and ecology is sin-
ful, more so because those in power and those able to manipulate power like the industrialists are the cause of various
types of destructions like indiscriminate mining, unregulated constructions and polluting industries.
Now is the time, for us the Citizens of India to focus on the socio-political reality of our Nation and rising above our
personal and local interests, install a Government that serves specially the common people, ensuring that each and
every citizen, irrespective of social status or caste or religion, can freely avail of food, health, land, housing and sani-
tation, education, opportunities for livelihood, freedom of expression as Rights and a transparent, accountable and
participatory Governance at all levels.
We Indians, who own India, are bound by the Sanctity of the Constitution to Protect, Preserve and Promote it in all
its aspects. Committed to VOTE in this Election, we MUST REFLECT, on the prevailing socio-political situation in our
Country and ACT to BUILD a TRULY VIBRANT, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of the People of India.
Issued by:
Council For Social Justice And Peace
PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
We, the People of INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a
SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
And to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY
ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.
The anatomy of a letter
The Church calls it a letter based on principles
encompassed in the Constitution of India, yet
the letter / advisory issued to all Citizens in Goa
to exercise his/her Constitutional Rights and
Duties to VOTE and to revitalize a truly Secular
REPUBLIC is not as innocuous and simple as
it may be deemed. It has in fact deep seated
political understanding rooted in its content.
The Goan attempts to decipher the hidden
message in the letter which Council of Social
Justice and Peaces Fr. Savio Fernandes says is
media reading too minutely into a very general
and principled point of view.
on n ttha hat t ha hass aa un univ iver ersa sal l
Moode dels ls oof f Go Good od GGov ov-
they ey are rid dde d n wi with th
tiici cipa pato tory ry eequ qual alit ity y as as
JPs pet obses-
respect to Gu-
Churchs line of
expo p sed in various Reports.
Th The Go Goooan vie iew: w: Another ddammni ing ng iind ndictm tment
ssion Mo M del of GGoo oodd Go Gove vern rnan ance ce es esppecial ally ly
jja ara ra rat t an a d Goa. This is yet aano noth ther ee place where
tthin inking is very clear.
t of of B
wwit i h
e the
6
GOA
There will be mechanism in place
to audit the implementation of
the central schemes
GDF will also form a redressal mechanism
wherein the MP will be available through
technology and personally to the voters
We will raise issues in the
parliament about Goa
Luizinhos competition in North-East
D
iehard Congressman Luizinho Faleiro may have caused
some heartburn to his supporters in Goa by refusing to
contest from South Goa. But the former chief minister has
become the poster boy of the grand old part in the North
East. But hang-on. Luizinho is now not alone in the far East. An-
other Goan from the opposition camp is also on a mission there.
Deputy Chief Minister, Francisco DSouza has been rushed to the
North East by the Bharatiya Janata Party to woo the North East
Catholics in favour of the saron party and Narendra Modi. Some
competition there.
The rising star in South Goa
Y
ou can also bank on Vijai Sardessai to add some spice
in the South Goa elections. In 2007, When the Alemao
brothers tore Parrikars government apart they had Vijai
as their man-Friday. They promptly rewarded him with the
post of GSUDA Vice Chairman. In 2009, Vijai was again Francisco
Sardinhas best man that led to Narendra Sawaikars massacre at
the hustings. In 2011, Vijais hand was very much evident in deny-
ing Valanka the Youth Congress Presidentship. So when in 2012,
the Sardinha-Alemao combined to deny Vijai a Congress ticket in
Fatorda, Vijai was waiting for an opportunity to hit back. So the
2014 parliamentary election was Vijais moment to take revenge.
And, oh boy! How did he do it! Vijai ensured that Sardinha was
denied a ticket and Valnaka was not even considered. Today, as
an independent MLA Vijai is Reginaldos star campaigner. Vijai has
come out from the shadows of the Alemaos. Political Patrao has
overheard that Vijai wants to push Reginaldo to the Centre and
hog the whole limelight in the Assembly. He has all the ingredients
to make an astute politician. Way to go.
Eneld battles and Curtorim
R
eginaldo won two battles over the Sardinha family one in
2007 by defeating Francisco Sardinha in the assembly elec-
tion from Curtorim and now by stealing the Congress ticket
right from under his nose. But the junior Sardinha is not
someone who is going to take the insult lying down. No sooner
Shalom announced his candidature for the Lok Sabha polls he had
pictures of his Eneld bullet up on the Facebook probably indicat-
ing his ride for the elections. But Vijai-Reginaldo combine were not
far behind. Vijai took Reginaldo on a roadtrip through Navelim on
an Eneld Bullet and promptly uploaded the photos on the Face-
book. Some Eneld battle this was.
Political
Patrao
The Goan: Two years ago
you lost the assembly elec-
tion. How do you think you
will get people to elect you as
a Parliamentarian consider-
ing you were away from pub-
lic life too?
Dayanand Narvekar: Its not
that I was away from the public
life but I was away from the Con-
gress party. Last two years I have
not visited the party (Congress)
oce, I wanted total change in
the party. Now, I am adding a
new dimension to the politics in
Goa. We are demanding special
status for the Goa and dual citi-
zenship for Goans.
TG: Smaller parties like Goa
Democratic Front, Goa Vikas
Party and Goa Su-Raj Party
are considered more as nui-
sance values that split con-
solidated vote banks and are
used by inuential national
parties to win polls. What do
you have to say to that?
DN: We have not contested
any elections. This was an NGO
formed ve years back. It fought
for the privatisation of the Baga
beach, the district hospital of
Mapusa, battle with Sesa Goa
for noise and other pollution.
The NGO was very active and
was gaining popularity in Goa.
TG: Who is your opponent
no. 1 in these polls?
DN: I have got an establish-
ment called the BJP that may be
my opponent. He (Shripad Naik)
is going through a very high in-
cumbency factor but there is a
government who is supporting
him, he might be my opponent
number one. And Ravi (Naik) is
too involved with the drug scan-
dal and other things, I dont con-
sider him an opponent at all.
TG: Does that mean that you
dont have a deal with any po-
litical party to ensure the op-
positions election?
DN: I am ghting an open elec-
tion, how you can call it a deal?
I say that the Congress stands
for corruption. I devote half my
time to ghting Mr. Modi, the M
factor in Indian politics. He is
known for communalism, as a
person who wants to change the
history of India and Goa.
TG: We have reasons to be-
lieve that you have Justice M.
B. Shahs third report on il-
legal mining that promises
to change our understanding
of illegal mining that shall
change our understanding of
the case
DN: I have, because I am the
one person who went to Justice
Shah with all the documenta-
tion. I obtained the report as a
right; it is now with the central
government.
TG: Which political party
would benet and who will
lose due to this expose? Can
you name specic people?
DN: Manohar Parrikar can get
the report if he wants, by now
he would have arrested many
people.
TG: Ticketgate and IT Habi-
tat Scam has le permanent
taint on your political career.
Do you think people shall ig-
nore that taint to elect you?
DN: There is no taint; no FIR
has been lodged in the IT scam.
Scams should be investigated
by the vigilance department;
there is no inquiry, so there is no
scam. Ticket is one issue which
I am really ghting with the
government. There is not even
a needle of suspicion on me in
ticket scam. The court will give
judgment in the next six months
and everybody will know. It is
one man, Manohar Parrikar,
who has targeted me. He likes
me more going to the court and
argue my own cases as a lawyer.
Of course, I am practicing law-
yer (smiles).
GDF will raise state issues in the Parliament
The party will raise demand for special status for the state
I am adding a new
dimension to Goan politics
BASURI DESAI/ THE GOAN
Former Congressman,
currently heading newly-
formed Goa Democratic
Front (GDF) and LokSabha
candidate from North
Goa Dayanand Narvekar
in an exclusive chat with
The Goan says his party
will benet more as it will
take up local issues than
any other party in the
forthcoming election.
TG: Your party hardly has known faces
that the Goa can connect with, which is
crucial to get votes. How do you intend to
win elections at all?
DN: I have got all known people in my GDF;
there are no political people inside. Out of
20 ocer bearers, two of them are reputed
lawyers, three are teachers and two are MBA.
The members of party are grassroots workers
and few NGOs have also joined in.
He (Shripad Naik) is
going through a very
high incumbency
factor but there is a
government who is
supporting him, he
might be my opponent
number one. And Ravi
(Naik) is too involved
with the drug scandal
and other things, I
dont consider him an
opponent at all
SAGUN GAWADE
The
Goan
GRILL
INTERVIEW OF
THE WEEK >>
DAYANAND NARVEKAR,
>GDF President
A PROFILE:
Dayanand Narvekar
Born February 11, 1950.
1971: Graduated with
Bachelors of Arts (BA) from
St. Xaviers College, Mapusa.
1974: Graduated with
L.L.B. degree from New Law
College, Mumbai. Got 5th
rank in Mumbai University.
1974: Started practicing
law in Mumbai
1975: Started practicing
law in Goa
1976: Joined Maharash-
trawadi Gomantak Party
(MGP)s youth wing
1977: Elected to the Goa
Legislative Assembly repre-
senting Aldona.
1979: Resigned from MGP
1980: Joined INC (U)
which merged with Indian
National Congress
senting Aldona.
1980: Became Law and
Labour minister of Goa
senting Aldona.
1984-1989: Became
Speaker of Goa Vidhan
Sabha on the recommenda-
tion of Indira Gandhi.
senting Tivim.
1994: Became Law, Ir-
rigation and Agriculture
Minister.
Legislative Assembly for
the h time representing
Tivim constituency. Becomes
Deputy Chief Minister of
Goa.
senting.
2005: Became Health
Minister.
senting Aldona. Became Fi-
nance Minister & IT minister.
2009: Goa Democratic
Front (GDF), a non-prot
NGO established under his
leadership to give a voice to
social issues
2010: GDF stops pri-
vatization of District Hospital
Mapusa and Baga beach.
2014: Resigns from Indian
National Congress due to
disillusionment with the
party.
Feb 2014: Registers Goa
Democratic Front as a politi-
cal party and becomes its
President.
7
GOA
THE HANDS THAT WILL RULE GOA? (Clockwise from bottom le) Sunil
Kawthankar, Valanka Alemao, her cousin Yuri Alemao, Hasiba Amin and
Shalom Sardinha, are the faces of Goas young political scene. But, are
some of them serious politicians or opp0rtunists is the question that
needs to be answered
BASURI DESAI / THE GOAN
CURTORIM:
On March 21, Shalom Sardinhas
Facebook post read I have de-
cided to contest the Lok Sabha
Polls as an independent candi-
date in lieu of the grave injustice
inicted on my father and cur-
rent South Goa Lok Sabha MP
Francisco Sardinha by the con-
gress party. Its surprising that a
sitting MP has been denied the
ticket on the recommendation
of an opposition MLA who is not
part of the Congress. The ju-
nior Sardinha was livid that his
father, a three time Member of
Parliament was denied the Lok
Sabha ticket despite working so
hard. Elsewhere, former South
Goa MP and former Chief Min-
ister Churchill Alemaos ambi-
tious daughter and State Youth
Congress President recused
herself from campaigning in the
State for sentimental and emo-
tional reasons.
Welcome to the never dying
Family Raj that continues to
cripple Congress party in Goa
despite the fact that stalwarts
have been ground to dust.
While Shalom Sardinha wants
to avenge an insult to his fa-
ther, Valanka does not want to
campaign against her father,
the party that gave them faces
be damned. Sack both Va-
lanka and Sardinha senior as
Churchill and Shalom are con-
testing against o cial Congress
candidates, demands St. Cruz
MLA Babush Monserrate, who
during last elections managed
an assembly ticket for his wife
Jennifer on a Congress ticket.
Dynastic politics runs as much
as convenient in Goas political
parties.
Todays youth are opportun-
ists. There is no spirit or sac-
rice in them. They only want
positions, says Dabolim MLA
and former Goa Pradesh Youth
Congress President Mauvin Go-
dinho. Godinho, who was of-
fered Congress ticket in 1984
to contest from Dabolim con-
stituency chose to remain Goas
Youth Congress president on the
ground that he wanted to build
the organization. He blames this
surge in unwarranted ambitions
of children of politicians to the
failure of state party leadership
and Congress Legislature Party.
Despite of several representa-
tions from people in Goa, the
High Command has not taken
controlling the aairs in Goa se-
riously, alleges Godinho.
But despite their sugar
daddies being Congress stal-
warts, a new crop of young Con-
gress leaders have emerged who
understand politics is serious
business and commitment not
a child demanding toys from
his parents. These leaders are
from grassroots and have stood
on their own. Amongst them is
Girish Chodankar, Secretary, All
India Congress Committee in
charge of Congress student wing
NSUI for the whole of country.
Chodankar, a former State Youth
Congress Chief holds a very
pragmatic view of the situation.
It depends from one individual
to another. Everybody should
understand why I am in politics
and also why am I in Congress?
They should know the mean-
ing of leadership and that it is
not only if you become a MP or
a MLA that you are considered a
leader.
Rahul Gandhis poster girl
from the state, NSUI State Chief
Hasiba Amin is more blunt
though. Some people are get-
ting into politics for selsh rea-
sons but we cant generalize
this. I understand that some of
our youths demoralized they
must be aware of what is needed
and what is the reality in politics
too, says Amin.
However as battle lines are
drawn one thing is emerging
clearly, Congress is in no mood
to tolerate the Family Raj any-
more and the days of father-son,
wife-husband and blood broth-
ers ticketing will soon be history
as a new crop of young leaders
more clued to the ground than
their dining tables and balco-
nies take centrestage.
As former NSUI Goa Chief
and GPCC Spokesperson Sunil
Kawthankar sum it up, It is the
other youth who would now de-
cide whether this young bridage
of leaders is for social work or
for their own selsh interests.
Papas Girl, Papas Boy
I dont want to comment on this, I will not campaign in Goa for Con-
gress is right. Party has denied ticket for my father; its a question of
sentiments and emotions for me
Valanca Alemao, President, Goa Pradesh Youth Congress
I am contesting Lok Sabha polls not only because my father has
been denied ticket by Congress party but Congress party has lost the
principles and ideologies. Last one year I am actively involved with
my father in politics and social work in South Goa. I am all aware
which are the projects are in process, which are the projects we
need for the development of Goa. I have capabilities to deliver for
the people of Goa. It was very humiliating that my father who was a
sitting MP has been denied ticket by party
Shalom Sardhina, Former Congressman, Independent Candi-
date (South Goa)
The Next Gen Young Turks
Some people are getting into politics for selsh reasons but we
cant generalize this. We have great number of youth in India and
they should enter politics. I understand we are demoralized but
youth are aware about what is happening in politics
Hasiba Amin, President, NSUI, Goa
I believe that everybody has their own ideologies and ideas to
come into politics but that should not be a reason to divide secu-
lar votes and allow communal party to rule. Youth will decide now
whether these youths were for social work or for their selsh interest
Sunil Kawthankar, Secretary / Spokesperson, GPCC and
former President, NSUI Goa
It depends from individual to individual; everybody should under-
stand why I am in politics and why I am in Congress. They should
know the meaning of leadership. It is not only if you become MP or
MLA you are a leader. Youth should rst understand the meaning of
politics and leadership
Girish Chodankar, Secretary, AICC and former GPYC President
The Forever Young
It is a total failure ofthe Congressparty anditsLegislature Party.
Despite several representationsfrom thepeople in Goa, theyhave
not taken thematterseriously or triedto controltheCongress in
Goa. Todays youth are opportunists. There is no spirit or sacrice in
them, they only want positions. I was oered Congress ticket in 1984
to contest from Dabolim constituency when I was the youth congress
president in Goa, but I did not accept it on the grounds that I wanted
to build the organization and which I did
Mauvin Godinho , MLA Congress and former GPYC President
Youth are expected to go more for conviction than convenience
when deciding their choices in life including that in politics. The
youth are expected to rebel. If any politician whatever be his/her age
decided to challenge public sentiments and rebel, and the reason
for the same are not politically plausible then it can lead to a prema-
ture end to a career that is about to begin
Vijay Sardesai, Independent MLA & former GPYC President
Unhappy children of has-been Congress politicos jump in or out of election humdrum
As new order of grassroots youth leaders evolve, politico children feel lost and le out
The young and the restless,
and the scared too
THE GOAN PICS
10
EDIT
The problems
of playing
Parrikar
H
e is most famously known as the right man in the
wrong party. Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Par-
rikar, Goas Chief Minister is everything what one
doesnt get to see when they think of a Bharatiya
Janata Party member. By vetoing down the decision
to allow Sri Ram Senes Pramod Muthalik to join the party, es-
pecially during election season, Parrikar has won many hearts
and raised quite a few questions in peoples minds too. The
foremost being, why did we let Muthalik be when he was in
Goa in 2012 advocating how he would clean up Goas unique
cosmopolitan culture? An IIT-ian with a world view, Parrikar
is probably an aberration to his own party. Born and brought
up in a state that prides itself on its secularity, Goas CM walks
the line between his partys right tilt across the nation and his
own belief in Goanness or Goenkarponn. But the state that
so fondly chose him as an icon for Goas uprightedness and
development doesnt quite feel the same for Narendra Modi.
The reason, the rustic simplicity of Parrikar outweighs the
carefully, craed, made-to-order persona of Narendra Modi.
The former is too much like us and the latter too outlandish to
connect with.
Political rules of the nation change in Goa. Last assembly
elections, when Parrikar himself was baed by the over-
whelming support that his party got, he failed to understand
the fact that it was him and not the party that was voted into
power. Barring him, there were no other faces that Goa could
connect with. A little over two years later, while the love for
Parrikar shows no sign of waning, not the same can be said
about his Cabinet colleagues and partymen. As political pun-
dits would agree, people were expecting Parrikar clones to re-
place the erstwhile Congresss notorious webs of corruption.
What they found over two years that there exist two govern-
ments. One which outdid previous governments in its vision,
its approach and another that undid the rst ones hard work.
Parrikar, the attacker of corruption, had to become the de-
fender of his own men steeped in corruption.
Parliament polls, as we know over the years, do not excite
Goans as much as the assembly elections do. But then the
globally-tuned much-travelled Goan isnt oblivious to the
truth too. While the States BJP cadre screamed its lungs out
extolling Modis virtues, what most of them failed to see, was
that parading Parrikar around Goa in Jan Sampark Andolan
was not the same as parading Modi in Sadbhavana Yatra. Jan
Sampark was about connecting with people, Sabhavana was
about understanding them. Goa connected with Parrikar, but
is at the moment failing to understand Modi.
One of the greatest failures of modern technology is that it
creates impersonal characters. Aer the creation of numerous
Facebook, Twitter accounts and groups, Goans, as warring po-
litical parties will realize, love the Balcao banter type of chats
shooting down viewpoints, mauling the loudmouth and
mocking the obvious. But when it comes to casting votes, the
average Goan does not check their Facebook posting or Tweets.
They use discretion and press the red button. So the tall claims
and counter claims of development, of better tomorrows, of
bringing back black money, of removing corruption, of be-
coming a superpower, falls at in Goa. Why? Because char-
ity begins here at home. Maneuvering the precariously poised
Electionscape for the Congress may be impossible given the
fact that both their candidates have banked purely on what the
Church has lambasted as winnability, but for BJP the prob-
lems are of dierent kind. The state shall be voting for a BJP
candidate on the basis of the kind of governance that has been
witnessed in the past two years, whether promises of weed-
ing out corruption, prosecuting out the guilty, correcting the
Regional Plan, reviving dead industries, reducing unemploy-
ment and a whole list of long term issues have been addressed
to in the past two years. Goans would look at issues nearer
to home than that of 1900 kms away in Delhi. But then what
they would also be looking at the character and persona of the
prime ministerial candidate, someone suave, so spoken, not
so loud as Parrikar himself. Someone tough but not so brutal
as Parrikar himself. The problem is when Goa decides to send
its Parliamentary candidate on April 12, two Saturdays from
now, it would be searching for another Parrikar in BJPs Prime
Ministerial and Parliamentary candidates.
In Theodore Roosevelts words, the most successful politi-
cian is he who says what the people are thinking, most oen
in the loudest voice. The problem is Parrikar knows what the
people want but has to do what the party does. The greatest
tragedy for a man of commitment is choosing between what
he stands for and what he believes in. For Parrikar, convincing
the people to believe what he stands for shall probably be the
toughest battle, rather than making them believe in him.
Old wine in the same bottle, old o r new
N
obody could have said
it better than Pablo Pi-
casso: Well, youth is
the period of assumed
personalities and dis-
guises. It is the time of the sin-
cerely insincere.
So when a young man wants
to avenge the humiliation meted
out to his father for being de-
nied a Parliamentary ticket, he
wants to jump into an electoral
fray without understanding that
elections are not about the argu-
ment over a common boundary
wall between neighbours.
Or even when a young daugh-
ter who runs away from elec-
tions in her state aer Papa fails
to get her the ticket, primarily
because she cant campaign for
her own party against Papa,
then what do you call State Poli-
tics? A dando discussion or bal-
cao banter maybe?
Two years ago, when elec-
tions systematically wiped out
the Alemao familys inuence
in the South, one was to believe
that the political immaturity
and greed for power that runs
in their blood shall be history in
the State.
Nothing of that sort hap-
pened. Societal faith was taken
for granted by politicians who
would still look at elections as
much a spin of the roulette as
much as their children would
take blowing their parents mon-
ey on one of those shining casi-
nos on the Mandovi.
Daddy Dearests powerful leg-
acy was still taken as a granted
ticket to leadership. None of
these youth woke up to smell
the coee.
The greatest fallibility of de-
mocracy is that nobody can take
it for granted. A leader is not
forever. S/he is only as long as
the voters want her / him. If they
dont, s/he is history. But Goas
young breed of born leaders
doesnt accept this.
Caught in the traditional
feudalistic mindset, where the
sharing of a public platform
with their parents and being re-
spected for being their parents
child gives them a false illusion
of power of people, leaves a la-
cunae in young leadership.But
then as Goa is changing, so is
Congress Party, its longest run-
ning ruler.
For every Valanka Alemao,
there is a Sunil Kawthankar, for
every Shalom Sardinha, a Girish
Chodankar and for every Yuri
Alemao, a Hasiba Amin.
There is a brash young grass-
roots leadership emerging from
amongst people like us who
believe that to bring in change,
we have to be the change and
not wait for a chosen one to lead
us. These elections hopefully
should be an end to such politi-
cal ambitions that emerge more
out of emotional and misplaced
ambitions than grassroots con-
nect. For them the simplest les-
son is, emulate your parents
hard work and realpolitik. You
are young and have a long way
to go. Your time shall come.
Dont just overwind the clock.
Better tra c
movement at
Dabolim airport
The airport junction happens to
be one of the busiest junctions
in Vasco and surrounding ar-
eas. This is so because several
roads converge at one point.
Trac leaving and entering
the Port Town via the four-lane
highway have to pass through
this junction. While in the past
a lone trac police used to
man the junction, mercifully
now the trac signals are now
functioning. Even then there
are bottlenecks that occur on a
regular basis. With the opening
of the new passenger terminal
there have been massive traf-
c jams near the new terminal
building and subsequently the
flow of the vehicles onto the
four-lane highway as a result of
the tra c diversion via Shan-
tinagar junction on NH-17B. A
grade separator on this road
near the exit gate of the new in-
tegrated terminal building and
near Shantinagar with proper
signboards and speed-breakers
is the need of the hour. Several
changes like construction of
dedicated lanes need to be
made for the smooth flow
of trac along the four lane
highway at the Shantinagar
junction.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Clean up Goa
Suddenly old parties started
projecting their candidates
as clean and achievements
in terms of free doles given
to public through various
schemes. But what about jus-
tice denied to many in term of
corruption?
If one goes back during Con-
gress rule the so called clean
candidate was a mere specta-
tor as if deaf and dumb with
regards to garbage, litigations
going for years. The murder
of Cipriano, drug nexus, faulty
administration, posting of of-
cers caught red-handed while
accepting bribes, shabby heath
section, mega housing projects,
haa collection by Goa Police,
parking and tra c in major
towns, Mopa airport, and re-
gional plan and illegal mining.
The Goa CM would remind us
about his achievements during
last two years. Reduction in pet-
rol prices and free doles to soci-
ety are his major achievements
but with regards to corruption
and major issues plunging Goa
he did nothing but it seems like
he is using the masters of vari-
ous scams as bargaining chips
to rule and complete ve years
in Goa.
Goans should vote for a
change. They should say
enough of the old parties. Hope
they would regard the Indian
constituency in high esteem
by voting against a person of
doubtful character projected as
the PM of India. Look beyond
the Congress, BJP, UGDP, MGP
and their other a liated parties
for a change.
Julius Carvalho, Dubai
Wake up, Cavelossim
This is with reference to the
article An Environmental Haz-
ard in Cavelossim that featured
in The Goan, edition March
22- March 28, 2014. It was re-
ally painful to read about the de-
struction caused to my village,
where I lived for over 20 years.
I read the views of the sarpanch
and was bewildered. A sarpanch
must know the village, the vil-
lagers and more importantly
stand up to safe-guard the inter-
est of both.
The sarpanch of Cavelossim
has washed her hands o by
saying, I do not know any de-
tails about the issue. Mrs Sar-
panch, permit me to tell you that
it is your primary duty to nd
out about the said issue since
you are accountable to the vot-
ers of the village.
She further adds, I do not
know whether there were ponds
there. I am sure that the vil-
lage still has the older and wiser
generation. Ask them about the
topography of the entire village
and they will most gladly point
out to you not only the ponds
but everything that has gone
missing from the village.
The sarpanch has also further
gone on to say that, The project
was passed when the previous
sarpanch was in power.Has the
previous sarpanch migrated? Is
he not available for questioning?
She added, I have no idea of the
project, I was elected this year.
(meaning 2014). If my memory
serves me right, elections to the
Panchayats in Goa were held in
May 2012. Then how was the sar-
panch of Cavelossim elected this
year? Was it a by- election?
Mrs. D Costa has the audacity
to say , The locals have no prob-
lem at all but the Cavelossim Vil-
lagers Forum have been raising
this issue for no reason. Has a
Gram Sabha meeting been held
to give people a chance to vent
their grievances? According to
panch James Barreto, the dates
of the Gram Sabha have been
postponed every time. Why may
I ask is this done? Are the Pan-
chayat members not ready to
face the wrath of the people who
voted them in?
The explanation given by the
sarpanch has created in me a
great desire to meet this inter-
esting lady who seems to know
nothing but has accepted such a
great responsibility. It is rightly
said that when an institution or
village crumbles , it is not out-
siders who are responsible but
insiders who play a dirty role.
This has proved true in the
case of Cavelossim for the fol-
lowing reasons: Plot under Sur-
vey No. 90/91 surely belonged
to an insider---a villager. Agri-
cultural land is converted into
settlement land under the able
guidance and blessings of an
insider.
Necessary permissions have
been granted by concerned
authorities including the Pan-
chayat. Cavelossim villagers till
date face grave hardships due to
erratic power and water supply .
It was the duty of the Panchayat
members who are all insiders to
point this out to all other con-
cerned authorities.
Villagers of Cavelossim who
are sadly all insiders turned a
blind eye to the ponds being
lled with mud and boulders.
Why were the authorities not
questioned by the villagers?
Letters to the Editor
The people from my locality in Mapusa have
been facing dust problems for the past two
months. The roads were dug up to lay high
tension power lines to support power require-
ments of the new infrastructure set up for the
Lusofonia Games. No doubt the games were
a good show but we are suering on a daily
basis.
As half the roads in the area are dug up, there
is a trac chaos every day. The stretch from
the North Goa district hospital to the NH 17
at Peddem has witnessed lot of accidents
because of loose gravel. School children nd
it dicult to walk along this stretch. The North
Goa district hospital is just 10 metres away
from the aected area increasing the risk of
the dust inconveniencing the patients. Am-
bulances too are delayed by the incomplete
roads. Our damand is that that the authorities
asphalt the road as early as possible and save
them from daily hardships.
I have also heard that the local government
will be laying sewage pipes and they are going
to dig up the roads again.
Jason Rodrigues, Mapusa
The games the government plays
BELINDA JACQUES,
FATORDA
Peoples court
Printed and Published by Rajeev Narayan Sharma on behalf of Fomento Publications, Printed at HT MEDIA LTD, Plot No 6, TTC MIDC Industrial area, Dighe, Thane Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai. Published at: Villa Flores da Silva,
Erasmo Carvalho Street PO Box 31 Margao 403601. Goa. Editor: Ajay Thakur (Responsible for selection of News Under PRB Act). All Rights Reserved Editoral O ce: Third floor, Fourth Estate (Kamat Metropolis), St Inez, Panjim, 403 002
Disclaimer: Except for the editorials above , columns, letters and peoples edit, represent the views of the concerned authors and do not necessary reflect the view of The Goan On Saturday, editor, publisher and owners
The problem is Parrikar knows
what the people want but has to
do what the party does
Daddy Dearests powerful legacy was taken
as a granted ticket to leadership. None of
these youth woke up to smell the coee
Find The Goan on facebook at
facebook.com/TheGoan
We have six Catholic
MLAs within the
BJP, besides that
there are Catholic
MLAs supporting our
government. They have
never said that because
of the advisory they are
going with the church
The advisory that has
been issued, in my
opinion, has talked
about voting for a
secular fabric. Being
the lawyer, I feel that
this should be the
concern of every citizen
We have invested more
than 500 crore rupees
in Dabolim. Now there
is also the 70 crores
invested in a grade
separator. In spite of
this why do we talk
about Mopa?
If they are so condent
with the RSS factor
or Modi factor, then
why waste time with
Churchill, Mickky,
Benjimin etc, are they
scared that they are not
going to get votes from
their areas?
I will try and resolve
issues facing the Gavli
community. I aim to
develop the River Sal
and bring infrastructure
facilities to South Goa
The Congress party has,
for the rst time tapped
the pulse of the common
man, therefore public
sentiments are going to
be an asset
An association with the
RSS does not make one
communal so I dont
attach much importance
to this issue
I am waiting for my
opponent to take the
rst step. I amready to
counter every allegation
with proof
8-9
To comment on our
stories, mail us at
letters@thegoan.net
or visit thegoan.net
and leave you views
there
Everyone is happy and I am sure of
this because I have been working
in South Goa since 1997. There are
absolutely no rebels in the BJP
Narendra Sawaikar
I am standing as a candidate of the real
common man of Goa who thinks beyond
religions. I have not been suggested by the
Church at all
Reginaldo Lourenco
Goench MP
Goa has an
important stake in
these Parliamentary
Polls. BJPs
Prime Ministerial
Candidate
Narendra Modi
was chosen in
Goa and the man
who rmly backed
the decision lock,
stock and barrel is
Goas Chief Minister
Manohar Parrikar.
The Lok Sabha
Polls come midway
into Parrikars
own rule and is
looked upon as a
mandate on his
governance too. Yet
the Parliamentary
candidates have
to look beyond the
small state and
upping their ante.
This week,
The Goan
pitches the main
contenders in
South Goa against
another on issues,
accusations and
the understanding
of Goa, in our
Parliamentary Polls
special covera ge
Date of Birth: December 29, 1960
Educational Qualication: BA-LLB
Educated at Bombay University, and
Goa University
SSCfromM.I.B.K. High
School,Khandepar,Ponda-Goa(Goa
Board),Year-1982,
H.S.S.C. fromDhempe Higher Sec-
ondary School,Panaji Goa, 1984,
B.A. fromBombay University, 1987,
LLB fromGoa University, Year-1994
University: Bombay, Goa
Position held:
Chairman of Goa university students
council- year 1989-90-91
Joined legal profession in 1995-96 as
junior under Ferdino Inacio Rebello, the
ex Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court
Associated with Goa Bagyaddar ba-
zaar since 2006
Serving as chairman of Goa Bagyad-
dar Bazaar since last 2006.
Active Member of Rotary club Ponda/
Samarat club ponda
Patron member of an NGOin Ponda
Joined BJP In 1997, served as general
secretary for 9 years
Shouldered responsibility of south
Goa BJP unit till 2006
IN 2007 appointed as state secretary
Of BJP Goa unit
In 2009 appointed as state general
secretary
2009 contested as Lok Sabha can-
didate for south Goa constituency and
lost by 12000 odd votes.
Date of birth: October 5, 1969;
Educational Qualications:
Appeared for Diploma in Construction
Engineering.
June 7, 2007 : Member, Fifth Legisla-
tive Assembly of the State of Goa.
March 7, 2012 till date : Member,
Sixth Legislative Assembly of the State
of Goa.
MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES
September 2007 Member, Committee
of Petitions.
Member, Committee on Delegated
Legislation.
Member, Committee of Privileges.
Member, Committee on Public Under-
takings.
December 18, 2007 Resigned as the
Member of the Privileges Committee.
April August 2008 Chairman,
Demands related Ad hoc Committee
Education, Sports and Information
Technology.
February 5, 2009 Member, Select
Committee on the Goa Panchayat Raj
(Amendment) Bill, 2009.
April 7, 2009 Member, Demands re-
lated Ad hoc Committee on Industries,
Labour and Tourism.
May 11, 2009 Member of the Re-con-
stituted Select Committee on the Goa
Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2009.
September 9, 2009 Chairman, Com-
mittee on Government Assurances.
Member, Estimates Committee.
Member, Committee on Delegated
Legislation.
22 October 2010 -2011 Chairman,
Estimates Committee.
11 October 2011-2012 Member, Esti-
mates Committee. Member, Committee
on Delegated Legislation.
OTHER INFORMATION
2000 Member, South Goa Zilla Pan-
chayat.
2005 Chairman, South Goa Zilla
Panchayat.
2006 Chairman, CurtorimCo-opera-
tive Service Society.
28 December 2007 -2009 Chairman,
Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd.
2009-2012 Chairman, North Goa
Planning and Development Authority.
Social and Cultural activities Helping
and assisting special children.
-Special Interests Helping the
downtrodden, understanding peoples
needs and nding solutions for their
problems.
Hobbies Social work, meeting people
and socializing.
-Favourite pastime and recreation
Reading, listening to music and sports.
- Sports activities and membership of
Clubs Life Member, CurtorimGymkhana
and YMCA(Young Men Christian Associa-
tion)
Countries visited Qatar and Kuwait.
NAVIN JHA/THE GOAN
The Goan: With the Centre for
Social Justice and Peaces letter
which obliquely hits out at your
party, the Church seems to be in a
mood to back the Congress. How
do you then rate your chances?
Narendra Sawaikar: Elections are
not fought on lines of religion, but
on issues. These are parliament elec-
tions and I appeal to the voters they
should vote in the interest of the con-
stitution. The advisory that has been
issued, in my opinion, has talked
about voting for a secular fabric. Be-
ing the lawyer, I feel that this should
be the concern of every citizen.
TG: Many of the Catholic MLAs,
both fromBJP as well as Indepen-
dent and GVP members support-
ing BJP, have said that they will
go with the Churchs point of view
and support Congress candidates?
NS: We have six Catholic MLAs
within the BJP, besides that there are
Catholic MLAs supporting our gov-
ernment. They have never said that
because of the advisory they are go-
ing with the church.
TG: There are rumors that from
Churchill toMauvinGodinho, your
party has managed an intra-party
coup within Congress to ensure
your victory.
NS: Mauvin said that this govern-
ment, for last two years, has done
something substantial for Goa,
including in the eld of develop-
ment. I dont see any reason why
the BJP should manipulate things.
TG: You were chosen over the
popular Damu Naik in the South.
Dont you feel that disgruntled BJP
members will lead to your loss?
NS: Everyone is happy and I am
sure of this because I have beenwork-
ing inSouthGoa since 1997. There are
absolutely no rebels in the BJP.
TG: We have never heard much
about your achievements as law
commission chairman. How do
you plan to convince the intellec-
tual voters then?
NS: Our role basically is to give sug-
gestions and submit our reports. We
submitted our suggestions regarding
at ownership. The issue that we pur-
sued with the govt was the transfer
of the rent matters from the deputy
collectors to the civil courts and that
I am happy that in my tenure that
govt. has accepted that proposal and
the matters had been transferred to
the civil court. I came across certain
issues regarding building construc-
tions while we were preparing for the
at ownership act. We came to know
about problems in various ats re-
garding the lis facilities. So we pre-
pared a proposal. We have also made
report to the govt regarding tenancy
laws. Then we were working on land
revenue code and we were about to
make some suggestions with regards
to some amendments. Besides that
there were certain issues regarding
the amendments to be made in the
Portuguese laws which is applicable
to Goa. As the law commission post
is not high prole we dont hold
press conferences and talk about our
achievements.
TG: What is your stand on
Mopa?
NS: We have investedmore
than 500 crore rupees in
Dabolim. Now there is
also the 70 crores in-
vested in a grade separator. In spite
of this why do we talk about Mopa?
These issues are like poll gimicks. As
far as the BJP is concerned I will be
with the people of South Goa.
TG: Doyoufeel that beinganRSS
member is a turn o for Catholic
voters?
NS: Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L
K Advani was referred to as an RSS
members. Manohar Parrikar was also
refered to as an RSS member. Now
everybody says they were one of the
best administrators in India. An as-
sociation with the RSS does not make
one communal so I dont attachmuch
importance to this issue.
TG: What is the stand on regu-
larisation of illegal structures on
communidade land?
NS: Being a lawyer I have handled
so many matters regarding this. If you
want to remove these people, as they
are encroachers, then there would be
some tension within society. So now
you have to take a stand, either regu-
larise them or rehabilitate them. The
regularisation process includes the
amendment to the various provisions
of law, which includes land and rev-
enue act, municipality act, Goa Pan-
chayat raj act etc.
TG: Where do you think is the
cause for electors to vote for the
BJP?
NS: Let the Congress answer as to
why their candidate is is playing safe.
If Reginaldo wants to contest the MP
election why does he not rst resign
as MLA? We have come across cer-
tain issues wherein the central govt
should have supported the state govt.
One such issue was mining. People
say that the BJP was responsible. The
Shah Commission was appointed by
the Congress govt and subsequently
the report was submitted by the same
Shah Commission to the central govt.
NAVIN JHA/THE GOAN
The Goan: You want special sta-
tus for Goa, you support Dabolim
only You seem more like a can-
didate of the Church than the Con-
gress Party?
Aleixo Lourenco: I amstanding as
a candidate of the real common man
of Goa who thinks beyond religions.
I have not been suggested by the
Church at all. Parrikar has tried to get
agents to see that such kind of pro-
paganda is created but I amsure that
people of Goa are aware of this fact.
TG: From Francisco Sardinha
to the formidable Alemao family
to your former mentor Churchill
and even your once upon a time
friend Mauvin Godinho, the most
renowned of the Congress names
in the South are opposing your
candidature. How do you intend
to win?
AL: My ght basically is neither
with Sardinha, nor with the Alemao
family or with Mauvin Godinho, my
ght is with these communal, divi-
sive, dictatorial leaders of the BJP. .
TG: Even the mining areas,
which in the past used to vote for
Congress, have rallied behind
BJPs Narendra Sawaikar due to
your anti-mining stand. Where
will your votes come from?
AL: My stand has not been anti-
mining but anti-illegal mining. We
have a CD where during a television
award function, the same very chief
Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar
has acknowledged that he has closed
mining in Goa. At the appropriate
time I will show this CD to people,
where Parrikar charges me as an anti-
mining activists. I am going to reach
out to the mining aected areas and
will expose the truth as to who is re-
sponsible for the closure of mining.
TG: Your record as a MLA is not
much to talk about. How do you
plan to convince voters?
AL: The Congress party has, for
the rst time tapped the pulse of
the common man, therefore public
sentiments are going to be an asset.
I have repeatedly won the debate
aer reminding the same dictatorial
chief minister Manohar Parrikar as to
what his stand when he was in oppo-
sition and how his stands have now
changed in form of U-turns, aer he
became chief minister, so intellectu-
als very well understand who is per-
forming. This will be exposed when
the peoples anger will be shown as
they will vote against BJP this time.
TG: The Church supports land
rights for indigenous people and
even supports the Communidade.
Howdo youintendto convince the
illegal encroachers on Communi-
dade land to vote for you?
AL: My associations with the Com-
munidade and the church has been
around for many years, so this asso-
ciation will denitely help me more
this time, because of that one bill
that is a directive to help the people
of Mayem.
TG: Do you feel that your oppo-
nent Narendra Sawaiker, being an
RSS member, shall help polarise
votes in your favour?
AL: This issue has taken centre-
stage for simple reason that people
fear what will happen to the country,
like what is happening in Gujarat. I
have evidence that when someone
from the press writes against Parri-
kar, he gets a phone call in the morn-
ing and Parrikar questions him as
to what he has written in the news-
paper. So people are now realizing
their mistakes and they wonder,
if Narendra Sawaikar comes
to power, what will be their
faith tomorrow. The RSS factor is ac-
tually making him a demon of Goa
who knows to rule like Hitler in the
state.
TG: Last time, your opponent
Sawaikar lost against Sardinha by
mere 12000 odd votes when the
state had a Congress government.
This time Sawaiker has a BJP Govt,
Independent MLAs, and your own
predecessor Sardinhas bad blood
with you as your opponent. What
then shall be your prospects?
AL: I have been given a ticket by
the party going by public sentiments
and the voters of South Goa, includ-
ing the traditional voters, who have
really been touched by this gesture
from the high command. Why, when
cases were led against Churchill
Alemao, within six months of the
PWD scam expose has Parrikar said
that he will see Churchill contest the
election? If they are so condent with
the RSS factor or Modi factor, then
why waste time with Churchill, Mick-
ky, Benjimin etc, are they scared that
they are not going to get votes from
their areas?
TG: How do you plan to contest
against your opponent? Where do
you think is a cause for electors to
vote for Congress?
AR: I am waiting for my op-
ponent to take the rst step. I
amready to counter every
allegation with proof.
The other cause of
concern for the peo-
ple of state is that
they are nowthreat-
ened with the u-
turns of the BJP
aer 2012 elec-
tions casinos,
mining and even
the MOI issue.
South of the Zuari, no logic works. Ask a political pundit and they will tell you how strong emotions and not a grim
political reality decides the fate of who is sent to the LokSabha as the South Goa parliamentary candidate.
While the BJPs RSS man Narendra Sawaikar nds solace in the fact that his partys government rules the state and
aura of Narendra Modi sweeps the nation, Congresss Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has the rm backing of the Church
that shall make this a battle to decide the true persona of South Goan voter
This is quite an antithesis of Rudyard Kiplings famous lines, Oh,East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.
If Reginaldo wants to contest, why
does he not rst resign as MLA?
My ght is with these communal,
divisive, dictatorial leaders of the BJP
Advocate Narendra
Keshav Sawaikar
Aleixo Reginaldo
Lourenco
P
IC
S
: S
A
G
U
N
G
A
W
A
D
E
Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco
First contested fromCurtorim
constituency in 2007 as Save Goa
Front (SGF) party
Defeated Congress candidate and
Former Chief Minister Francisco
Sardinha by 1827 votes
SGF merged with the Congress after
2009 Lok Sabha Polls
Contested as a Congress Candidate
in the 2012 assembly elections and
won by 4069 votes, defeating BJPs
Dominic Gaonkar.
Agenda For south Goa:
To support the people of south Goa
on the DabolimAirport issue
Tourismdevelopment
Overall development of South Goa.
Advocate Narendra
Keshav Sawaikar
Runner up in 2009, lost
by 12516 votes to Con-
gress candidate Francisco
Sardinha.
Agenda for South Goa:
To support the people of
south Goa on the Dabolim
Airport issue
Development of river Sal
Special status for Goa
Development of tourism
in south
Overall development of
South Goa
I
ndians are coming aer a 14
year hiatus and they will once
again play a sort of interna-
tional cricket tournament
in the UAE. This hosting of a
segment of the IPL should be
seen as a rst step towards re-
establishing test and one-day
ties and ensuring an ongoing
relationship. Much of the mis-
understandings of the late nine-
ties were predicated to the per-
ception that there was a fair deal
of match xing being engaged in
and Indians deected attention
from the Mumbai maas con-
trol of things by pointing a inty
nger in this direction. Things
just got murky and out of hand.
Much of the good that one-day
cricket received by way of bene-
t was overlooked in the contro-
versy. It went beyond the oen
forgotten but tangible $5 million
given in purses to international
cricketers by the highly success-
ful CBFS experiment and placed
Sharjah on the world map. Also,
it should be remembered that
nowhere else were cricketers
feted, given hospitality and lion-
ised as they were on their visits.
Sharjah was the trigger for the
start of the cricket icon era. The
multi-partisan expats, especial-
ly Indians and Pakistanis, culled
out holidays to watch them play
and entertain them lavishly so
there was a great deal of warmth
and aection in those days and
sometimes a surfeit of emotion
can turn sour. But it is time now
to move on from those memories
and work towards bringing back
that erstwhile cricketing glory to
a nation which now has three
world class stadiums.
There are also two very good
ocial reasons for doing so,
even if you carelessly discount
the fact that the ICC headquar-
ters is based in the Emirates.
The rst is that the UAE has
qualied for the T20 World Cup
making it a cricket playing na-
tion. The second that Pakistan
has chosen the UAE as its sur-
rogate home and it has played
ocial matches against other
nations on a regular basis. Since
this option has been recognised
it becomes incumbent upon the
ICC and the BCCI to take these
imperatives on board and factor
them into the annual xtures.
The Indian cricket authorities
have opted for the UAE because
they really could not come up
with any reason why the obvious
venue should be overlooked.
Besides, India enjoys excellent
relations with the UAE, which is
its second biggest trade partner,
with bilateral agreements cur-
rently pegged at $ 75 billion. Add
to that political equation a new
generation of cricketers who
vociferously supported coming
to the UAE and cannot fathom
the foot dragging. The sponsors
and the owners of the IPL teams
practically reside in the UAE or
are there on work and business,
not to mention shooting lms
for Bollywood.They are saving
a fortune in just going across to
Dubai than ogging their way
to South Africa. And then there
was another nancial reality
check. Similar time zones, bet-
ter viewing hours for the Indian
public, home-like conditions,
no food problems and, above
all, a high recognition factor of
the teams made the dierence
and advertisers wanted the
maximum bang for their adver-
tisement spend. How many In-
dians would watch Joburg play
Durban? Ergo, how many South
Africans would watch Deccan
play Chennai.
But the paint is still wet and a
fair amount of earnestness, sin-
cerity of purpose and transpar-
ency are needed to forge those
building bricks for the future.
Time for the ECB to show its
mettle and put its best foot for-
ward, which it will. Let these
players and organisers go back
absolutely convinced that what-
ever the UAE does, it does better
than anyone else.
Bikram Vohra is director-editori-
al and corporate communication,
New Asian Media Ltd
Indians are coming to UAE for
cricket, and thats good
11
OP-ED
Bikram Vohra
Byline
Immigrant,
Again
N
ight had fallen on Melbourne by the time I had got-
ten through immigration and customs. I made my
way through the crowd of smiling people, some
holding up Welcome Home! signs. In the arriv-
als area, I found a quiet spot and, fortunately, free
wi always such a boon to itinerants. There was just enough
power on my phone to send a quick message to let my folks
know I had arrived safely.
For a long while, I stood by my luggage cart and eyed the
exit. I was not ready, just yet, to leave the neutral space of the
airport, and step into terra incognita.
Sure, I had found myself in this same situation many times
before. But it never ceases to feel daunting, that alienness of
being on the precipice of starting life anew. En route to Aus-
tralia, I broke my journey in Beirut. At immigration in Leba-
non, I surmised that the ocer was asking me if I spoke Ara-
bic, but being unable to respond in that
tongue, I apologized in English. How
come? He queried. You were born in
Kuwait, he said, jabbing his nger at
the tell-tale information in my Ameri-
can passport.
Just a few weeks prior, the mous-
tachioed o cial collecting departure
cards at Bombays Chhatrapati Shivaji
International Airport which will al-
ways be Sahara Airport to me from
having transited there as a child travel-
ing between Kuwait and Goa to see my
grandmother insisted on speaking to
me in Hindi. As if to go with the nation-
alistically inclined name change of the airport, he questioned
my inability to articulate myself uently in the mother
tongue that is completely unknown to my mother who was
born and raised in East Africa.
Waving my Overseas Citizenship of India card in my face, he
chastised me, in Hindi, for not speak-
ing the language of your country. I
thought of the title of that James Bald-
win novel. I thought of 1961. I signed my
Portuguese name on the exit form, and
departed the country that neither of my
parents, nor me, had been born in.
Its not just another country for
you, a friend remarked. Its a whole
other continent. Nonetheless, some
things were immediately familiar, I
thought to myself as I prepared the
cash to pay the taxi driver near the end
of the ride from Tullamarine Airport. For instance, there was
the crowned head on the heavy currency the paradoxically
common royal visage on the coinage of the Commonwealth.
I remember her well from those days of scrounging together
my all too uncommon wealth as a student in London. And
English is spoken here that other imperial legacy.
I thought of 1968. I thought of Enoch Powells Rivers of
Blood, and how the lie was given to the concept of the Com-
monwealth when South Asians from once British East Africa
were denied entry into the United Kingdom, even though
they shared the same history and spoke
the same language. There was an
awkward silence when the cab driver
nally ended the call he had been on
from the time he had picked me up. I
had gathered from the phone conver-
sation that he was Punjabi. How long
have you lived here? I enquired. Ten
years. Youre here for work? I nodded.
Yes. New job. He said, Good, good.
Leaning forward in my seat, I asked,
So, some years ago, there were those
attacks, no? On Indian students His
head bobbed in assent. But it is safe.
You know just mind your own business. You do your work
and you go home aer and everything will be ne. I thought
of Doris Pilkingtons Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence, of 1869
and the Stolen Generations. I thought about whose home this
country really is and of homelessness. This is your stop, the
driver announced as he slowed down. All the best!
R. Benedito Ferro writes about the Goan diaspora and culture.
To see more of his work, visit thenightchild.blogspot.com, or The
Nightchild Nexus at Facebook. If you see him at a bar, order him
a single malt. Neat.
Will the real BJP please stand up?
T
here is on occasion a
pivotal, symbolic mo-
ment in the life of a po-
litical party on which
all that has come be-
fore turns. For the Congress,
it came arguably not with the
Emergency from which it recov-
ered but with the overturning
of the Shah Bano judgment.
For the BJP, it may have come
on Sunday, March 23, when a
semi-educated, mofussil bully
called Pramod Muthalik, who
is accused in 45 cases of rioting
and inciting hatred/violence
towards 49 per cent of the coun-
trys citizens, joined the party
with the BJPs Karnataka brass
cheering him in before having
to cancel his membership the
same evening.
Manohar Parrikar, to his eter-
nal credit, was among the rst
prominent BJP leaders to raise
a stink over this overt display
of mendacious misogyny by
his party and insisted that the
decision to welcome Muthalik
into the fold be reversed. Whilst
cynics will point out that Parri-
kar may not have had much of a
choice given electoral-political
considerations in Goa with a
majority liberal Hindu/Catho-
lic population which is genu-
inely disgusted by the antics of
Muthaliks ultra-conservative
vigilante group, let it be placed
on record that we extend the
same courtesy to the Goan Chief
Minister in accepting that he too
genuinely shares our disgust.
The potential for damage to
the BJP from this aborted at-
tempt that exposed the political
reexes of its tier II leadership
which reached out to a per-
sonality of Muthaliks prole
albeit in the cause of winnabil-
ity, however, even if contained
somewhat for the 2014 Lok
Sabha election, is immense and
has discourse-shaping implica-
tions. The issue, to put it blunt-
ly, is much bigger than whether
Muthalik is in or not. For, it has
provided an insight into the
fault lines that are opening up in
the BJP and will be clear to the
naked eye in ever sharper relief
if it comes to power at the Centre
as seems likely but by no means
certain.
What the Muthalik episode
has done, coming as it did on
the heels of the ascendant Na-
rendra Modi-Rajnath Singh-
Arun Jaitley troika ensuring the
sidelining or semi-retirement of
the old guard so that their ex-
pertise may be used if the BJP
makes it to the Centre but they
have no political he le in the
party, is expose the fact that
the neo-leadership is sharp as
knives when it comes to tactics
but rather iy when it comes to
strategy. The prognosis, to resort
to corporate-speak, is they may
get some spectacular quarterly
results but nobody is quite sure
what the core competencies,
value-system or bottom line will
look like on a ve-year horizon.
Now it is nobodys argument
that a generational shi is not
essential in the BJP and it is
apparent that the Congress is
merely scoring debating points
when it points to the shabby
treatment meted out to BJP se-
niors; recent history shows us
exactly how respectful Congress
was towards its non-Family
leaders, Lal Bahadur Shastri, PV
Narasimha Rao, Sitaram Kesari
et.al. But when Jaswant Singh
said on being denied the BJP
nomination for the Barmer seat
that he is not an adjustable
commodity it was only partly
the patrician sneer of an old fo-
gey at the language used by the
parvenu arrivistes in the leader-
ship huddle to purportedly as-
suage his feelings. It is the sec-
ond part of his statement, that
there appear to be two BJPs in
circulation, the fake and the
real, that needs to be exam-
ined closely.
The fact is that a signicant
section of the activists of all
major political parties in India
today are youngish and lout-
ish. The BJP has to grapple with
this issue in a more acute form
because its origins as a cadre-
based party that has grown ex-
ponentially means that senior
leaders can justiably, if some-
times self-servingly, point to the
various divergences from princi-
ples sanctioned by the neo-lead-
ership that the latter claim are
part of the bag of tricks of any
party looking to win elections.
Jaswant Singhs charge, how-
ever, does evoke some reso-
nance because inherent in a gen-
erational change is the question
of legitimacy, i.e. who speaks for
the party and, equally, what it
stands for. In terms of the rst
question, it is now abundantly
clear that the old guard no
longer speaks for the BJP. An-
swering the second question,
though, is more problematic be-
cause this is where the Muthalik
leitmotif, as it were, will need to
be addressed each time it arises
in various avatars. In that sense,
the Muthalik episode conrmed
that the real BJP is still a work
in progress even if the leader-
ship issue is settled.
The truth is that the instincts
of those who wanted Muthalik
in will have to be battled by the
BJP leadership every time such
an issue or its approximation
comes up and the battle will
have to be joined not just by
disgruntled seniors taking pot-
shots from the sidelines but by
the likes of Arun Jaitley, Sushma
Swaraj, Shivraj Singh Chauhan,
Raman Singh and Parrikar, re-
gardless of whether they are
fervent or merely lukewarm
supporters of Modi, if they want
to shape what the real BJP will
stand for.
Ishan Joshi is a senior journalist
Ishan Joshi
What lies beneath
R. Benedito Ferr o
Im not here
But when Jaswant Singh
said on being denied
the BJP nomination for
the Barmer seat that he
is not an adjustable
commodity it was only
partly the patrician sneer
of an old fogey at the
language used by the
parvenu arrivistes in the
leadership huddle to
purportedly assuage his
feelings
Much of the
misunderstandings
of the late nineties
were predicated to the
perception that there
was a fair deal of match
xing being engaged in
and Indians deflected
attention from the
Mumbai maas control of
things by pointing a flinty
nger in this direction
At
immigration
in Lebanon, I
surmised that
the o cer
was asking
me if I spoke
Arabic, but
being unable
to respond in
that tongue, I
apologized in
English
I remember
her well from
those days of
scrounging
together my all
too uncommon
wealth as a
student in
London
How long
have you
lived here?
I enquired.
Ten years.
Youre here
for work? I
nodded. Yes.
New job. He
said, Good,
good.
India enjoys excellent relations
with the UAE, which is its second
biggest trade partner
The Muthalik episode conrmed that the
real BJP is still a work in progress even if
the leadership issue is settled
12
GOA DEEP WITHIN
Some reports and stories cannot be planned. The best stories are journeys and not destinations. Reporters of The Goan will spend their
weekends travelling to the hinterland of Goa, to meet people and tour villages and come back with stories that are too far away from Panjim and
Margao. These packages, Goa Deep Within, will emerge from traditional reportage and mass contact. Readers are requested to participate by
telling us which villages to go to, to hear and then write stories
NESHWIN ALMEIDA /
THE GOAN
BENAULIM:
Ever wondered what would hap-
pen if there is no sand on the
beaches? Will there be sea or just
the rocks? The questions may
seem scary or too far-fetched
but the discreet activities on the
beach at the Benaulim-Colva
paint a similar picture. For peo-
ple who came for a morning jog
at the beach were in for a shock
when they saw individuals stu-
ing sand in a goods carrier rick-
shaw.
Since then, the locals of the
area have been up in arms
against these thieves feeding
the local construction. Every
morning, I come for a jog with
my parents to the beach all the
way from Sarzora. That is when
we rst noticed some people ll-
ing bags with sand. They said
the sand was for gardening pur-
pose but we later found it to be a
daily act and that the sand was
being commercially sold by a
landscaping architect, said Ze-
nden Mascarenhas.
Levinson Martins from Goa
Pollution Control Board in-
formed that stealing sand from
the beach is a criminal act and
action needs to be initiated by
the local police and arrest the
ones indulging in this activ-
ity only the GCZMA under CRZ
rules can take action.
Bags of sand are stolen daily
from Benaulim beach for small
construction and landscaping
of gardens in the nearby hotels.
Local shermen say, the daily
stealing leaves wide holes on
the beach making it di cult for
them to push their boats into the
sea.We have taken cognizance
of such complaints in the past.
Although we have not received
one of late but will denitely
send our ying squads and take
action if such problems occur
again, asserted Colva PI Uttam
Raut Dessai. But there is a la-
ment that neither the local po-
lice nor CRZ authorities can take
any action in a matter like this.
Jose Rodrigues, who is leading
the ght against these illegali-
ties in the area states, Even
in the Beach Hotel case where
the matter is in court against
Triumph Reality, truckloads of
sand was sold by a builder for
local construction and the local
authorities could do nothing.
Social activist Judith Almeida
agrees and says, Several com-
plaints of individuals stealing
sand, boulders and scrapping
the sand dunes have been made
by me and others around Bena-
ulim and Colva, the Colva police
promises to investigate but they
dont even come to inspect the
site.
Locals who live or work in
the area point out that few ve-
hicles and even bikes tted
with a light go on the beach
late in the evening and steal
sand for construction sites.We
have made so many complaints
against such activities. The cops
say it comes under the jurisdic-
tion of the mines department
since its illegal sand extraction,
the mines authorities say the
tourism police should take ac-
tion but they pass the buck
to the CRZ o cials, stated
Rudolf Fernandes, a local taxi
driver.
Aer every complaint made,
the usual process of the police
authorities or an o cial from the
South Goa Collectorate inspects
the site but yet there havent
been any bookings, leaving lo-
cals wondering if the beach that
they always knew would remain
a beach much longer.
The sandmen are
stealing the beach
in Benaulim
Concerned
authorities play the
game of passing the
buck
No action taken
despite several
complaints from
locals
CRIMINAL ACT: In the garb
of taking sand for garden-
ing, people steal sand from
the beach for construction
purposes
The problem is with the
sand extraction ban and
with sand prices soaring,
the stealing sand from
beaches have started again.
We have in the past made
complaints against even
shack owners who would
bring shovels and cranes
and extract sand from the
beach to either create a
crater for construction or to
sell the sand
Rudolf Baretto, resident
OFFICIAL SPEAK:
The powers to nab someone carrying out this illegal-
ity are vested with the coastal police. The minute they
nab someone or book some we immediately step in and
take action but the complaint has to be taken up by the
Coastal Tourism Police alone
Srinet Kotwale, GCZMA Chairman
This is a very serious issue since stealing sand is an
criminal oence and denitely disturbs the ecology. I
hope the CRZ would look into this issue more seriously
Dr Arvind Gajanan Untawale, Member, Environmental
Impact Assessment Process and Coastal Management
KIMBERLY COLACO/
THE GOAN
VADDEM:
This river didnt run red (it has,
in fact, has turned green), but
if it were a living being it surely
would have been dead. Eorts
poured in or not, this in Vaddem
water course had turned into an
existing example to what apathy
and lackadaisical eorts from
the administrations part has re-
sulted to an ecological disaster.
Its sad. And its evident to every
eye that is set on this, once na-
tures adorable creek, that the
damage to this water course has
gone beyond repair.
The creek which was once
a beautiful attraction for the
Vascoites has gradually turned
into a stench lled swamp, as
it stretches from River Zuari to-
wards Pai Hospital and further
connected to the Chapel of Our
Lady of Merces in Vaddem.
A local narrates a patch from
his memories during the serene
days when river water was clean
and sparkling. As children we
never had television or even a
radio at home. The only past
time we had was the neighbours
mango trees, a group of friends
and the always fresh and clean
swimming pool gied by mother
nature herself. Fishing was an-
other pastime we had. The water
ows right behind my house and
we would nd sh like the Red
Snapper, Crabs and so many dif-
ferent kinds of aquatic species.
But now the place is so dirty that
even entering into these waters
is perilous, informed Umesh
Halankar, a resident of Ward 20.
There is a new divide that
can be sensed among the resi-
dents living in the surrounding
neighbourhood. There are those
who have seen the sereness of
the creek during its prime and
then there are those, who with-
out remorse would just dump
their sewage and garbage into
this water body and worsen its
pitiable condition. The creek
which was once an entertain-
ment zone is now clogged with
domestic waste, plastic bags
and bottles, it wont be surpris-
ing to someone to nd childrens
toys, electrical wires and switch-
es in one corner of this water
body. There are many buildings
which are coming up in the sur-
roundings; which means that a
lot of industrial waste and sew-
age is also let out in the creek.
Its an eyesore to see waste
ung into the creek. I have
given my papers to the munici-
pality so that I can build a wall
surrounding my house. And the
rst thing I will do is to get my
side of the creek cleaned. I can-
not bear the sight, informed
Halankar. The people who stay
in the ats are not here for a long
time. They dont know how the
creek was. For them it is just a
dirty nullah where there are lots
of mosquitoes breeding and a
garbage dump yard. They will
never get attached to the place
the way the locals from the area
are, he added.
Another intriguing story of the
creek surfaces aer yet another
local, annoyed and gathering
all his sense of displeasure said
During our younger days, we
used to have sports and swim-
ming in the creek. We never
went to the swimming pools and
frankly my parents never had
the money to send us there. The
water used to be so clear that
swimming in it used to be a de-
light, informed Venu Naik, who
has seen the place since years
forever. He lives on the other
end of the creek and he was
quiet upset that the place is de-
stroyed and the next generation
is not lucky to see what they saw
in their younger days.
The lush green elds have
been destroyed and there are
wild plants which are growing.
There is also a lack of initiation
here; the residents would not
allow themselves to even con-
tribute to cleaning of this creek,
when someone or somebody is
ready to do so.
I have done all that I could to
get the nullah cleaned up. The
nullah is cleaned every year but
the problem is the locals hesitate
to even pay Rs 40 a month for door
to door garbage collection. They
nd it expensive. The easy way out
is to throw the plastic bag lled
with garbage right into their new
dumping yard.
To clean the mess one has to get
inside the nullah and clean it.
But due to hazardous and toxic
chemicals present in the water
body there is a fear of contacting
some disease. I have sent notices
to the people who have let their
sewerage pipeline into the creek
but there was no follow up to that.
Frankly speaking almost 90 per
cent of the people residing in Vad-
dem have let out their sewerage
pipelines into this creek. Within
six months all the pipelines con-
nected to the creek will stop.
Sudesh Kolgaonkar,
Councillor (ward no 20)
I have removed all the trees
which were into the creek and the
flow of water was disrupted. The
water passage was also blocked
and I got it cleared. The desilting
was done at least three times of
the entire nullah but that was
a temporary measure. I have
decided to have a wall built on the
either side.
There are many who have
encroached on the land and have
extended their property. We have
also sent them a notice to get the
place cleared and they too have
agreed. Their sewerage pipeline
will also be dealt with.
Mauvin Godinho, MLA
When a vein of nature is slit in Vasco
The locals complain that the councilor has not done anything to rectify the nullah
Scenic beauty of the village has been lost and very little chances are made to rectify them
GLORY LOST: The Vaddem creek has been made the dumping
ground for almost all the locals
SAGUN GAWADE
SAGUN GAWADE
13
GOA DEEP WITHIN
Some reports and stories cannot be planned. The best stories are journeys and not destinations. Reporters of The Goan will spend their
weekends travelling to the hinterland of Goa, to meet people and tour villages and come back with stories that are too far away from Panjim and
Margao. These packages, Goa Deep Within, will emerge from traditional reportage and mass contact. Readers are requested to participate by
telling us which villages to go to, to hear and then write stories
NAVIN JHA / THE GOAN
CORTALIM:
While travelling along any road,
the sight of garbage strewn all
over the place, on the streets,
outside bins and enclosures is
always perturbing. The scenes
along the National Highway 17
and 17B are no dierent. The
eort to provide citizens with
enough venues to get rid of gar-
bage seems to have backred.
The new venues located all
along the national highways
which were earlier used as des-
ignated enclosures for tempo-
rary dumping of collected gar-
bage waste are now used by the
people as regular dumping sites.
The worst part is that these
enclosures are turning into an
eyesore as people living in the
vicinity have started dispos-
ing o their garbage all around
them putting double burden on
labourers to also manage this
non segregated waste.
Chief Minister Manohar Par-
rikar had six months back said
that much was still needed to
be done to free highways from
the menace of garbage. He was
undoubtedly right in his remark
as the scenario is much worse
today. As far as clearing nation-
al and district highways from
waste strewn by the roadside is
concerned, it is e ciently done
by the contractor appointed by
the state government but anoth-
er serious problem seems to be
cropping up at the collection en-
closures set up by the concerned
authorities.
Every morning we notice at
least 50 to 60 new garbage bags
being dumped by unknown
people. We have no clue as to
how to deal with this waste and
thus we have to burn it, said
a labourer employed for pick-
ing up garbage alongside the
national highway road. Also
the collection enclosures raise
a stench to attract stray cattle,
thereby, posing a further nui-
sance for vehicular movement.
According to Managing Direc-
tor GSIDC Sanjit Rodrigues, the
enclosures were placed to stack
the garbage waste collected by
designated contractors along
the roadsides once a week or
fortnightly, but now people have
started to scatter waste around
the place.
I understand the new prob-
lem but the street waste col-
lectors are le with no options
but to segregate waste dumped
outside the enclosures and stack
them inside until the weekly col-
lection takes place. In any case,
I am happy that garbage waste
which was earlier in all corners
is now coming at one particu-
lar place from where we li it
regularly, Rodrigues further ex-
plains. Currently the GSIDC has
placed two large size enclosures
at Nuvem, at Verna as well as
Bambolim but commuters use
them like a dumping ground
provided by the state govern-
ment. The bins near Bits Pilani,
MES College junction, and at
Upasnagar which falls in NH
17 B route are a source of relief
for the residents. The local San-
coale Panchayat had no garbage
management in place and thus
these bins become an alterna-
tive dumping sites used my large
number of people.
The same routine continues
everyday raising eyebrows on
whether the whole exercise of
roadside waste collection and
keeping highway neat and clean
was actually achieved. And the
answer would be a no as the
process which kick started with
lots of enthusiasm and energy
demands an urgent scrutiny.
Caged trash stinks along the NH17
Garbage
enclosures turn
into an eyesore as
people scatter waste
all around them
Enclosures
raise a stench to
attract stray cattle
posing nuisance for
vehicular movement
The waste
collection system
along highways
needs a relook
Every morning we notice at
least 50 to 60 new garbage
bags being dumped by
unknown people. We have
no clue as to how to deal
with this waste and thus we
have to burn it
a labourer at the site
BASURI DESAI / THE GOAN
MERCES:
The trick is simple; just dump
the garbage where the open
space is. The end result is waste
lying in every nook and corner
and heaped everywhere. Simi-
lar is the case of Merces village
where Mercekars have made
their waste dumping sites every-
where in the absence of garbage
collection facility or a dumping
site.
Located at just 500 meters
away from the Goas capital city
of Panjim, the rotting smell of
the decomposition of trash hits
like a dead mouse as one enters
the village.
All open spaces in the village
panchayat area are converted
into dumping sites for garbage.
Some of the residents have
made their way by throwing
the garbage in open spaces and
on the roads as nobody knows
where to dump the garbage.
The village panchayat also
has to be equally blamed for not
being able to nd a solution to
the garbage menace for so long.
Entire Merces village is af-
fected with the problem which
is becoming bigger and bigger
with every passing day but the
panchayat is making no eort to
tackle the situation.
On entering the village, you
are welcomed by the colourful
garbage bags everywhere. The
road sides are full of waste and
debris of construction, said An-
arita Lopes, a local resident.
The heaps of garbage are also
aecting mangroves in the kha-
jan land besides the road and
are a threat to the overall ora
and fauna of the region.
Merces is a densely popu-
lated area having a sizable mi-
grant population waiting for the
attention of the authorities. If
the administration does not take
immediate action the possibility
of the village attracting harm-
ful diseases is very high, says
Krishna Naik, a local.
Village panchayat sarpanch
Asousa DSouza said that
door-to-door waste collection
stopped in Merces due to non-
cooperation from the people.
I have changed the labourers
thrice, but they were afraid to do
their job as people were threat-
ening them, he said.
The sarpanch claims he has
done his best to sort out the
garbage issue but failed to get
peoples support. We are in a
process to identify the land for
garbage disposal, DSouza in-
formed.
The high court in 2010 had di-
rected all the village panchayats
in the state to create compost-
ing facilities for bio-degradable
waste within their limits and
make arrangement for weekly
collection of non-bio-degrad-
able waste including plastic. As
per the court order panchayats
should have their own disposal
sites to treat their own garbage.
Also, garbage disposal sites
need consent from the GSPCB,
Town and Country Planning
and the forest department, if the
area falls under the forest. Files
are objected only if the panchay-
at has not obtained permissions
from all these departments and
some sites are rejected by the
GSPCB.
While most of the village
panchayats in the state have
failed to comply with the court
order, they have not even made
an honest attempt to clean this
mess.
Thrice the site for garbage
dumping has been rejected by
GSPC. We are trying to locate
new sites for the dumping of
garbage in the village. We are
lacking peoples support to
sort out the garbage menace
Asousa DSouza,
Merces sarpanch
The migrants population has
increased in the village as lot of
people have made their perma-
nent residence here. It is next
to the capital city of Goa. The
people who are staying on rent
here come with garbage daily
and throw it in open spaces
and besides the roads
Prakashi Naik,
panch member
Panchayat is an elected body
and elected by the people of
Merces for the development
of the village. It is their duty to
meet the demands of the locals
Jose Lopes,
a local from Merces
I am looking to shift my resi-
dence from Merces to some-
where else, as the garbage
issue is becoming very serious
in the village. There is no place
to dispose daily household
garbage
Maruti Hanagal,
a native of Karnatak and resi-
dent of Merces
Wasted management of Merces
The village lacks garbage dumping sites Area at risk of getting exposed to diseases
Panchayat chooses to look the other way
SAGUN GAWADE
UNHEALTHY PRACTICE: The national highways have turned out to be a convenient dumping sites for people
PATHETIC STATE OF AFFAIRS: Garbage is being dumped along the roadsides in Merces
SAGUN GAWADE
14
PANCHAYAT PROBE
Goa with its 190 village panchayats is where the bulk of its democratic strength lies and it is here that protests, agitations and the seeds of social
activism are sown. Starting this week, The Goan shall be travelling each of the Goas villages big or small, undeveloped or rurban and discover
their unique problems and their aspirations.
This week we take a look at Curtorim, a village more known as South Goas rice bowl but lacks heavily in infrastructure development
In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, True democracy cannot be worked by twenty men sitting at the center. It has to be worked from below, by the people of every village.
TEAM GOAN / THE GOAN
CURTORIM:
This quaint little village in the
South has produced leaders,
who represented the State as-
sembly and even the Parlia-
ment. The outgoing South Goa
MP, Franchis Sardinha, former
MP Eduardo Faleiro, who went
on to be a minister at the Centre
and the current MLA Reginaldo
Lourenco are all from Curtorim
and have brought laurels to the
village. But despite having such
tall leaders, all is not well in the
Curtorim Village Panchayat.
The village lacks basic infra-
structure and civic service has
plummeted. Locals live in dis-
gust as problems and recurring
issues gnaw their peace.
The village does not have
a garbage dumping site. And
although Sonsoddo garbage
dumping site is located in the
Curorim constituency garbage
of only Margao is allowed to be
dumped at the site. As a result,
Curtorim waste is seen dumped
all over the place.
We wrote many letters to the
MMC requesting it to allow at
least two truckloads of our gar-
bage to be dumped at Sonsoddo
but all our attempts failed,
said Denisio Sardinha, a panch
member of Curtorim.
People resort to using the
roadside or the nullah to dump
their garbage, which eventually
turns into something horric
when the rains show up.
All the waste chokes the nul-
lahs and the drains in low lying
areas which results in oods
during the monsoon. It has been
more than six years the Pan-
chayat is trying to notify land for
community garbage dustbins, a
source disclosed.
The panchayat fails to provide
basic civic amenities to the lo-
cals, but do not mind in issuing
licenses or permissions to some
controversial projects.
A sub-contractor of JICA
has begun a large project on a
cultivable land at Ramnagari
in Curtorim. He was given the
permission for only dumping
cement pipes. However, the sub-
contractor is allegedly operating
a large pipe manufacturing unit
with an ulterior motive of stor-
ing them there. He has also built
permanent cabins and soak
pits for labourers at the site,
charged Alexander Gomes, a
gram sabha member. Accord-
ing to a panchayat o cial, a
complaint with regards to illegal
operation of the contractor was
sent to the local panchayat in
July last year. But the panchayat
went ahead to issue a temporary
permission to the project. How-
ever, there is no provision in the
Panchayati Raj Act to issue tem-
porary permission.
Further the TCP has turned
down the project, the talathi
has written it o aer inspection
and recently the health depart-
ment has revoked its licence to
the project. This issue raised a
storm in last three Gram Sab-
has. Angry villagers launched a
signature campaign against the
project and nally the local MLA
Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco had
to step in asking the Curtorim
Panchayat body, backed by him,
to take sustainable action.
A little ounce of relief has
come to be people wherin dur-
ing the last gram sabha, Deputy
Sarpanch Santana Rodrigues
has assured that the panchayat
body would not renew NOC to
the project.
He also assured the gram sab-
ha that the panchayat will also
ask the concerned violator to
give an assurance in writing
that next time if he needs NOC
he will have to strictly follow all
norms and rules laid down by
the panchayat.
This clearly means that the
panchayat may again issue NOC
to the project.
It is also learnt that the villag-
ers are given short shri over
kerosene quote under the PDS
scheme. Even horticulturists
are shunned from selling veg-
etables. Every time we visit the
fair price shop, he just refuses to
give even one litre of kerosene to
card holders. His standard ver-
sion most of the time is that this
month quota is not yet received.
But we nd that other shops sell
kerosene at a premium of Rs 60
per litre, said Shanti Naik, a lo-
cal resident of Curtorim.
The sand extraction issue in
My ward has all major facilities, but the
biggest hurdle is lack of maintenance.
Funds for development in my wards are
awaiting government sanction
Santana Rodrigues, Panch, Ward No 1
Tarring of roads, proposed sports com-
plex and volleyball ground is on the top
priority in my ward. However, the works are
stalled now, due to the code of conduct
Rupesh Naik, Panch, Ward No 2
My ward has a peculiar problem. It lies
in the low lying area and when there is heavy rain the
area gets flooded. There are many kazhan lands in
my ward but the bandaras protecting these khazans
are not maintained which pose a serious threat to the
villages and their paddy. Another major issue is of old
dilapidated nullahs which need to be rebuilt
Denisio Sardinha, Panch, Ward No 3
Pendingdrainage works and road widening is top
priority in my ward
Lucy Rebello, Panch, Ward No 5
Two years back I had applied for funds
under the MPLAD funds for a garden pro-
ject and for installation of a high mast in
my ward.But the le was kept pendingby
the former MP
Simon Barretto, Panch, Ward No 6
There is hardly any development in our constitu-
ency since we belong to the opposition (Congress). We
have managed to carry out some works with our own
money. We do get cooperation from our MLA. How-
ever, roads need to be tarred and lots of small and big
works are pending
Valentina Braganza, Sarpanch, Ward No 7
I have a big task of beautication ofmai
toley (lake)in my ward. I am trying for a
year now, and its just not getting done due
to short of funds. I am trying to beautify
a park in my ward for three years but that
too is blocked amidst les. Old broken
drainage with no slabs is another problem
besides garbage
Rui Menezes, Panch, Ward No 9
My ward is well maintained and has not many is-
sues but whatever is pending I am trying to complete
as soon as possible
Peter Cardozo, Ward No 10
Weneed to repair most of the internal
roads in our ward. Garbage collection is
not happening in my ward which is another
major issue
Sucorina Castanha, Panch, Ward No 11
Panch
speak
Our MLA is ghting for issues of
the state but not available for his
own constituency. Curtorim lives in
retrospect now
A villager (Did not reveal name
for fear of retribution)
The issue of the illegal project at
Ramnagari has been rocking the
Gram Sabhas for the last one and
a half year, but there has been no
stopping the contractor. Now the
MLA has intervened in the matter
and ordered action. Its surprising
why the panchayat refuses to take
action on such a project
Vivek Naik, the complainant
Curtorim may boast of a big area,
lush elds and a tranquil society,
but it is equally sad that there is a
major lack of basic infrastructure
like schools, colleges, grounds for
sports, halls for indoor sports, and
halls for cultural programmes too. It
has been a long time since we have
seen these developments here
Rohan Shirodkar, a youth of
Curtorim
For a lay man to build his dream
home takes years together to take
permissions and start work. But for
people living in Panchabhat, now
Cargil, it is a cake walk. Its surpris-
ing how they fear nothing and keep
expanding their illegal abode
Felix DSousa, a resident
The sand extraction issue in our
village is too complex to come to
conclusion and stoppage of which
has both good and bad eects,
again which will aect the village
and its elds
A local villager
e
o
p
l
e

S
p
e
a
k
PARLIAMENT OF THE PEOPLE
MAJOR ISSUES IN THE LAST GRAM SABHA
Illegal project: Revocation of NOC given to contractor of JICA
who began a large project on a cultivable land at Ramnagari.
Status: Gram sabha members resolved not to renew NOC
Garbage: GramSabha was unhappy that Margao Municipal
Corporation have not agreed to even collect two trucks of waste
Status: It was resolved to seek State Govts intervention.
House tax: Panchayat should not increase the house tax fees.
Status: It was resolved to increase the house tax from Rs 30
to Rs 80 per square meter. Above Rs 100/Sq Meter their new tax
would be 5 percent more.
Curtorim: Living on the edge
Agriculture under threat: An individual from JICA has
started a venture in the open areas of Curtorim, where cement
pipes are manufactured threatening agriculture in the area.
There is a sense that the panchayat and the individual are
hand in gloves in starting this unlawful venture.
Overflowing garbage: The village does not have a proper
site to dump its garbage, so waste is found strewn everywhere
in Curtorim. Although the Margao Municipal Council dumps its
garbage at Sonsoddo which is in Curtorim, the council turns a
blind eye to the waste from the village. During the monsoon it
turns out to be a nightmare.
Poor education infra: The village is far behind when it
comes to infrastructure in educational sector. Educational
institutions in Curtorim dont have the required edge to edu-
cate children. Theres only one good school in the area where
large number of children go to and who struggle to get proper
education
The BIG 3
Maina-Curtorim has also put
the village panchayat in a spot.
Another striking fact in the vil-
lage is the surfacing of illegal
ghettos. Panchbhat has now
been renamed as Cargil, which
came into being 15 years back
allegedly under the patronage of
MP Fransisco Sardinha who was
then the MLA of Curtorim.
Electricity and water connec-
tion were issued to the occu-
pants in the area without any
legal documents.
The village right has three
schools namely, St. Rita, St.
Alex and St. Xavier which are
average and small schools. The
village has just one higher sec-
ondary which too is overowing
with local students.
Health centres are situated at
the furthest points of the village
and lack of basic infrastructure.
Curtorim has an MLA, who
is from the village. The MP is
also from the same village. But
ironically, the village has not
receive d the required attention
from its leaders.
POOR INFRASTRUCTURE: One of the many narrow internal roads pockmarked with potholes in Navelim
SAGUN GAWADE
15
Because there is no journalism without scrutiny
Scrutiny is a page that does what it says. Every week The Goan will pick a
current story or an ongoing issue and bring it to the front burner so that
it doesnt fall o the public memory map.
Scrutiny will also be a place for in-depth investigations, both fresh ones
as well as old forgotten ones.
Scrutiny will also be a place for campaigns, crusades and causes.
Because we believe that there is no journalism without scrutiny.
NESHWIN ALMEIDA /
THE GOAN
BAMBOLIM:
From 1993 to 2014 is a period
of 21 years, and it takes this
amount of time for a structural
grandeur to nally come under
the hammer of the law and titled
illegal, that is what the court
documents quote. Aer a pro-
longed struggle in the court of
law, concerning the distance the
structure stands from the High
Tide Line, a split judgement has
brought a dark cloud over Grand
Hyatt Goa hotel, which may now
begin to lose its shine.
In 1993, Aldeia de Goa kicked
o a construction of 18 bunga-
lows, 69 cottages with a service
restaurant for the bungalows
and a swimming pool above the
100m High Tide Line along the
Goa Coastal Regulatory Zone
setback.
A decade later, the residential
project turned into the Grand
Hyatt Goa hotel project and
construction of banquet halls,
17 other small blocks includ-
ing guest rooms, public places,
meeting halls, service buildings,
spa and houses in the entire
construction from the 50m set-
back line until the Northern end
of the plan began.
Two decades later in 2014, the
High Court has declared all that
stands in the 50m HTL is illegal.
The battle in court prolonged
as the hotel submitted revised
plans in 1995 named as plan 117
has only 18 bungalows show-
ing above the 100m HTL but
the hoteliers kept arguing over
a revised plan of 1995 showing
the additional constructions in
the 50m HTL, namely a 122 plan.
Incidentally the plan 122 had the
same entry dates as of the plan
117 but had no attaching docu-
ments of the Town Planners ap-
proval. It was only in 2012 aer
many attempts that this plan
was declared as fake and not
considered in this case since the
court pointed out that two plans
could have been submitted on
the same day. The hoteliers then
backtracked and led a counter
complaint that plan 117 led by
the petitioners are not genuine.
Its only aer the court pointed
out that plan 117 was submitted
by the hoteliers itself.
A lot of unanswered ques-
tions still prevail in this case,
according to the petitioners and
other experts, as people wait for
the nal verdict. Will the Town
and Country Planning Authori-
ties be penalized or face action
for the mysterious missing les
aer its evident that the TCP
connived with the builder to
save this illegal construction in
the HTL? Also the petitioners
are keeping their ngers crossed
that Aldeia de Goa, Goan Hotels
Pvt Limited and its associates
are penalized for spending al-
most seven years ghting to save
its construction on a forged du-
plicate plan. As Judge Dalvi and
Reis have one thing in common
declaring the construction ille-
gal, the question is whether this
construction will be demolished
or will the court regularize it.
This battle is far from over
as questions can also be raised
on the earnings and prots of
Grand Hyatt, revenue from these
illegal banquet halls on the 50m
HTL. All eyes now, are on the
courts.
I am glad that the court has de-
clared this construction illegal. But
the actions of Chief Town Planner
who seemed to have connived with
the VP and defended the construc-
tion throughout despite admitting
that the les of this project are
missing raises serious doubts on
the TCPs involvement in this illegal-
ity. Also we hope the case goes for
demolition and not regularized.
Millions worth illegal project cannot
get away with a Rs 25 lakh ne. Also
this case of 2007 is just another
example of delayed justice which
needs to change. We went through
hell all these months with the twist-
ing and turning facts on their illegal
construction
Patricia Pinto, petitioner
The split judgment means that
we have to wait and watch what
action should be taken. In regards
to the missing le, there is a police
complaint in that matter and inves-
tigations are on. But we cannot do
anything in this matter until we get a
single verdict
S T Putturaju,
Chief Town Planner
Its wrong to say that Aldeia de
Goa is in the bad. Aldeia de Goa
sold this project in 2006 to Goan
Hotels and Clubs Pvt LTD, a Gurgaon
based party but I can be quoted for
both. Also the SLP of 329 of 2008 in
the SC grants permissions for this
project to complete, this order has
no relevance. Well wait for a nal
verdict and challenge all this in the
Supreme Court, I disagree we are
wrong
Brigadier Puri, o cial for Goan
Real estate and Construction- Aldeia
de Goa.
Theres a lot of discrepancies in
terms of CRZ rules and the rules are
dierent for each state, each area.
We have urged the government of
Goa to make denite rules on High
Tide Line, construction along river
banks and these rules should apply
for all constructions and not case
to case basis. Also rules for another
state cannot be applicable for Goa,
we need a Coastal Regulatory Zone
guidelines which are Goa specic
Desh Prabhudessai, President
of the Goa - The Confederation of
Real Estate Developers Associations
of India (CREDAI).
Now the GCZMA cannot look back
at the problems we faced in terms
of administration or the mistakes
made in the past. Lets wait for the
Court directives and go by its guide-
lines and accordingly take action
Srinet Kotwale,
GCZMA Chairman
What does a split
judgment mean?
A two member split verdict
means that the Chief justice
of the High Court of Bombay
will have to appoint a third
judge who will give a nal
verdict on the case based
on the split verdict. The third
judge will be appointed by
the Chief Justice who will
once again review the puni-
tive action set in the verdicts
of the two judges until which
those involved the suit have
to wait and watch.
The Verdict:
By Judge F M Reis while quoting Judge Lawton:
A Judge acts as a referee who can blow his judicial whistle when the
ball goes out of play, but when the game restarts he must neither take
part in it nor tell the players how to play.
I agree with my learned sister Judge R S Dalvi, that the plan which
is at page 117 is the plan which was duly approved on May 31, 1995
and not the plan at page 122 as claimed by the respondent nos. 6
and 7, for the reasons stated in the judgment, I deeply regret my
inability to agree with the ndings in the judgment with regard to the
eect of the judgment passed by the Supreme Court.
I nd it appropriate to award exemplary and punitive costs on
Aldeia de Goa and Goan Hotels and Clubs Pvt Ltd. Such costs are
xed at Rs 25 lakh, out of which a sum of Rs 5 lakh shall be paid to
the petitioners herein and the remaining sum of Rs 20 lakh shall be
deposited with the State Government so that such amount can be
used by the State Government to avoid environmental and ecological
degradation of the coastal belt of the State of Goa.
Judge Reis has set the punitive costs against the conduct of Aldeia
de Goa and Grand Hyatt in not explaininghow such plans as that
of Plan 122 being fake and forged had surfaced which resulted in a
prolonged litigation between the parties between 2008 till date.
Judge Reis stated that the structure in the 50m HTL should
re-examined by the GCZMA after the Town and Country Planning
and the Village Panchayat authorities consider the legality of the
construction put up by the private parties in the light of the observa-
tions made in accordance with law.
Judgment days
1993, October 29: Town and
Country Planning and Village
Panchayat approved a plan for 18
bungalows and 69 cottages along
with a swimming pool above the
100m HTL of the CRZ to be built.
A plinth was put up and the com-
pany declared itself bankrupt.
1994: CRZ notication was
amended in 1994 relaxing 100
metres zone along rivers to 50
metres as HTL.
1995: Aldeia de Goa led a fresh
proposal for additional construc-
tion between 50 to 100 metres
zone. No objection certicate was
granted by the Town and Country
Planning Departmentdated May
1995.
1996: The relaxation to 50 metres
for rivers from the HTL was struck
down by the Apex Court.
1997- 2006: Aldeia de Goa states
there was a lull in its construction
activity because of the economic
situation. Time and again company
les for renewal of construction
license. Construction commenced
in 2006.
2007: Peoples Movement for
Civic Action led by Patricia Pinto
and Goa Foundation led by Claude
Alvares moves high court to stop
construction of guest rooms, pub-
lic places, banquet hall, meeting
halls, service buildings, spa and
houses in the entire construction
from the 50m setback line.
2008: Aldeia de Goa now known
as Goan Hotels and Clubs Private
Limited moves Supreme Court
to allow construction at own
risk, states that original plan of
1995 shows additional construc-
tion in the 50M HTL, produces a
plan namely 122 plan. SC grants
construction at own risk, provided
construction existed. Petition-
ers challenge in HC that Plan 122
forged, fake original plan 117 never
shows any construction in 50M
HTL.
2009: Letter to Village Pan-
chayat stating that construction
completed in 2008 is challenged
in same petition. This proves that
construction was completed only
in 2010.
2010: Petitioners prove to court
that construction completed
only in 2010 and not in 2008.
Respondents claim quashed that
construction commenced in 2006
and was completed in 2008.
2014: Split verdict by two-judge
bench of Roshan Dalvi and F M
Reis delivered on further action
to be taken against the project,
with Dalvi ordering demolitions
and Reis saying that a ne of Rs
25-lakh be imposed on the hotel.
Both Judge Dalvi and Reis declared
the plan 122 as fake and do accept
the constructions shown in the
50m HTL.
u
o
t
e

r
o
o
m
Judge Roshan Dalvi while
quoting a translated Telugu
statement from a 1992 Judg-
ment:
I will not stop cutting down
trees,
Though there is life in them.
I will not stop plucking out
leaves
Though they make nature
beautiful
I will not stop hacking o
branches,
Though they are the arms of
a tree
Because
I need a hut.
Goan Real Estate and
Construction Ltd., Goan Hotels
& Clubs Pvt Ltd and Hotel
Grand Hyatt shall remove the
entire construction put up
within 100m of the HTL of the
River Bank being the NDZ. Goa
Coastal Zone Management
Authority, Panchayat of Curca,
Bambolim and Talaulim, Chief
Town Planner, Secretary, Min-
istry of Environment & Forests
shall demolish the construction
put up.
TIDE TURNS AGAINST
GRAND HYATT
From prime construction to illegal construction, Grand Hyatt could face demolition soon
Will a Rs 25 lakh ne suce for a multi-crore illegal construction?
FACING THE HEAT: The High Court has
declared part of the hotel that stands in
the 50m High Tide Line as illegal
PIC: SAGUN GAWADE
EDUCATION AT THEIR
FINGERTIPS: Students of
NAB in St Cruz use dier-
ent learning aids including
Braille for their daily studies
LEARNING AIDS
16
GOENKAR
Computer training is impartedvia
a special screen reader soware
called Jaws Rozendo Mendonsa
I want to complete my MA and become
a teacher so that I can teach other blind
children like me Amita Gaonkar
Log on to facebook.com/TheGoan
and leave us a comment
ANWESHA SINGBAL/
THE GOAN
Amita Gaonkar from Cana-
cona was enrolled into the Goa
branch of NAB (National Asso-
ciation for the Blind) when she
was just eight years old. Today,
she is in her second year Bach-
elor of Arts studies in Dhempe
College, Panjim and ready to
take on the world. I want to
complete my MA and become a
teacher. I also want to teach oth-
er children like me, says this
self-assured young girl, adding,
All because of NAB which has
taught me to have faith in myself
and my abilities. Established
on February 10, 1983, the Goa
State Branch of the National
Association for the Blind caters
to about 200 visually-impaired
individuals, out of which 30 are
residents in its St Cruz campus.
When the organisation started
31 years back, our biggest chal-
lenge was convincing parents to
enroll their children here. Also,
there was no centre and hence
the teachers would visit the
students at their homes, says
Rozendo Mendonsa, the presi-
dent of the association, adding,
One teacher catered to around
eight students which meant
that she visited one student
only once a week. This gave the
teacher very less time with the
student and that was when the
idea of a centre came about,
informs Gaurapriya Pai Kane,
one of the vice-presidents of the
organisation. We believe in in-
tegrated education and all these
children go to regular schools
and colleges and spend a few
hours each evening here at the
centre which enables them to
be a part of a student society,
while also helping them cope,
informs Mendonsa, adding
that while the schools and col-
leges have been very receptive
to these children, the children
too have been doing immensely
well and receive ample support
from their classmates. Many
a times, our friends even write
notes for us because we cannot
catch up with the normal pace
of studies in the classroom,
says Sampada Naik, another
visually-impaired student while
Mendonsa informs happily,
We did not require to organ-
ise any awareness programmes
for these children. The village
school in St Cruz has been very
helpful, while Leena Prabhu,
the head teacher who has been
a part of the organisation since
2001 informs, Our students
have secured high grades and
are extremely good in sports as
well. Many have even secured
jobs in the government and oth-
er private organisations across
the state.
Imparting computer training
to its students is vital. Com-
puter training is imparted via a
special screen reader soware
called Jaws, which helps the
visually-impaired with every-
thing from the basics to the
more advanced programming,
explains Mendonsa, while Kane
adds, We have also introduced
the multi-handicapped project
in June 2004, which deals with
visually impaired children along
with other disabilities. Special-
ized teachers visit their homes
and help parents with the cop-
ing process. Mostly run through
funding and donations from
well-wishers, the government
just recently announced that it
will be granting NAB an amount
of Rs 50 lakhs in recognition of
the work carried out by the or-
ganisation. Also, the present
premise occupied by NAB is on
a short term lease and the CM
has proposed to grant the said
premises to NAB on a long term
lease. This is a great relief, says
Mendonsa adding that the or-
ganisation has already identi-
ed land in Bambolim to start
a well-equipped centre for the
organisation.
Meanwhile, it will continue
to do its good work sending out
rays of hope to light up the lives
of the visually-impaired.
A lighthouse for the blind
The National
Association of the
Blind in St Cruz
oers support
and assistance to
visually-impaired
students and young
adults, helping
them integrate into
society and live a
more active life
PICS: SAMRAT BANDODKAR
ACTIVITIES
Education (Integrated Education Programme)
Facilitates children to attend classes in regular schools and
colleges.These students are coached by special teachers, who help
them with Braille lessons, tactile maps, and diagrams. Low vision
students are provided with enlarged prints and magnifying glasses.
Vocational training
NAB conducts camps for the blind adults and trains them in dierent
trades like chair caning, candle making, chalk making, paper bag
making, etc. Arrangements are made to send the visually-impaired for
professional training like telephone operating, steno, physiotherapy,
farming and full-fledged computer training.
Music
A tutor has been appointed to coach children in dierent instruments
like tabla, harmonium and keyboards
Sports
Students participate in cricket, chess and athletics. One is a gold
medalist at the National Abilympics for waste reuse, while another is a
bronze medalist at the International Abilympics
I came in contact with the National Association of the Blind in 2003. Curious, I began
researching about evolving technologies for the visually-handicapped and the more I
read, the more I wanted to know. NAB is an organisation that has a tremendously posi-
tive approach and welcomes new ideas. I began working there, teaching the students
at NAB and sharing with them whatever I had learnt through my research. Assistive
technology comprising of computer training and other audio methods was developing
at the time and I began educating the visually-handicapped students of NAB in these
skills. This was from 2006 till 2012. We created a lot of awareness throughout the state.
In 2012-13, I went to Pune to study further methods of developing audio books in DAISY
formats, etc. I came back to Goa and continued sharing my expertise with NAB. This
year I have joined the Department of Art and Culture as Cultural Organiser and I am also
fortunate that NAB has absorbed in on their executive board. NAB is an organisation
that has managed to instill hope in the hearts of many blind children who now aim to be
lawyers, engineers, IT professionals, etc. And considering the new technologies that are
coming about, these dreams are certainly achievable.
Taha Haaziq, Mhapusa
A tactile map of Goa designed
for use by individuals who are
blind or have low vision
Each taluka is marked with an
object (sequins, beads, glitter)that
is and feels dierent in size and/
or shape
7 SPORTS
Under Moyes, United
have fewer home points
(21) than Norwich City
and Hull City, with their
count of 18 goals the
same as Fulham and
Cardi City, who prop
up the table
UNCERTAIN FUTURE:
Publicly United continue
to back their manager yet
another dismal outing could
prove disastrous for David
Moyes
Despite advances in training and
diet, football remains a game for
those in their twenties Page 21
Uniteds poor form has brought Moyes
to the point where his job expectancy is
discussed in game-to-game terms
Find us on facebook.com/TheGoan
follow us on twitter@TheGoanOnSat
NIRAJ PRABHU/THE GOAN
Goa can become the new epi-
centre of table tennis in India
as the state infrastructure has
come in for praise by the Table
Tennis Federation of India.
The state table tennis as-
sociation has shown its will-
ingness to host next years
Commonwealth table tennis
championship, aer success-
fully hosting the global junior
circuit events this week at Dr
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
stadium at Goa University
complex. Moreover, the Goa
Table Tennis Association has
plans of setting up a table ten-
nis academy for budding In-
dian players.
Secretary-general of Table
Tennis Federation of India,
Dhanraj Choudhary revealed
the reasons for allotting the
global junior circuit events to
Goa, saying: Foreign teams
love to play in Goa for more
than one reason ranging from
scenic beauty to connectiv-
ity and food. Plus, now there
is world class infrastructure
that has come up for the re-
cently held Lusofonia Games.
I was here during the Games,
and I was surprised and quite
happy with the infrastructure
development.
President of GTTA, Vero
Nunes looks determined to
benet from the momentum
gained by the urry of inter-
national table tennis events in
the state.
We can even hope to host
next years Commonwealth
Championship, says Vero,
adding that such events will
boost state players as they can
watch top players play and
learn from them.
Moreover, the GTTA has also
prepared a plan to set up an
academy on the lines of TTFIs
academy in Ajmer.
According to Vero, the acad-
emy will house 50 per cent
Goan players and remaining
talented non-Goan players
ranked at the national level
from the age group of 12 to 16
years. A Korean coach, has
also been identied to train
the players.
JAMIE JACKSON/THE GUARD-
IAN NEWS & MEDIA LTD
T
he vitriol aimed by some
Manchester United fans
at Sir Alex Ferguson for
appointing David Moyes
may signal the endgame
of his tenure as manager. Man-
chester Citys 3-0 win at Old
Traord followed the 3-0 trounc-
ing by Liverpool in Uniteds
previous home league game to
move the conversation on to the
point all managers dread.
Aer open revolt against
Moyes began at the stadium,
the question now being widely
asked is: How bad does it have
to get before Manchester United
sack David Moyes? Or, Will he
really survive until summer if
the hidings continue? It was a
question those at the top of the
club did not answer when it was
posed on Wednesday morning.
Football is the ultimate results
game, and this season those of
Moyes have stunk. United have
51 points compared with 74 at
the same time last year.
They have never previously
had fewer than 60 at this stage.
Old Traord has mutated from
the fortress opponents hoped
to escape from with only a mi-
nor beating to a destination
most desirable. Under Moyes,
United have fewer home points
(21) than Norwich City and Hull
City, with their count of 18 goals
the same as Fulham and Cardi
City, who prop up the table.
The unwanted statistics (and
broken records) keep coming.
The capitulation to City meant
six home league defeats, which
has not happened since the
2001-2 season, and the rst
time the club from across town
had recorded three consecutive
league wins over United in more
than 40 years.
It also marked the rst time
the champions have lost 10
games in a season in the Premier
League era. West Bromwich Al-
bion had not won at Old Traord
since 1978 before Septembers
2-1 victory, a sequence-breaker
followed by Evertons 1-0 tri-
umph there in December (this
had not happened since 1992),
which came before Newcastle
ended 41 years without a win on
Uniteds patch the same month.
United are speeding back-
wards at a rate of knots. Going
down 2-0 at Olympiakos, the
Champions League last-16s
easiest opponents, then 3-0 and
3-0 to Uniteds closest rivals at
home has brought Moyes to the
point where his job expectancy
is discussed in game-to-game
terms.
The United buzzwords of sta-
bility and longevity symbolised
by the six-year contract handed
to the 50-year-old were forgotten
on Tuesday as the thus-far loyal
fans snapped and Ferguson was
abused for anointing Moyes his
successor.
In the United programme for
the 167th derby Moyes moved to
shore up his core constituency.
Yet it read more like a plea for
them not to turn on him and to
the owners, the Glazers, to re-
member the mantra about man-
agerial longevity.
Moyes wrote: Our thoughts
are well and truly on the future
and our planning is already
well under way, not just for next
season, but for many seasons to
come. During Manchester Unit-
eds long periods of dominance
in the last two decades, which
brought unparalleled success,
many other clubs had to under-
go periods of turnaround and
they knew tough times when
things were not going well for
them. They looked to change
lots of dierent managers and
players, all the while trying to
nd ways of keeping up and
competing with United.
The rst public display of dis-
quiet was the fans catching up
with the mood inside the club
where the hierarchy were rst
taken aback by the abject show-
ing in Athens.
Publicly United continue to
back the manager. Yet another
dismal outing when Aston Villa
visit on Saturday lunchtime
would further cast Moyes as a
moribund man walking towards
what could prove the nal reck-
oning the meeting with Bayern
on April 1.
The Glazers and their man on
the ground, Ed Woodward, the
executive vice-chairman, have
shown admirable patience.
Once this goes expect Moyess
removal to happen quickly and
ruthlessly.
Dead man walking at United?
Home defeat to Manchester City has snapped the patience of hardcore supporters and may have fatally wounded Uniteds manager
Goa on international TT radar
Table tennis in the state gets a boost and could well host the Commonwealth Championship
Foreign teams love
to play in Goa for
more than one reason
ranging from scenic
beauty to connectivity
and food. Plus, now
there is world class
infrastructure
EPL FIXTURES >>
Saturday
Manchester United v Aston Villa
(6.15 pm)
(All matches 8:30 pm)
Crystal Palace v Chelsea
Southampton v Newcastle
United
Stoke City v Hull City
Swansea City v Norwich City
West Bromwich v Cardi City
Arsenal v Manchester City (11
pm)
Sunday
Fulham v Everton (6pm)
Liverpool v Tottenham (8.30 pm)
8 SPORTS
Y
uvraj Singh. The name invokes
memories of the most beautiful
moments of Indian cricket; the Nat-
West trophy, the World Cup win.
But how long can a player be carried on
the memory of his achievements?
As I write this column mid-week, Kapil
Dev, Ravi Shastri are backing him aer he
struggled in both the matches in Bangla-
desh. Yuvraj can bounce back any time, and he always has. But we
need to look beyond one good performance. Yuvraj hasnt been scor-
ing for really long and yet he is selected by nodding headswithout a
debate. Granted, that selectorsare expected to have vision. If mere per-
formance becomes the criteria, statisticians can select a team. In this
case, selectors have gone by Yuvrajs past performance. But this could
be said only of T20 because in ODIs, he is still batting like a novice.
I must say that it is here that the selectors have gone wrong. There
oen comes a phase in the career of stroke players when he struggles
so insuerably that he starts to avoid playing the game itself. In 1978
when India toured Pakistan aer 17 years, Zaheer Abbas massacred
the bowling of 3 great spinners Bedi, Prasanna and Chandrashek-
har. His shots would bisect the set of elders on either side of the
wicket. Aer a year when Pakistan visited India, the same Zaheer
Abbas couldnt tackle bowlers of much inferior quality.Imran Khan
said that Abbas didnt want to play because he was mentally low.
Sandeep Patil faced similar trouble on the 1982 tour of England.
Plagued by personal problems of separation with wife, he wasnt
keen on playing in Tests. Gavaskar had to cajole and coax him every
day. Ashok Mankad sent him a hand written letter to motivate him
and eventually Patil scored a brilliant century.
It was in 1999 that Yuvraj Singh made his international debut, f-
teen long years ago. By now, he ought to have been the automatic
choice in the Indian team but he isnt. Kapil Dev has always objected
to his life style publicly. International cricket is serious business and
being professional is a must. Yuvraj Singh gives the impression that
the game is his slave. He needs to be told again and again that aer all
his experience, if he is still struggling, its
purely his fault.
How many rst class matches and lim-
ited overs matches did he play this season?
Is he taking the game for granted? Yuvraj
Singh hardly looked like he was interested
in working hard this season but call it his
fortune or misfortune, one of the national
selectors, Vikram Rathore who represents
Punjab and north zone continued to sup-
port him. Yuvraj has been harbouring
grudges against few team mates since the
start. This includes the captain as well. No
amount of logic could make him under-
stand why a captain would drop a match winner. But how long can
one wait for someone to perform? Aer recovering from cancer, the
whole cricketing world was in awe of Yuvrajs terric comeback from
the jaws of death. The stage was set for him to perform and win us over.
Yuvraj is not the youngster he used to be. He is 34 year old and is
slowing down. He needs to devote extra hours to tness and spend
some more time in the middle by playing matches. The fact that he
isnt getting in a correct position because of slow reexes clearly
indicates that he hasnt worked hard. Isnt he motivated aer RCB
signed him for 14 Cr? RCB went all out to bag him aer captain Virat
Kohli insisted that he wanted Yuvraj.
As a youngster, Yuvraj had put life into the Indian team when he
arrived. Ironically, now as he plays on gingerly, youngsters like Ra-
hane and Rayudu with proven performers in T20 are waiting in the
wings. Its unfair to drop them when Yuvraj Singh shows signs of
being laid back. A match against Bangladesh is lined upon Friday.
I would like Yuvraj to prove me wrong. But if he doesnt, then the
selectors have to take a strict call. It will be absurd to let him play the
entire tournament.
Dhoni has been backing Yuvraj Singh publicly. Even the team is
behind Yuvraj Singh in sincere support. When he whacked a West
Indian bowler past mid-on, even the quiet Fletcher put his hands
together to applaud. Everyone wants Yuvraj to play well. But does
Yuvraj want it? Its time Yuvraj Singh looks into the mirror and asks
the question; Hey, am I good enough to play at international level?
Viv Richards had a simple solution to come back into form You
keep remembering your recent impact knocks and the mind will get
into a positive mode. It is this that will help you to get your form and
not sulking.
Yuvraj Singh has given India many memories and we will always
be grateful to him. It is precisely because of this, because of what
Yuvraj can do, that his present bleak form feels so disappointing.
Its time Yuvraj Singh rises and proves critics wrong. He needs to do
justice to what he used to be.
Makarand Waingankar, one of Indias best loved and read cricket
columnists, blends meticulous research with his own experience of
a life lived on the cricket elds of India. He has watched greats and
created newer greats. He wears a multitude of hats, each of which t
snuggly on his humble head journalist, columnist, cricket histori-
an, researcher, trainer, talent spotter, administrator and others. But
a consistent thread that weaves each of these hats, is his uncondi-
tional love for cricket in the manner that this beautiful game is meant
to be loved.
International cricket
is serious business
Yuvraj is not
the youngster he
used to be. He is
34 year old and is
slowing down. He
needs to devote
extra hours to
tness and spend
some more time
in the middle by
playing matches
MAC-RO VIEW>>
The U-17 football World Cup will
create a lot of awareness in India
Joseph Eapen
Its time Yuvraj Singh rises and proves
critics wrong. He needs to do justice to
what he used to be
Yuvraj Singh gives the impression
that the game is his slave
the Super-4 stage.
Salgaocar Sports Club spent
more than half of their 10 lakh
rupees auction quota on Sagun
Kamat who was the most expen-
sive player of GPL 5 at 5.30 lakh
rupees. And he was great value
for his four half-centuries, were
the most by a batsman in the
entire tournament. The swash-
buckling le-hander also creat-
ed a record of sorts by bringing
up all his half-centuries with a
sixer. Although former two-time
champions, Salgaocar failed to
move beyond the Super-4 stage,
Sagun provided fantastic en-
tertainment by hitting 16 sixers
altogether. However, the high-
est number of sixers in the tour-
nament came from the bat of
GCA Youngistans Prathamesh
Salunke. He hit a whoping 19
sixers.
Prathamesh was also the only
batsman to score a century in
GPL5. He smashed 135 runs
against Cricket Russia in a group
stage league match. Chowgule
Warriors opener Asad Pathan
with 99 and Dempos Swapnil
Asnodkar with 95, fell agoniz-
ingly short of the magical three-
gure mark.
Salgaocars young all-rounder
Darshan Misal showed determi-
nation and application when his
team was in need, especially in
the two woeful batting displays
by the Green-brigade. Darshan,
who is now a regular member
of Goas Ranji Trophy squad,
showed why exactly he is rated
highly with the ball, picking
wickets at crucial junctures.
GPL5 was a great opportunity
for Goan players in particular as
the state selectors were watch-
ing every match with their eyes
on picking up the state squad for
the upcoming inter-state twenty
20 championship. While most
big names from Ranji Circuit did
well some talented local young-
sters failed to impress.
BACK-TO-BACK: Defending champions Dempo cricket Club continued the winning streak and
lied the GPL trophy
THE GOAN PIC
Dempo rewrite GPL history
It is remarkable that despite the team changing every year owing to all players being
put into the annual auction pool, Dempo continue to stamp their authority
mid where you have top players
at the top but at the same time
you also have people playing at
the bottom of the pyramid. One
thing that can be done is to
increase the awareness by go-
ing to schools or places where
children are there and do
whatever they can to motivate
them and give them an oppor-
tunity to play and experience
this sport. This may increase
their interest and make them
go to their nearest club and
get enrolled. Talking to parents
and telling them the benets of
a child playing a sport versus
a child not playing could work
wonders. Due to video games
and other forms of technology
children tend to be at home
rather than go outdoors. Prob-
ably if they take an interest in a
game like this, it will keep them
t and healthy as well.
TG: What can GFDC (Goa
Football Development Coun-
cil) do to enhance football in
the state?
JE: What GFDC is doing in Goa
is amazing and what they have
to do is only continue working
with the same momentum.
TG: What is your take on the
upcoming World Cup U-17?
JE: The tournament will create
a lot of awareness in India. A
sport of that big magnitude and
FIFA itself giving India a chance
to play host to other countries
is a big opportunity and the
infrastructure will also become
better. We have 3 years to do
so and we will probably have a
good team and good infrastruc-
ture as well by then.
TG: With India winning the
rights to host the U- 17 World
Cup. What is required to be
in place in terms of having
a good Indian team/ promo-
tion of Football?
JE: I dont really know how the
identication will happen but
you have to create a database
of existing children playing for
dierent clubs and leagues.
Then make a shortlist and
contact them and set a training
program for them and see that
children who qualify are made
a part of the training program.
TG: Is India a sleeping giant
as far as football in con-
cerned?
JE: Yes very much. We have a
150 year old history of football
and have played at very high
levels as well. All of a sudden
that passion stagnated and we
couldnt see any results and yes
suddenly cricket has also stolen
the limelight. The way things
are now I think that the passion
is still there but that has to be
made into an action plan to
bring the sport back. So India
is a sleeping giant, as it was
always a giant.
TG: There is no club culture
in India like Europe? What
should be done to improve
this?
JE: Its happening now slowly
but surely. With the initiative of
the Indian Super League and
with FIFA promoting the sport
here in India, there is progress.
So we will have a lot of aware-
ness and brands that will soon
start supporting it and then
probably there will be enough
money for clubs to survive. I
think that should be the way
how football will grow.
JOSEPH EAPEN
>Senior Vice President South
Asia, EVP Repucom International
INDIA IS A SLEEPING GIANT: EAPEN
At the Goa International Football Table (GIFT) Joseph Eapen Senior Vice President
South Asia at EVP Repucom International, the leadersinsportsmarketingresearch,
spoke at length to The Goan on what is needed to boost football in Goa and India
NIRAJ PRABHU/THE GOAN
Goa Cricket Associations Goa
Professional League Twenty20
championship was dominated
by Dempo Cricket Club, who
were the champions by a big
margin. Not only did the Panaji-
based club create a record by
retaining the T20 title, but also
asserted their supremacy in the
state T20 scenario by making it
to the nals for the fourth con-
secutive year.
Delighted by his teams tri-
umph, President of Dempo
Cricket Club, Shrinivas Dempo
declared that he will not hesitate
to rename his team as Panaji
Bulls next season as his team
represents the capital city. It is
remarkable that despite the team
changing every year owing to all
players being put into the annual
auction pool, Dempo have con-
tinued to stamp their authority at
GPL T20 year aer year.
Dempos most expensive sign-
ing this year, Swapnil Asnodkar,
a Rs 3.10 lakh buy, led from the
front with an aggregate score of
325 runs at an impressive aver-
age of 65 runs per innings in
seven matches. Le-arm spin-
ner Sher Bahadur Yadav was
the top wicket-taker for Dempo
and joint highest wicket-taker in
the tournament alongside pacer
Ram Dayal Punia with 12 wickets
each. The only ve-wicket haul of
the tournament was registered
by Punia who plays for Jammu
and Kashmir in Ranji Trophy, in
a Super-4 League match against
Chowgule Warriors. Sher Ba-
hadur had the best gures for a
spinner with 4/9 against Geno in
GPL-5 ALL STARSXI >>
Swapnil Asnodkar (Captain),
Gaurish Gawas, Keenan Vaz
(wicket-keeper) & Sher Bahadur
Yadav (all Dempo CC); Sa-
gun Kamat, Darshan Misal &
Ramdayal Punia (all Salgaocar);
Monank Patel (ICMC USA),
Yogesh Nagar (Geno), Robin
DSouza (Sarvodaya), Amit
Yadav (Chowgule Warriors); 12th
Man Prathamesh Salunke
(GCA Youngistan); Coach : Vivek
Kolambkar (Dempo).
ANDREA FERNANDES/
THE GOAN
The Goan: What should
be done to promote and
propagate football in India,
considering that Indias
performance is poor at the
international level?
Joseph Eapen: As one of the
speakers at the G.I.F.T 2014
rightly said it has to be a pyra-
19 LOCAL PLAYGROUND
Our players played well but
unfortunately luck did not favour
us Savio Fernandes
I started playing football for fun and
never thought I would ever play the game
professionally Maria
Ociating an I-league match was a
dream come true for me Maria
ANDREA FERNANDES/
THE GOAN
M
aria Rebello didnt
set out to be a star
for women in a
sport dominated
by men, but as the
only FIFA-certied woman ref-
eree in India today, thats ex-
actly what she has become. The
former Indian football Captain
Maria Piedade Rebello hailing
from the picturesque village of
Curtorim is the only FIFA certi-
ed woman referee in India. A
Women referee o ciating mens
matches is an unusual phenom-
enon in India.
Football has been my pas-
sion since childhood. Though
I was good in studies I used to
give more time to football. Play-
ing with the local boys in the
elds made me a rough and
tough player she states.
Rebello adds this was a sport
I started of playing for fun and
never thought I would ever play
this game professionally. Being
a girl and playing football made
me feel proud of myself. When I
was 8 years old my daddy took
me for the womens national
match which was being held at
Fatorda stadium, Margao. I saw
great footballers like Succorin,
Yolanda, Rekha and they were
like idols for me at that time.
Then I started playing football
at a more serious note. This inci-
dent was a stepping stone in my
football career.
At the age of 15 Maria read in
the newspaper that the women
junior national football selec-
tions were about to happen but
was reluctant to attend. Her
friend forcefully took her along.
She was a part of the selec-
tions and coach Alex was very
happy with her performance
and asked her aer the selec-
tions at which position she
would like to play at and Maria
did not have an answer since
she did not know which are
the positions in a team. Sir a
position from where I can score
goals Maria replied hurriedly.
He laughed at her reply and said
Maria you can be a very good
mid-elder. So she played at
the junior nationals as a mid
elder and aer that there was
no looking back for her.
In football she barely took any
training besides the coaching
given to players before the na-
tional games. Then she played
for her state and also for India.
She explains I played for India
for 8 years and am the only lady
footballer from Goa who played
in the Asia Cup in 1998. From
1993 2001 I played for the In-
dian Football team and in 2001
I captained the Indian team that
was the most memorable mo-
ment in my life.
In 2001 aer playing for her
country she retired and just to
stay in touch with the game or
rather due to utmost love for the
game she took to refereeing. Re-
bello joined the BRA (Bombay
Referees Association) where she
trained to become a referee and
later joined the GFA (Goa Foot-
ball Association) and refereed
matches in the local leagues.
Gradually she managed to ref-
eree matches in the Goa Profes-
sional League, the top football
league in Goa, the SAFF Cham-
pionship as well as the profes-
sional and semi-professional
club level in mens football in
India. She also has to her credit
matches in the Federation Cup
and Santosh Trophy.
Am really thankful to FIFA
and the referees committee for
making womens day even more
special for me by giving me such
a great honour of appointing me
to the list of I-league referees on
March 8, 2014. Its like a dream
come true for me. That day will
be cherished by me as I o ci-
ated my rst I-League match at
Pune between Pune and Shil-
long Lajong on that day.
Rebello looks up to Maradona
as her role model and Manches-
ter United is her favorite team
among the various other clubs.
India doesnt have a womens
league is something that hurts
her the most. She elaborates
The AIFF said that they are go-
ing start a league for women,
and I think that will be the great-
est move done in favour of wom-
en footballers. GFDC is promot-
ing young talent through their
many centers where young boys
and girls are also being trained
at grassroots level. It looks like
women football is now moving
in the right path.
Although her work is chal-
lenging, she is optimistic about
the prospect of more women
joining her ranks. It can be seen
that she loves football and the
challenges of refereeing on the
pitch.
From a national player to a
referee has been quite a journey
for Maria Rebello, the only FIFA-
certied women ref, but rues that
enough is not being done to
promote football among women
in India and the state
ANDREA FERNANDES/
THE GOAN
M
ilagres Sports Club, a
Mapusa based club
whose players are
mostly from the same locality,
has been putting up a tough
ght against quite a few clubs
in the same group. This club
strives to improve the youth
and make football a better
game to play as well as watch
in Goa. And with the passion
and love for the sport that the
club exhibits, their team will
break their own past records
soon, o ce bearers believe.
In the 18 years of its existence
this club has organized and
participated in several inter-
village tournaments. It has
also made its presence felt at
the GFA league and also per-
formed comparably well. The
club moved last year to the
GFASecond DivisionLeague
but was relegated this year
back to the Third Division.
Many famous players of the
I-League teams are associated
with Milagres S.C. This football
team has been a starting point
for many players who have
gone on to play in professional
teams like Dempo Sports Club
and Sporting Clube de Goa as
well as the national team. Jolan
Fernandes is known for his sti
grounders and Vincent Martins
for his brilliant play.
Savio Fernades, Secretary,
Milagres Sports Club states
Our football club was founded
in the year 1996. The president
at the start was Jerry Braganza
and in the year 2010 it was
taken over by Ryan Braganza.
Our club aspires to endorse
football among the youth.
We have organised many The
inspiration behind the name
of our team comes from the
Our Lady of Miracles church at
Mapusa which is dedicated S.T
Milagres and Jerome.
He further goes on to say We
used to practice at Peddem
ground in the recent past. Of
late we have been conducting
our practice sessions at Duler.
Since our team is made up of
97% local boys from Mapusa,
the Duler ground is made
available to us free of cost.
Though we are nancially
weak and require some sought
of sponsorship, the guidance
and initiative taken by the
President, Ryan is remarkable
and will denitely take this
club to greater heights.
Savio opines that GFDC (Goa
Football Development Council)
is doing its bit for the develop-
ment of football in Goa which
has also been declared the
state sport. The government
has done a good job in putting
in place good infrastructural
facilities for to the Lusofonia
games. Witnessing the U-17
World Cup will be a great
privilege for the football lovers
and fans of soccer in India, he
adds.
Our players played well and
put up a good game but unfor-
tunately luck did not favour us
says Savio when asked why
the club slipped back to the
third division. But the mood is
upbeat and the club hopes to
break into the higher division
in time to come.
FOOTBALL FERVOUR KEEP MILAGRES SC GOING
President
Ryan Braganza
Secretary
Savio Fernandes
Coach Jude Fernandes
Best player Jolan
Fernandes (forward)
Though relegated
to the third
division, Milagres
Sports Club is
condent of
moving a notch
higher
AMCHEM CLUB >>
MARIAS MILESTONES
Year Place Teams Tournament
2010 Bangladesh Nepal v/ Bangladesh SAFF Cup
2010 Bangladesh Sri Lanka v/s Bangladesh South Asian Cup
2013 China Jiangsu Province v/s Shanghai Chinese National Games
2014 Pune Pune FC v/s Shillong Lajong I-League
Whistle blower
in a mans game
SAGUN GAWADE
20 SPORTS
Central to Germanys World
Cup team, Hummels was much
admired by Sir Alex before he le
A mesmerising goal from a young English
talent in a World Cup year is never going to
be downplayed
Find us on facebook.com/TheGoan
follow us on twitter@TheGoanOnSat
A
nother week, another home
defeat to one of their closest
rivals. It is business as usu-
al for Moyes and Manches-
ter United as they crashed to Man-
chester City 0-3 at Old Traord mid
week and the same score the week
before to Liverpool. A few weeks
ago I gave 10 reasons why Moyes
was failing at United and I have
been accused of negativity by one
or two dear readers. So allow me
to take a positive spin on the story
and suggest 10 players that United
should be looking at in the summer to relieve their woes. Some or
all these players may be of interest to your club as well.
1. Paul Pogba, Juventus, midelder, 65m. According to Ital-
ian website TuttoMercato, Real Madrid have begun the process of
making a colossal bid for Pogba and are set to be matched by Paris
Saint-Germain. Rumours persist that United boss David Moyes
continues to see Pogba as a feasible target for the summer market,
but the club will be unwilling to nancially compete with the likes
of Madrid and PSG. What is galling about all this for Man United is
that Pogba used to play for the club and then le in 2012 because
Sir Alex Ferguson wasnt giving him enough rst team football.
Two years later hes worth a fortune. Go gure!
2. Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund, centre back, 20m. Im-
posing and skilful defender who would ll the gap going to be le
by Vidic next season and/or Ferdinand aer that. Central to Ger-
manys World Cup team, Hummels
was much admired by Sir Alex before
he le.
3. Eliaquim Mangala, Porto, 38m.
Another centre back that United have
been pursuing. This sought aer
French international is on Man Citys
radar to place alongside Vincent
Kompany and with City nailed on for
Champions League football next sea-
son the blue side of Manchester will
probably win out.
4. Luke Shaw, Southampton, le
back, 20m. When Evertons Leigh-
ton Baines refused to join his old boss
at United, Moyes then joined a long list of Shaw admirers, includ-
ing Chelsea who wants the talented young player who has now
broken into the England squad and is nicely placed to be picked
ahead of Ashley Cole in the World Cup in Brazil.
5. Arturo Vidal, Juventus, mideld, 30m. Plays alongside Pog-
ba and despite the Chilean signing a long-term contract last De-
cember, Moyes was seen scouting him in January.
6. Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund, attacking midelder, 30m.
Uniteds lack of creative air could be relieved by Reus and al-
though Jurgen Klopp wants to hold on to his best talent, he may
be tempted by a deal that involves Kagawa returning to Dortmund
from United.
7. Ilkay Gundogan, Borussia Dortmund, mideld, 20m. The
third star from the German side on Uniteds radar. Would be a use-
ful addition to Uniteds lightweight mideld and take the pressure
o Carrick in the engine room. Again, Real are said to be lurking
with another over-inated Spanish cheque.
8. Toni Kroos, Bayern Munich, mideld, 30m. Another Bundes-
liga star whose on-going contract dispute with Bayern has put
other clubs on high alert. His goal against Arsenal probably put
about another 5m on his fee. Would greatly increase his wages
at United but would he pass on Champions League football with
uber-club Bayern? The upcoming quarter-nal with United should
make up Kroos mind where he wants to be next season.
9. Andros Townsend, Tottenham, winger, 20m. Was linked
with United in January aer emerging as a key player in Englands
qualication for the World Cup and would bring much needed
pace. Tough Spurs negotiator chairman Daniel Levy who squeezed
Real for as much possible for Gareth Bale, might do business if Ja-
vier Hernandez and/or Nani was oered as part of the deal.
10. Edison Cavani, Paris St-Germain, striker, 50m. If Hernandez
goes and Van Persie remains unsettled or injury prone, then the
Uruguayan is exactly the world class striker United would need.
Will be worth even more aer Cavani scores a hat-trick against
England in their World Cup match. He is unsettled in France aer
his 55m transfer from Napoli but Mourinho and Chelsea are very
keen and can also guarantee CL football.
Neil Dougan was a youth player for Glasgow Celtic
Boys Club and is a British Series Producer and Direc-
tor for all the major UK broadcasters: BBC, Sky, Chan-
nel 4, and ITV. He recently scripted, produced and
directed `The Boss: 25 Years of Sir Alex Ferguson for
Manchester United TV. He spends his time between
Goa and the UK, with his wife and son.
In Eye on the ball Neil Dougan will put his foot-
ball expertise to paper history and punditry with a
generous pinch of personal experience
10 players that your
team might need
EYE ON THE
BALL >>
NEIL DOUGAN
What is galling
about all this for Man
United is that Pogba
used to play for the
club and then le
in 2012 because Sir
Alex Ferguson wasnt
giving him enough
rst team football.
Two years later hes
worth a fortune. Go
gure!
ANDY HUNTER/THE GUARD-
Outside the away dressing room
at St James Park Roberto Mar-
tnez, the Everton manager,
was evoking comparisons with
Michael Ballack and Newcastle
Uniteds own Paul Gascoigne.
Inside, there was far more re-
straint over the stunning solo
goal from Ross Barkley that
steered Everton towards an
eye-catching 3-0 win over Alan
Pardew-less Newcastle. We
dont need to hype him up any
more, said Leon Osman. Ev-
eryone else can do that. Given
the dearth of gied, grounded
individual talents at Roy Hodg-
sons disposal, they have to.
A mesmerising goal from a
young English talent in a World
Cup year is never going to be
downplayed and as Martnezs
post-match acclaim conrmed,
is not simply a media construct
in the case of the 20-year-old
from Wavertree. But for a triple
leg fracture in October 2010 the
hype about Barkley would have
been announced long ago.
Barkley has blossomed this
season into the creative, pow-
erful force that David Moyes
and others at Everton always
expected he would. The devel-
opment has been aided by the
freedom he has been given by
the current manager to roam,
and make mistakes, something
the midelder did not always
receive under Moyes (a point
worth remembering when the
Barkley to Manchester United
stories resume).
But the campaign has not
been without its setbacks. The
signicance of the midelders
goal at Newcastle, when he col-
lected the ball inside the Everton
half, ignored Romelu Lukakus
run into space and slalomed
SOLO ATTEMPT: Evertons midelder Ross Barkley (right) cel-
ebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier
League football match against Newcastle United
AFP
Barkley blossoms in time
for World Cup campaign
Evertons driving midelder Ross Barkley was held up in his development by a triple leg
break but is blooming into a creative force
through a porous defence before
dispatching an emphatic le-
foot shot into the roof of the net,
lay in its timing. For Everton, for
Barkley, and potentially for Eng-
land, it was perfect.
It was a stunning goal and
he is a very powerful, very quick
lad, said Osman, who capped
a ne night for Everton with
the third goal. The midelder
has admitted the serious injury
sustained while on England Un-
der-19 duty, and the prospect of
his career being taken away be-
fore it had commenced, instilled
a sense of perspective that oth-
ers of his age and particularly
talent may nd beyond them.
This season has also brought
its injury interruptions. Bark-
ley was instrumental in Ever-
tons challenge for Champions
League qualication until suf-
fering a fractured toe in the
FA Cup defeat of Queens Park
Rangers on 4 January. Everton,
with other injury problems to
contend with, dried out of
the reckoning. He was recalled
ahead of schedule for the hum-
bling Merseyside derby defeat
by Liverpool and struggled, not
surprisingly given he was still
troubled by the fractured digit.
Martnez identied a return to
form in the FA Cup quarter-nal
loss at Arsenal, only to put Bar-
kley on the bench for Evertons
next game, against Cardi City.
There have been times when the
hype and expectation looked to
be weighing heavily on a player
who, lest we forget, is involved
in his rst full season at the
highest level. But, as Tuesday
conrmed, the swaggering form
and end-product has returned
at a crucial stage for Evertons
rekindled hopes of fourth place.
If he gets the call for the
World Cup, added Osman, Im
absolutely convinced he will do
very well. He is a level-headed
young man and although he is
still learning he has shown over
the last few weeks what he is ca-
pable of producing. If he has the
belief behind him, who knows
what could happen on the big-
ger stage?
We are all delighted to see a
young person coming through
who is capable of that kind of
goal but we also need to give
him a chance because he is still
only very young. We all just
need to give him a chance, let
him keep developing and not
put too much pressure on him.
Easier said than done.
Barkley has blossomed
this season into the
creative, powerful
force that David Moyes
and others at Everton
always expected he
would
SHAHID HASHMI/AFP
KARACHI
Sixteen-year-old Mohammad Salman
thought he was destined to live his life on
the mean streets of Karachi, addicted to
drugs, begging for survival and with no
prospects for a better future.
Now he is set to represent Pakistan in the
second edition of the Street Child World
Cup which underway in Brazil. In my past
life I was like a street urchin, using drugs,
running away from school and studies. I
was an addict, said Salman, who le home
at age 13 aer ghting with his parents.
We didnt know what we were doing and
what we should do. I was staying away
from home. Salmans salvation came af-
ter he was spotted by the non-prot Azad
Foundation that rehabilitates street chil-
dren in the sprawling Pakistani metropolis
of 18 million. They helped develop my
interest in football, he said. Im excited to
be part of the Street Child World Cup.
The Amos Trust, a British non-prot or-
ganisation, convinced footballs governing
body FIFA to initiate the Street Child World
Cup in 2010.
The rst edition was held in South Africa
ahead of the 2010 World Cup and featured
Brazil, South Africa, Nicaragua, Ukraine,
India, the Philippines, Tanzania and a team
from England. India won the inaugural event,
which proved so successful that it was de-
cided to hold it ahead of every football World
Cup. The second edition will be hosted by Rio
de Janeiro and end on April 6.
Owais Ali, another former street child, said
football has earned him respect.
When I was living in the street, no one
treated me with respect; I did not know
anything as I was illiterate, said Owais,
who like Salman comes from Karachis
troubled Orangi town, a shanty settlement.
I was confused once I le home and the
city was full of problems for me. Than I
found a way through Azad Foundation who
supported me and helped me in studies.
The seven-a-side Street Child World Cup,
to be held in footballs spiritual heartland,
represents a far cry from roadside matches
in Karachi with rocks used for goal posts.
Away from the pitch, organisers plan to
host celebrity guests, a youth conference
and exhibits featuring Brazilian artists.
BRAZIL BECKONS STREET KID FOOTBALLERS
India won the inaugural event, which proved so successful that it was decided to hold it
ahead of every football World Cup
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
Girls Tournament
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
Brazil El Salvador England
Indonesia Philippines Mozambique
Zimbabwe South Africa Nicaragua
Boys Tournament
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
Brazil Argentina India
Egypt Burundi Kenya
Indonesia Philippines Mauritius
Liberia Nicaragua Pakistan
South Africa Tanzania USA
SPORTS
Suarez is a good man and has been
incredible for Liverpool Rodgers
The average age of a rst-team defender in the big
ve European leagues in 2005-06 was 26.21 years;
now it is 26.35 an increase of 0.14 years
The Guardian
The Goan FOR
ANDY HUNTER/THE GUARD
Biting a fellow professional did
little for Luis Surezs player-
of-the-year candidacy last year.
Eleven months and one reha-
bilitation later, however, Bren-
dan Rodgers believes there is no
disputing the striker has been
a model of brilliance for Liver-
pool this season.
The Uruguay striker equalled
Robbie Fowlers club record of
28 goals in a Premier League
season with a hat-trick against
Cardi City on Saturday. He has
eight games remaining to break
the league record of 34 goals
held by Andy Cole and Alan
Shearer both over 42-game
campaigns, with Newcastle
United and Blackburn Rovers
respectively despite missing
the rst ve league matches of
the season through suspension.
That punishment stemmed
from a bite on the Chelsea de-
fender Branislav Ivanovic last
April, an act that resulted in
Surezs second lengthy sus-
pension in English football and
ended his chances of beating
Gareth Bale to the player-of-the-
year award.
The Uruguayan was not in con-
tention for the honour in 2011-12,
the season of his ban for using ra-
cially abusive language towards
Patrice Evra, but having avoided
major controversy, improved his
already outstanding form and
worked on his public image this
season, the 27-year-old Surez
has few rivals outside Aneld,
POWERSHOT: Liverpools striker Luis Suarez shoots past Cardi Citys goalkeeper David Marshall during the English Premier
League football match at Cardi City Stadium in Cardi, south Wales
AFP
Scales tip towards Gladiator Suarez
Rodgers believes Luis Suarez has been a model of brilliance for Liverpool this season and should win the player-of-the-year award
according to his manager.
Rodgers, whose team can
move to within a point of the
Premier League leaders, Chel-
sea, with victory over Sunder-
land on Wednesday, said: I
wouldnt have thought there are
any reasons against him this
year. I think he was well on the
way to winning it last season
when he had that unfortunate
incident towards the end, which
may have curtailed that, but this
year he has been a model of bril-
liance. On the pitch his quality
has never been questioned and
if anything he has improved on
that level this year.
But I think its been nice for
people to see the other side of
him. People dont see hes really
quite a humble guy o the eld
who becomes a gladiator when
he crosses the white line. A few
people have seen the other side
of him this year. In this country I
think we like to see good people
doing well so certainly for him it
would be a wonderful step for-
ward in his life and his career, if
he gets it.
Aside from Eden Hazard at
Chelsea, the Liverpool manager
believes Surezs only challeng-
ers for the annual award come
from the same dressing room
thanks to the clubs unexpected
pursuit of a rst league title in 24
years.
Rodgers is taking nothing for
granted. Listen, nothing sur-
prises me in this country. There
are some outstanding players in
this league so you never know
because nothing surprises you.
They tell me the young player of
the year goes up to 23, which I
nd remarkable. Youre 23 years
of age and getting the young
player award? Im not sure how
the voting works but if its down
to the majority of football people
and supporters, Im sure theyd
vote for someone like Luis. In
terms of ability he is right up
there.
Surez has scored 58 goals
in 73 appearances for Liverpool
since Rodgers became manager
in June 2012 and focused the
teams attacking style around
the former Ajax captain.
The Liverpool manager said:
At rst when I came in I thought
we needed to get more goals into
the team, not for any individual
but for the team. I looked at it
from the season before, saw the
type of player he is and how he
would suit the way I wanted to
work. So we structured the team
around his qualities and built
around that.
Obviously, as time goes on,
you focus on the team, of which
hes a very important member.
Hes been brilliant for me on and
o the eld. Of course, he makes
me earn my money at times but
he is a good man and has been
incredible for Liverpool in my
time here.
Suarez has scored
58 goals in 73
appearances for
Liverpool since Rodgers
became manager and
focused the teams
attacking style around
the former Ajax captain
SEAN INGLE/THE GUARDIAN NEWS &
MEDIA LTD
I
t was a week for footballs golden
oldies. Samuel Etoo, at 33, dely
opening the door against Galatasa-
ray and Arsenal and Ryan Giggs, at
40, adding calm and class to Man-
chester Uniteds engine room against
Olympiakos. Arsne Wenger, at 64,
chalked up his 1,000th Arsenal game
in a daytime nightmare at Stamford
Bridge.
Amid the eulogies for Wenger, John
Hartson spoke of his methods put-
ting another two or three years on the
careers of Tony Adams, Lee Dixon and
Ian Wright. Few would dispute that. In
the past decade, those methods have
become footballs methods. Players
are tter. They recover from training
with nely tuned protein-carb shakes,
ice baths and massage; not a swi
one-two at the pub.
We have come a long way from the
days when footballers regarded broc-
coli as that guy who produced the
Bond movies, and only did a down-
ward dog when they slid o a bar
stool.
Last year Sir Alex Ferguson said that
sport science is the biggest and most
important change in my lifetime.
Manchester United monitor 29 vari-
ables that may increase a players sus-
ceptibility to injury; sometimes players
will be pulled out just before training
because something in their data isnt
right.
Given such widespread advances,
you might expect the average age of
players in Europes top leagues to be
climbing sharply. It is not. The Football
Observatory recently compared the
average age by position of players in
the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga,
Bundesliga and Ligue 1 from 2005-06
to 2013-14 and found it was also static.
The average age of a rst-team
defender in the big ve European
leagues in 2005-06 was 26.21 years;
now it is 26.35 an increase of 0.14
years. The gures for goalkeepers,
midelders and attackers have barely
changed either.
Meanwhile in the Premier League, Pro-
zones data for the 2011-12 and 2012-
13 seasons shows that full-backs 33 or
over played just 2.0% of all minutes
played by full-backs. For wide mid-
elders that gure was 2.7%; strikers
3.6% and central midelders 4.9%. For
central defenders whose positioning
can sometimes negate a lack of pace
it was higher at 10.1%.
So what is happening? Two things.
Sports science is helping older play-
ers to stave o the eects of ageing.
But, at the same time, the physical
demands on footballers is far greater
too. So the status quo prevails. Once
footballers hit their early thirties they
are on borrowed time. Just like they
always were.
What is striking, though, is how much
faster football has become in the past
decade. TV commentators in the 1970s
and 1980s were fond of talking about
matches being played at 100-miles-an-
hour. It was a Sunday morning pootle
compared to todays game.
In 2006-07 the average number of
sprints per team in a Premier League
match was 330.2. This season Pro-
zones data show that it is 431.1, a
30.6% increase. Meanwhile recovery
time between high intensity sprints
(speeds of greater than 5.5 metres
per second) has dropped from 54.6
seconds to 43.5 seconds, a decline of
20%. Perhaps it is not surprising there
are so few full-backs, wide mideld-
ers and forwards over 33. They play
in positions where a dip in pace is
more likely to aect performance. It is
not only in road safety adverts where
speed kills.
Another development is that clubs
monitor GPS and heart-rate data in
training. They usually know when a
player is gone before we do. The
growth in post- and pre-season tours
may also be a factor. Players have less
down time to recover in the o-season
so recovery time, which becomes
more important with age, can be
scarce. Of course the rate of decline
will vary.Genetics, lifestyle, injury his-
tory and the number of games can all
be a factor. But players are battling
against age earlier than is oen as-
sumed. Maximal aerobic capacity or
V02 max peaks around 18 to 20 and
while it can plateau until 25 it tends
to then decrease by approximately
8-10% per decade.
Dr James Carter, the head of the
Gatorade Sport Science Institute at
Loughborough University, says that
vigorous training aer the age of 25
can limit that decline to around 5% per
decade but signicant reductions in
physiological and performance-related
capabilities will be more pronounced
once a player enters their thirties.
With some players physiology is not
everything. Even in his nal season,
Paul Scholess passing gures were as
good as ever. Others make themselves
relevant in fresh ways. When Giggs still
possessed the acceleration of a Mase-
rati and the hips of a ballroom dancer,
the ball was lover to nuzzle on those
jinking, parabola-like runs; now it is
more of a passing acquaintance.
But as a general rule, improvements
in sport science and medicine have
benetted younger players as much as
older ones.
And so veterans are better retained at
a similar rate than they were a decade
ago. As Carter reminds us, extending
the shelf life of footballers beyond 35,
in most cases, is still beyond the remit
of science, technology and best prac-
tice. When Giggs and Etoo started
out, football was considered a young
mans game. Despite their notable
achievements in the past week it still
generally is.
AFP
Football, still a young mans game
Despite advances in training and diet, football remains a game for those in their twenties regardless of a Samuel Etoo or Ryan Giggs
ON BORROWED TIME?: Though
players like Ryan Giggs still play
aggressive, once footballers hit
their early thirties they are on bor-
rowed time, stats reveal
We have come a long
way from the days when
footballers regarded broccoli
as that guy who produced
the Bond movies, and only
did a downward dog when
they slid o a bar stool
22 BUSINESS N BEYOND
Nagesh Eco Ventures
oers adventure sports
and other entertainment
activities at their units
scattered across dierent
places in South Goa
My involvement in the Jaycees
broadened my ideology, inspiring
me to take up funeral services as a
community service. Its my way of
giving back to the society because
while I earn my bread
Wyn Coutinho
BHARATI PAWASKAR /
THE GOAN
Its well past midnight and the
telephone rings. Its an emer-
gency call from a sobbing father
his only son has met with a
fatal accident and the body lies
on a hospital bed aer post-mor-
tem and needs to be moved to a
morgue ahead of the nal rites.
A scene right out from the mov-
ies? No, not if you happen to be
Wyn Coutinho on the other end
of the line.
We rush out to the hospital to
complete the formalities, do the
paper work and take possession
of the body. Our hearse van takes
it to the home of the deceased.
Another van carries a deep freez-
er. Our team embalm the body
and preserve it for the next 36
hours. Lots of tasks still remain
to be accomplished taking
measurements for the co n size,
making ower arrangements,
dressing up of the body, xing
up the church services, arranging
catering services, engraving the
tomb stone and arranging for the
transportation to the church on
the day of the funeral, etc states
the Funeral Director, Wyn Coutin-
ho of Condant Funeral Services,
Margao.
Yes, its a tough task but com-
mitment to his job makes Wyn
go beyond his work parameters
and use his heart in moments
like these. Ask Wyn why he
has chosen such an odd pro-
fession especially with social
taboos and stigmas attached to
death or anything that has to
do with death. Generally people
shy away from even thinking of
death, leave sharing responsi-
bilities of dealing with death.
Todays youth hunt for glamor-
ous careers and are reluctant
to take up such odd jobs like
arranging for funeral services,
but 33-year-Wyn is steady in the
business since 2006, running
his one-stop-funeral-shop from
Margao and even planning to
expand his services to Ponda
and Vasco.
I did have di culty initial-
ly as no one actually wanted
to join hands with me and so
building a team was quite a
challenge, elucidates Wyn who
was determined to start a one-
stop-funeral-shop. Not want-
ing to continue with his fathers
business library, bookstore,
stationery shop, advertisements
and construction, Wyn wanted
to have his own identity and cre-
ate a niche for himself.
My involvement in the Jay-
cees broadened my ideology,
inspiring me to take up funeral
services as a community service.
Its my way of giving back to the
society because while I earn my
bread, my work also gives me
peace and solace, he shares,
agreeing that not many choose
such a business given the odd
working hours and day-out,
day-in encounters with deaths
and funerals.
Its a day and night service.
One has to be alert all the time
and pick up the calls any odd
hours. It is inner compulsion
and isnt it something noble to
be there when someone needs
you desperately to take the
charge? asks Wyn.
Asked if the funeral business
is protable, Wyn nods a r-
matively. No business can run
if theres no prot margin, but
whatever you do, do with a heart
that beats for others. We dont
keep big margins as it pinches
our conscious but yes, we do
make prots, admits Wyn who
has a team of six regular sala-
ried employees.
Our cons begin with Rs
4,500 at the lower end. The price
goes up till Rs 20,000 per cof-
n depending upon the type of
wood (eg teak) and decorations.
All services inclusive can cost
Rs 15,000 onwards, depending
upon how lavishly one wants to
spend on their deceased loved
ones, he informs.
There are approximately 50
co n makers and around 15 fu-
neral directors scattered in Goa.
One has to respect a fellow hu-
man being. Showing disrespect
to the human body once its life-
less is a sin, Wyn concludes.
BHARATI PAWASKAR /
THE GOAN
E
nter the dinosaurs mouth
and walk through its
stomach till you reach a
discotheque with live music
and laser beams or enjoy a rain
dance though the sky is not
cloudy or just try sliding down
an anacondas tail and splash
into a cool pool. If thats not
enough go trekking or do some
rappelling, travel from tree to
tree on a zip line or enjoy rock
climbing and cross a Burma
Bridge to cook free on a bio-gas
unit. Nagesh Eco Ventures of-
fers just that and much more.
We oer seven exclusive sites
to enjoy outing, adventurous
sports and party till you drop.
I love to oer educative enter-
tainment at an aordable price
to our visitors, especially school
children, states Rajan Nagesh
Lotlikar, proprietor Nagesh Eco
Ventures that oers adventure
sports and other entertainment
activities in his units scattered
across dierent places in South
Goa.
Its an amazing rags to riches
story how Rajan rose from his
lower middle class background
to what he is today. Rajan
recalls his early days when life
was hard. Our family came
to Goa in 1969 from Hubli. My
father Nagesh Vyankatesh Lot-
likar worked in the railways but
it was a hand to mouth situa-
tion. My mother Vasanti Lotlikar
stitched clothes to help run the
family. When dad expired in
1978, we almost broke. I had no
money to pay my fees. So I took
up a part-time at K K Shahs
Kohinoor Engineers and earned
Rs 50 a month, shares Rajan
modestly.
But the days soon passed
away. Rajan graduated in
Commerce stream and began
working at the port for Rs 100
a month until late Pandurang
Timblo oered him a salary of
Rs 200 to work on his mines.
Rajan remembers that it was
in 1982 that he developed a
small plot of 1300 sq metres
purchased by his late father. I
sold my rst ownership flat at
Davorlim for Rs 28,000. Land
deals proved to be lucky and I
kept getting good plots for de-
veloping. .
It was his rst big property
deal with Judge Soares and B
B Soares who oered him a
plot around a lakh sq mts to
develop. Rajan developed this
property and retained 25,000
sq mt plot for himself in the
heart of Margao. It is the very
same land where this Nagesh
Village stands today, admits
Rajan, thankful of his then wise
decision and his messiahs
the Soares family who extend-
ed a helping hand to climb the
ladder of success.
Extending his services to all
strata of the society, Rajan has
thoughtfully opened a truck
terminus at Ponda, where 500
trucks can be parked at a time.
I have seen that hundreds
of trucks entering Ponda on a
daily basis but they dont have
a proper place to park. The driv-
ers too need a place to rest and
freshen up. Thats the reason
I have readied a 40,000 sq mt
plot to park trucks with wash-
room and bathroom facilities,
discloses this wise business-
man who intends to open a
wellness centre in Margao soon
for the general public.
Thinking of those who are out
of the job, especially aer the
mining activities in the state
were halted, Rajan has already
stepped out and opened a
market place that can accom-
modate around 100 stalls to
be given free or on minimum
rates to the families of those
aected.
At the end of the day a busi-
nessman wants to earn money,
true but it matters, how one
earns it. Better half Pratibha
Lotlikar handles the family busi-
ness eciently and the Lotlikar
couple have taught their chil-
dren to be equally humble and
down-to-earth. Lets do fair
business, share equally what
we have and make our clients,
partners in our happiness,
concludes this couple in one
voice.
Untimely event, timely succour
Wyn Coutinho
is among the
rare breed of
entrepreneurs.
For him Condant
Funeral Services is
more of a humane
venture than a
business option
All this and more
Ambulance
Hearse
Embalming/preserving
the body
Dressing the body
Deep freeze/morgue
services
Fresh flower wreaths/
baskets
Photographer/videogra-
pher
Bus service to the church
Lowering machine
Brass band
Co n stand
Candle stand
Advertisements
Catering
Engraving on tomb
stones
Monthly/yearly flower
decorations
THE COFFIN MAKER: Wyn
Coutinho, Funeral Director,
Condant Funeral Services at
his workshop in Margao
Fun and frolic and more to rollick
Nagesh Eco Ventures oers fun for all, from children to elders, right in the heart of Margao at Nagesh Village
SAMRAT BANDODKAR
SAMRAT BANDODKAR
23
BUSINESS
It is important for MSMEs to get
nance to do well. The current
situation is a far cry from that
KARAN SEHGAL/THE GOAN
Post the ban on mining, the situ-
ation became grave for banks in
Goa. Mining related borrowers
almost vanished. The record of
banks in terms of giving loans
is not great in Goa even other-
wise. Out of Rs 100 of deposits,
banks in Goa were able to lend
only Rs 31 as per data available
on December 31, 2013, which
means credit deposit ratio stood
at 31%. The credit deposit ratio
was a percentage higher and
stood at 32% at the end of March
2009, which shows that no im-
provement took place on this
front over close to ve years!
Moreover, credit deposit ratio in
Goa is way below national aver-
age of 70-80%. This shows that
the industrial sector in Goa is
still suering from the problem
of lack of nance.
Small scale enterprises par-
ticularly nd it very di cult to
get nance from banks. Such
entities provide employment to
people, contribute to the states
income and more importantly
this is where seeds of a large
corporation are sown for what is
small today has the potential of
becoming big in the future.
The central government does
realize this and therefore it
passed a Micro, Small and Me-
dium Enterprises Development
(MSMED) Act in 2006. Under
this act, the government clearly
laid out the denition of micro,
small and medium enterprises.
The micro and small enterprises
under MSMED Act also come
under priority sector. As per Re-
serve Bank of Indias guidelines
all domestic commercial banks
are advised to give 40% of ad-
justed net bank credit to prior-
ity sector, which are weaker and
needy sections of society.
The central government
set up Credit Guarantee Fund
Scheme for Micro and Small En-
terprises (CGMSE) way back in
the year 2000. The idea behind
the scheme was to make collat-
eral free credit available to small
and medium enterprises. The
government and SIDBI (Small
Industrial Development Bank
of India) contribute towards the
corpus of the scheme. The credit
facilities are available upto Rs
1 crore per entity. Clearly, the
banks got the message both
from the apex body and also the
central government that they
should advance credit to micro
and small enterprises.
This does reect on ground
as well. Many banks especially
in the public sector have con-
ducted SME loan camps in Goa
time and again. Moreover, these
loans are available at reason-
ably low rates of interest as well.
Canara Bank gives such loans
at rates starting from 10.95%
per annum, while State Bank of
India provides such loans at 12-
14.5% interest rate per annum.
It must be noted that these are
the rates at which some large
corporate houses borrow money
from banks. Going by this, the
picture looks rosy. However,
theres many a slip between the
cup and the lip.
An ocial from a nationalized
bank in Panjim, who didnt wish
to be named said, Oen such
borrowers do not have neces-
sary permissions. For instance,
they may not have electric-
ity permission or they may not
have SSI (small scale industries)
registration. SSI registration
is very important because an
entity can not avail of benets
of priority sector lending if it is
not registered as a small scale
industry in the rst place!
However, industrial sec-
tor has a dierent take on it.
Prashant Shinde, president of
Verna Industrial Association
said, Small branches in Goa do
not have sanction authority. The
application goes to the zonal
oce. They ask for nancial
projection to approve the loan.
What they ought to have is some
technical knowledge of the busi-
ness, which should help them in
assessing the risk. This means
such loan applications are as-
sessed based on nancial pro-
jections (which are a matter of
conjecture) because bank sta
does not have technical knowl-
edge to understand prospects of
a business.
Blaise Costabir, managing
director of GMI Zarhak Mould-
ers Pvt Ltd, said the problem is
not merely limited to technical
and nancial aspects. He said
there is a problem even with
the culture of banking industry.
He said, If a bank manager ap-
proves a loan and it becomes
bad then the repercussions are
severe. However, if he doesnt
approve a loan, there are no
repercussions. He can actually
end up becoming chairman of
the bank!
Clearly, there is a gap between
MSME enterprises and the bank-
ing industry. Sudhir Zade, zonal
manager at Bank of Indias Goa
o ce said, Entrepreneurs
should take sound professional
guidance in nancial matters.
This is because businessmen are
oen technocrats while banks
are nancial institution and
there is a gap between nancial
and technical know-how. Zade
also said that the bankers alone
are not responsible for devel-
opment. It is a collective eort
of the government, the entre-
preneur and the banker. It has
been observed that the banks
oen get loan applications from
enterprises which do not have
power and water connection. In
such cases, it is not practical for
a bank to lend money.
The crux of the matter is the
government has a number of
schemes under which micro and
small industries can avail ben-
ets. However, such companies
must have su cient documen-
tation to avail benets. In the
absence of which, they have no
other resort but to go to other
sources of nance. The issue
becomes even more complex be-
cause small and medium enter-
prises do not get any nancing
from other sources of nance
like venture capitalists. Clearly,
a lot needs to be done on the
small enterprises part, the
bankers part as well as the gov-
ernments part to improve the
situation from what it is today.
IN A NUTSHELL
Goa has one of the lowest credit deposit ratio in India, which means
that banks are not able to disburse adequate amount in terms of loans
in the state
Small enterprises not having necessary documentation like lease
agreement, electricity license or SSI registration will nd it di cult to get
loans from banks
If small enterprises have documents in place, PSU banks are giving
loans to such entities at 11-15% per annum interest rates
Small branches cant sanction big ticket loans. The loan application
reaches the zonal oce and it takes a long time for the borrower to get
loan from there
The bridge between technical expertise of the entrepreneur and nan-
cial knowledge of banks need to be bridged
IN-DEPTH >>
Dearth of funds for MSMEs
Of late banks have increased focus on loans to small enterprises.
But, oen such enterprises nd it dicult to get nancing due to
some issues on their part and some on the part of the bankers
KARAN SEHGAL/THE GOAN
The Goan: What is the main prob-
lem SMEs face in terms of getting
nance?
Shekhar Sardessai: The problem
(Small and Medium Enterprises) SMEs
are facing is not so much about getting
the nance. Even SIDBI (Small Indus-
trial Development Bank of India) lends
money at very high rates. The real issue
here is very high cost of money. NSIC
(National Small Industries Corporation)
also has a lending facility. But it asks
for bank guarantee. Not only the cost
of money from NSIC is high but it also
requires guarantee which makes it an
unattractive option for companies. Un-
less SIDBI and NSIC reform themselves
to meet the requirements of new age
SMEs in an ecient manner, they will
lose relevance.
The silver lining here is that EDC has
done a wonderful job. It gives 2%
rebate from commercial loan rate to
Goan entrepreneurs. On the top of it,
if you are in backward talukas, you get
5% rebate. And if you are a woman, you
get 2% rebate. The interesting thing is
if you are a Goan woman entrepreneur
in a backward talkua, you can get as
much as 9% rebate!
TG: So you dont think availability
of nance is an issue?
SS: Availability of nance is not such
an issue if the SME has a good bal-
ance sheet. The issue is SMEs oen
need funds to cover up losses when
the industry is down. But, the situa-
tion in terms of availability of nance
is certainly better today than few years
ago. However, banks are willing to give
loans only for collateral. Under CGMSE
scheme, banks provide collateral free
loans to SMEs. However, such loans are
available only upto Rs 1 crore. This limit
needs to be increased
TG: What about documentation?
Banks oen complain SMEs dont
have proper documentation.
SS: I dont think documentation is a
big issue here. I dont think sanction
limits are a problem here. The problem
is SMEs need more than bank nance.
Equity market does not provide money
to SMEs, the cost of money in the debt
market is very high. Interest burden kills
SMEs. Oen SMEs die in an early stage
because they can not pay interest cost.
Banks cant do much about it. The gov-
ernment should have some subvention.
For instance, the government provides
4% subvention for export oriented
SMEs. But even then the cost of money
remains high.
For instance, if a SME takes a loan at
15% per annum, its cost becomes 11%
due to 4% grant from the government.
However, even at 11%, we are paying
much more than what small companies
pay in other countries. We only have
labour cheaper in India, which we call
labour arbitrage. However, the cost of
money is very high. The problem will
become more complex when we lose
our labour arbitrage.
SHEKHAR SARDESSAI
>president of Goa State Industries
Association
SMEs BANK ON BANK SUPPORT
Shekhar Sardessai, president of Goa State Industries Association, in a chat with The Goan elucidates on the issues faced by small
enterprises in terms of getting nance from banks and other nancial institutions
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
MAR 09 MAR 10 MAR 11 MAR 12 MAR 13 DEC 13
GOA
ALL INDIA
LOAN
LOAN
LOAN
Credit deposit ratio in Goa is not
even half of national average.
Besides, the vast gap between
Goa and All India numbers has
not shown any signs of narrowing
down in the last ve years
Source: RBI for All India data. State Level
Bankers Committee, Goa for Goa data
24
Footprints
If we dont save our crop from
the bug, we will go into a loss
Laxman Sonu Gaonkar
A total of 147 farmers in the seven wards of
Netravali have adoptedSRI. In Patwada, the entire
village follows the SRI method of agriculture
us at letters@thegoan.net
BHARATI PAWASKAR /
THE GOAN
They welcome you graciously
into their homes and generously
oer you jaggery thats so and
sweet and simply melts on your
tongue. This is what we can
oer you. Its fresh and home-
made, exclaims Sunita Sukto
Velip, a hardworking farmer
from the tiny village of Patwada
located in Netravali in Sanguem
taluka. Patwada got its name
due to the paat (canal) that
ows through the village. De-
cades ago, our forefathers dug
the hard rock to bring water
from the springs on the hill so
that farming activities could
be carried out in this village,
explains 52-year-old Dattaram
Barkelo Velip who does com-
munity farming at Patwada with
a few other Velips. Made up of
just 15 houses belonging to the
Velip and Gaonkar communities
of Goa, the villagers of Patwada
have been farming the land
the conventional way for
generations.
Then a year and a half ago,
Dattaram and his fellow-villag-
ers discovered SRI, a system of
rice cultivation that yields three
golden harvests a year as op-
posed to the earlier two. In the
traditional method, we planted
ve-six rice plants (in a bunch)
which gave us only ve-six stalks
of grain. With SRI, one plant
gives us 40-50 stalks of grain,
says Chandravati Chandru Velip
(60) pointing to their elds ripe
with the third harvest while An-
jani Gopinath Velip (48) adds,
We have experimented with
both varieties Jyoti and Karjat3
and both have proved good for
SRI.
And those of us who got eight
bags a year with the traditional
method of paddy cultivation,
now get around 10 bags twice
a year, says 50 year old Sukto
Raghuvir explaining the math,
With support price, Jyoti fetch-
es Rs 1,500 per quintal while
Karjat3 gets Rs 1000. Also, the
paddy gown and harvested us-
ing the earlier conventional
method had to be stored for four
months or so before it could be
converted into ukdo or surai
rice, which meant that we need-
ed extra room for storage while
saving the paddy from rats and
other rodents, then boiling it be-
fore de-husking the grain.
Only aer going through these
hardships could the farmers sell
their rice. With SRI, however,
there is no need to store the
paddy. The licenced rice mills
from Netravali, Sanvordem and
Gaodongrim come and take the
paddy straight from our elds.
No storing, no rats, no wastage
and instant cash ow as we can
cut and sell it immediately,
says Sukto with a happy smile.
Seeing this, the department
of agriculture is now working
hard to popularise the SRI tech-
nique among farmers who are
still not sure of its benets,
states 21-year-old Suraj Gaonkar,
a resident of Verle in Netravali
who was recruited as the Kri-
shi Mitra eight months ago to
guide and advise local farmers
about the various schemes and
subsidies available. Subsidies
are given to farmers for tractors,
weeding machines, power til-
lers, brush cutters, cono weed-
ers, solar fencing, fertilisers, etc.
Also high yielding seeds are dis-
tributed free of cost, he adds.
A total of 147 farmers in the
seven wards of Netravali have
adopted SRI. In Patwada, the
entire village follows the SRI
method of agriculture with great
success, informs Suraj, add-
ing that across the state, over
500-600 conventional farmers
have shied over to the SRI tech-
nique so far.
And with the farmers cash-
ing in on their bumper crops,
Netravali is all set to cultivate
more and more land in the com-
ing years.
What is SRI?
Under the SRI system, each
seedling is sowed separately,
rather than in a group
A distance of 25 centimetres is
maintained vertically and horizon-
tally between each of the seedlings
which results in grains of improved
quality
Under the traditional method of
paddy cultivation, it takes almost
21 days for transplanting the crop,
but in case of SRI, the transplant-
ing process takes just 14 days
Why SRI?
Reduced seed requirement
While in the conventional system
of rice cultivation the recommend-
ed quantity of seed is 16 kg per
acre, farmers usually use about
20 kg per acre. But in SRI, the
requirement of seed is only two kg
per acre. The individual transplant-
ing of very young seedlings is in a
square pattern.
Greater yield
In the conventional system, the
yield varies between 3.5 tonnes
per hectare in khareef to four
tonnes per hectare in rabbi. SRI
gives a yield of minimum one-
and-half to two times the above
amounts, respectively. i.e. if the
yield is four tonnes per hectare in
rabbi in the conventional system,
it will be six to eight tons per
hectare via SRI
Prots are higher, while the
cost of cultivation remains
the same
In SRI, a single seedling which is
about 10 days old is planted but
high numbers of tillers (sprouts)
spring forth from the single seed-
ling. The ear heads are longer than
normal and the number of grains
per ear head is much higher. Also,
the weight of the grain is more and
its quality far superior
Requires less water
The principles of the SRI method
include irrigating with a minimum
quantity of water. Thus it is more
popular in the rabbi season from
October onwards
The SRI technique can be
adopted for cultivating any variety
of seed common in Goa like Jyoti,
Jaya or Karjat3. (In fact, Karjat3
gives a very high yield via the SRI
technique)
Fertilisers used
Cow dung
Potash
Urea
Sampurna
Samrat
Sanyukta
TEAM GOAN
T
hey took land that was ly-
ing fallow for decades and
transformed it into a crop-
rich eld.
This is our ancestral land,
says 40 year old Laxman Sonu
Gaonkar, who travels all the
way from Badsare-Gaodongrim
in Canacona along with six
other farmers Laxman Sonu
Gaonkar, Narayan Janu Ga-
onkar, Bhairo Ram Velip, Tolyo
Lasko Gaonkar, Kuyro Bombo
Gaonkar, Shiva Vaddo Gaonkar
to till and cultivate this land.
We got the land some years
ago from our kind-hearted
bhatkar who is ever willing to
help us. This is our rst trial
with SRI and though we are
excited to see the results, the
paddy stink bug or baam is a
major cause of concern at this
crucial time when the crop is
almost ripe, shares Laxman
while Pandurang Gaonkar, an
SRI facilitator at Netravali who
visits the elds on a regular
basis says, I have helped
them get insect traps from the
department but unfortunately, I
am unable to provide them with
electricity to work the traps.
With the code of conduct in
practice, the electricity depart-
ment is unable to lay the line
but if we dont save our crop
from the bug, we will go into a
loss. We have already invested
Rs 2.5 lakh and not claimed for
any subsidy or incentives from
the government as yet, says
a worried Laxman, adding that
their bhatkar has come to their
aid again and promised to help
them ght the baam.
The farmers are also full of
praise for agricultural o cers
Shivram Gaonkar from Cana-
cona and Dattaprasad Desai
from Sanguem who educate
and advise them.
With 50 acres of land under
cultivation, this plot of land
in Volvale is the largest area
farmed under the Sri method
and farmers from the neigh-
bouring states of Karnataka
and Maharashtra are invited
to visit and learn so that they
may adopt the same method of
paddy cultivation back in their
home towns.
Sowing hope,
reaping dreams
They may live in remote parts of Goa, but
the farmers of Patwada in Netravali have
not only been experimenting with the
latest techniques in agriculture including
SRI, but also reaping three golden
harvests a year
Six farmers from
Badsare-Gaodongri
in Canacona travel
to Volvale to till their
ancestral land every
year
50 acres of land
cultivated under SRI
Farmers from
neighbouring states are
invited to look and learn
Ancestral land, newer methods
SAMRAT BANDODKAR

The Goan On Saturday The Goan On Saturday 290314

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