Social activists and general public show solidarity with Maclon Fernandes

Social activists beside general public in a show of solidarity for Maclon Fernandes gathered near the site where he is selling only Goan produce such as mangoes, pineapples, mango jam not only to encourage and  strengthen his message for self employment but also to send subtle warning to the civic authorities and police not to harass the youth who is trying to make use of his time.

For the last couple of weeks now, Maclon has been complaining that Municipality workers appear there demand that he move away from the place as he is not authorised to do business there.

Supporters say that for years now individuals have been selling newspapers and bread in the morning and nobody interferes with them but they cannot bear to see a Goans youth doing brisk business.

This youth informed that late last week Fatorda police came there and threatened to attach his vehicle if he does stop doing business, however at the intervention of some locals police inspector Navlesh allowed him to continue.

Maclon informed that some fruit vendors from the south Goa planning and development market also threatened him that they are losing business because of him, “it is surprising that a small timer like me who has just started business is causing them loss.”

Maclon claims he woke up on May 31, bought mangoes from Goans, put them in the boot of his Skoda Laura car, parked it at the Ponda circle at Fatorda and started selling it. To every customer who approaches him to buy the mangoes, he tells them that he is Goan and the reason for him to sell mangoes is spread a message to youth to use their time for constructive purpose.

Sanjeev Raiturkar who was present to show his support said that this government claims to be for Goem, Goenkar, Goenkarponn but here is Goan youth who is being harassed for doing business. Dr. Francisco Colaco said that Maclon is a shining example for other to follow and he has all his support to carry on with what he is doing.

Maclon said that it was surprising and encouraging to see well known people showing solidarity with him and his cause, “It has strengthen my conviction and with the blessing and backing of such people I will continue my mission.”

Goan youth Maclon spreading the message of self employment – by Nisser Dias

We have heard about cycling or driving expeditions carrying a message of peace across the country and even across international borders, but this young Goan has set upon a unique mission to urge youth to out their time to good use.

Maclon Eloy Fernandes from Batora, Curtorim is on a mission to spread the message of self employment to unemployed youth not to idle away precious time zooming around on bikes or drinking but to use it to earn a living.

This dynamic youth who claims to have traveled half the globe on jobs, then took up employment in Goa and finally started to sell mangoes at Ponda junction at Fatorda.

He informed that he was hurt and restless seeing youth idling away their time, drinking some trying to seek employment overseas for years, wasting lakhs of rupees job agents others zooming around Goa on motorcycles. Since he also did not a job, decided to sell mangoes standing on the road and proclaim his message of self employment to the general public.

Maclon claims he woke up on May 31, bought mangoes from Goans, put them in the boot of his Skoda Laura car, parked it at the Ponda circle at Fatorda and started selling it.

To every customer who approaches him to buy the mangoes, he tells them that he is Goan and the reason for him to sell mangoes is to send a message to youth to use their time for constructive purpose.

“I do not need to do this, my parents are abroad and as you can see I move in high-end car and using the same to spread the message of gainful employment.” “Youth in Goa want to go abroad and do odd jobs there but they are not ready to do the same here as they consider is it as either shameful or they feel shy, so I’m setting an example.”

Curtorim MLA Reginald Lourenco endorsed his view stating that time will come and overseas job will dry-up and youth will have to gain employment here. While congratulating Maclon said he is a very dynamic youth and takes up any challenge.

Shedding all his inhibitions Maclon claims he has not studied much but has graduated among the people, “I can talk to a group of people and convince them, within 5 days I sold 700 mangoes for Rs. 300 a dozen.” “I want to set an example by doing it, by being pragmatic and not just preaching it.”

Goan Seamen Association of India president Dixon Vaz was passing by, stopped to state that seeing and hearing Maclon was inspiring and refreshing. “I bought two dozen mangoes from him a just to encourage him.” “I wish some Goan youth take cue from him and start something, however small to earn a living here in Goa itself.”

On the flip side of the story, Maclon has had a disheartening experience with the Civic body. He claimed that Margao Municipal Council market inspectors are harassing him while sparing all other non-Goans selling fruits and vegetables on rickshaws in and around the city. “I doing this for just seven days now I do not know the ways to pacify them, non-Goans are not being troubled because of tacit understanding but I will not toe their line as this is not bread and butter but I want to spread a certain message.”

Is this the respect we show to our great Opinion Poll stalwarts? -- By Nisser Dias.

As a grand gesture and as a mark of respect to the stalwarts of the Opinion Poll, Colva circle was re-named as Opinion Poll Square with much fanfare.

38 portraits of the leaders who spear-headed the movement to stop Goa being merged with Maharashtra were encased in frames along the narration of their role in the historic event.

Though it was a good idea, but it not thought true and true and it’s very evident that it was implemented in a tearing hurry in a bid to gain lost credibility and popularity by the present generation of so called leaders.

Instead of maintaining the sanctity of the Square, respect and stature of the tall leaders some of whom are still amongst us, dogs and rag-pickers are allowed to sit and sleep at the base of the frames.

The disrespect is allowed to be manifested on the true leaders of Goa by the so disgraceful leaders of this generation is unpardonable.

These so called leaders of this era want to float or rather heighten their status on the reputation of tall personalities of the Opinion Poll.

But that will not happen as there is huge difference between the leaders of yesteryears and now. The leaders of yesteryears had character and commitment, personality and social-standing and above all they  had integrity, they were devoted and loyal unlike the leaders of today who have none of these traits. Leaders of today cannot even sustain themselves without being in politics. The sole motto of the leaders of this generation is to be in power to fatten not only their bank accounts but also of their kids and relatives.

Hence, however much the present set of leaders may try to make a public show of venerating leaders of yesteryears, the general public knows the method to pick the grains from the chaff.

Former MLA Teotonio Pereira who participated in the Opinion Poll and attended the function is on record stating that there is a big difference between the present MLAs and those of his time and added that even the common people are speaking about the degradation in politics. Who else would be in a better position to point out the difference?

Recently one of the sons of the great departed soul whose late father’s portrait adores the Square made an appeal to government to remove all the frames and install them elsewhere. He had a valid reason that while the present leaders sleep in posh houses with all the bills being paid by the exchequer, the frames are left at the mercy of vagrancies of the weather besides dogs and human scavengers making it their home.

If at all the present dispensation had the respect and reverence for the Opinion Poll leaders they would not have resorted to such cheap frames or modules to install them.

I have my doubts whether the planners of the Square have even visited the site after it was inaugurated on 16^th January this year. Instead police constables are posted there to keep miscreants away who wanted Goa to be merged with Maharashtra. It is rather a sad state of affairs.

Infact, Town and Country Planning minister and Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai who was the brain behind this Square reacting to the citizens inaugurating it before the government did it had said that it proved once again that Goemkars haven’t lost their spirit or enthusiasm about India’s only referendum that prevented Goa’s identity from being stolen. Which if interpreted means there was and still is opposition to the Opinion Poll and hence the presence of police through day and night. And it seems that opposition to Goa being a different identity hail from the ruling dispensation itself.

People who inaugurated the Opinion Poll Square a day before the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and TCP Minister Vijay Sardessai did so demanded that both of them apologise before late Dr. Jack de Sequeira for their quest to merge Goa with Delhi by allowing nationalization of rivers, for trying to sell Goa’s land through regional plan 2021.

Nisser Dias

In stark contrast to the vision and fore-sight of Opinion Poll leaders of what they wanted for Goa, the present set of leaders want to sell Goa to the highest bidder available.

In conclusion there simply cannot be a comparison between Opinion Poll stalwarts and the present set. It is an insult to our yesteryear leaders that current dispensation is trying to build their reputation through a public show. Our erstwhile leaders wanted Goa to be maintained with its pristine natural beauty encompassed with its culture and tradition while the present lot wants to fill their coffers by gnawing at the very seams of our beloved Goa.