Goans have not lost their love for Goa just because they have acquired Portuguese citizenship

Until five years back, Goans had been finding an easy way out for better quality of life and that was gate-crashing into England via Portugal. The Portuguese have been kind enough to allow Goans into its country as a goodwill gesture for making it their colony four centuries back.

There was no issue at all even though lakhs of Goans had opted for Portuguese passport with different perception. The main being employment and better quality of life. Of course there was a hitch there that nobody realised. And that is after acquiring Portuguese passport, one could not work for the Goan government as the person becomes a foreigner in his own motherland.

Individuals with government employment in Goa undertook this exercise of opting for Portuguese citizenship while working for the government here, to facilitate their children to acquire the Portuguese passport and migrate to Europe for job opportunities were meagre here and also very less paying for the type of talent and educational qualification our youth have achieved.

Everything was fine till the time politicians muddled the issue for their own benefit. The very first instance was when defeated Benaulim candidate Valanka Alemao daughter of Churchill Alemao raked up Caitu D’silva’s nationality as Portuguese citizens simply because he won the 2012 Assembly elections against her. In turn Caitu unearthed Churchill Alemao’s nationality. Sadly both the cases are gathering dust in the courts of Law in Goa.

To add fuel to fire, Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco who had an axe to grind with Superintendent of Police Allan D’sa produced documents indicating that the latter was a foreigner working as a high ranking police officer in Goa.

Mickky had an axe to grind against D’sa as he refused to dance to the Legislators tune and had put Nuvem MLA’s pet police inspector Edwin Colaco on a tight leash.

As SP D’sa was battling the controversy, one RTI activists produced documents showing that PI Edwin Colaco had also registered his birth in Portugal. With this the can of worms finally spilled out. Large number of government servants in all its departments had registered their birth in Portugal. Some to settle in Portugal or England after superannuation or to facilitate their children to secure gainful employment in these countries.

Union government realized it and maintained a status quo. However it was upon the Judiciary to interpret and decide, whether mere registering birth or thereafter marriage amounted to being a Portuguese citizen. The Indian judiciary was found wanting in this matter.

Very soon Caitu D’silva who was elected as Benaulim MLA will complete his term of five years but the judiciary is still saddled with the matter. After his term is over Valanka Alemao’s case against Caitu becomes infractuous as she had demanded that he be disqualified for obtaining ‘Bilhete de Indentidade’ and ‘Cartao de Cidadao’.

It will be a different issue altogether if he tries to contest election again as all those who have registered their birth and marriage in Portugal will have to show their Indian citizenship and not origin of birth.

It was the sole responsibility of the Judiciary to decide whether just obtaining ‘Bilhete de Indentidade’ and ‘Cartao de Cidadao’, amounts to being a foreigner in his country of birth or origin. This is still being debated and the answer to this complex issue still fluttering in the wilderness.

Then came along Remo Fernandes, Goa’s prized political singer besides tiartists and 2012 Assembly Election mascot. Till this very year, Remo was kept on high pedestal by Goans of every hue. Fearless social activists, corruption crusader and one man army against the government advocate Aires Rodrigues, who sought out International pop star in his crosshair for allegedly abusing and threatening a minor girl over whom his (Remo’s) son had driven his car. As the debate over Remo’s visiting the girl in Goa Medical College was raging, adv. Aires dropped a bomb that stunned most Goans. He claimed that Remo Fernandes had attained Portuguese citizenship and that he was no longer a Goan.

From here on the war became murkier with one advocate from Margao Rajeev Gomes representing Remo claimed that his learned colleague Aires Rodrigues was also a Portuguese citizen and had also stayed in Portuguese way back in 1987 and that his birth and marriage was also registered in Portugal. An FIR was lodged against Aires by controversial Colva panch member Calvert Gonsalves who is also being represented by adv. Gomes. Allegedly this duo adv. Rajeev and Calvert have even lodged a complaint with the Bar Council of Maharashtra to suspend Aires license to practice Law in Goa.

Not a person to take things lying down, adv. Aires posted documents to indicate that adv. Rajeev Gomes had his birth also registered in Portugal in 2010 along with that of his son. Subsequently, an FIR under Citizenship Act was also registered against Rajeev

This was the pits when two advocates get personal and point fingers at each other over Portuguese citizenship. One could argue that layman working in government service did not realize the implication of obtaining Portuguese passport but can the advocates be excused for being ignorant the law or were they transgressing, contravening or flaunting the Law to continue practicing in Goa.

This ugly duel brought to the fore some sought of stigma attached to procuring or obtaining Portuguese passport. If an individual ups his ante against the government or local self bodies or that matter against any wrong-doing, immediately his citizenship is scrutinized to find out whether he has attained Portuguese nationality. If so the protesting Goans is targeted and branded as being a foreigner is his own land.

Acquiring, procuring and obtaining Portuguese citizenship by Goans is merely a matter of compulsion for better quality of life and job opportunities but it does not mean that all the Goan who have opted for Portugal citizenship have lost their love for Goa. Deep in the recesses of heart they still love Goa but circumstances have forced them to change their nationality.

 

 

Chef’s Salad

Chef's Salad - By Nisser Dias

Capsicums/Peppers of different colours

Cucumbers

Carrots

Baby Corn

Ham

Cheese block

Olives.

Preparations

Wash all the vegetables and cut it in long strips.

Carrots strips should be steamed.

Seeds of Cucumbers should be removed.

Ham should be slightly fried and cut in longs strips also.

Cheese block should also cut into strips.

Placement

Take a flat salad plate preferably round and place one colour of capsicum in a tapering manner from the centre of the plate. In between two colours of capsicum place other items.

Drop full Olives in the middle.

Wrap in clean film and refrigerate the salad

Before serving garnish it with salt, pepper, thyme, basil and onion powder.

 

"With schemes come the schemers, I'm against govt. funding of films" - Bardroy of Nachom-ia Kumpasar’ fame

BARDROY BARRETO, the first Oscar entrant with a Konkani cinema ‘Nachom-ia Kumpasar’, speaks his mind for the first time in an interview to SANDESH PRABHUDESAI, Editor of goanews.com

Bardroy has suddenly become a talk of the town with his Konkani musical getting shortlisted for Oscars in two categories, after ‘Nachom-ia Kumpasar’ winning three national awards. The Konkani film industry was also surprised with his debut feature film going houseful even after one year, including the 1064-seater Ravindra Bhavan in Margao. The film is simply rocking all over the world, bagging six awards at four international film festivals. Goans simply loved all the 20 songs composed by Chris Perry and sung by Lorna.

Through the songs unfolds the fictional love story. The film critics appreciated the filmmaking from all the angles – music, background music, direction and even the production design.

After premiering it in Doha-Qatar on 28 November and in Margao, Goa on 4 December, 2014 the film is still attracting houseful crowds in Margao and Panjim.

Sandesh:- How many shows more and what is the present count?

Bardroy:- Well, we are nearing 100 shows at Ravindra Bhavan in Margao, with a capacity of 1064 while in Panjim, we have crossed 300 mark at 234-seater Maquinez Palace. We also had 14 screenings in UK, 4 in Kuwait, also in Doha-Qatar, Muscat, Bahrain and Dubai. In March, we are moving to Canada. We identify honest people abroad to organise and then screen. That takes little time. The ticket rate is same everywhere, India or abroad. But we have still not reached even 30% of Konkani community. We still have a long way to go.

Sandesh:- But why no screening in theatres?

Bardroy:- Because theatres run your shows only for a few weeks. With this experiment, we have been running NK for over a year now, with every show going houseful. It would run for at least two more years. Isn’t that a better formula?

Sandesh:- Everybody is asking for a DVD…

Bardroy:- I know, but it will take time. If this film makes money, there is hope for others. We are yet to come out with a music CD of the film. It’s getting mastered abroad. 

Sandesh:- What is the strength of your film?

Bardroy:- Music, honesty and simplicity.

Sandesh:- But you also bagged a national award for production design.

Bardroy:- I think my professional background of making advertising films helped me. I am quite comfortable in making stories in 10 to 45 seconds. You need to be meticulous and focus on detailing. But to make this feature film, I had to learn its chemistry. I worked for 20 days with my brother Glenn, who makes feature films and TV serials, to learn how to make a long film.

Sandesh:- NK is not an intellectual film, in fact a very simple film. Not a festival film, not even worth getting an award. The awards came as a surprise for us.

Is the issue between you and Lorna over?

Bardroy:- There never was an issue. Like we are eager to show her the film, she too is eager to watch it. But she has been travelling continuously and we are still trying. Feelers have been sent from both the sides.

Bardroy Barreto

Some people may be interested only in negativity, but our approach was always positive. We celebrated the songs, didn’t go into personal lives of Chris Perry and Lorna. It’s a fictional account of their rumoured life. With the film getting accolades from all over the world, I believe there would be peace now. We have not passed any judgement either on her or him. We have managed to maintain that balance.

Sandesh:- How much has been the final costing now, including marketing?

Bardroy:- We spent nearly Rs 4.50 crores on the filmmaking. But practically nothing on marketing. We spend on newspaper advertisements only to inform the viewers about our shows, not to market it.

Sandesh:- Yours is perhaps the first attempt in Konkani films to raise the budget through crowd funding from around 100 people. Why did you think of it and how did you manage to play this wonder?

Bardroy:- Actually it is not crowd funding in its strictest sense. When we started thinking about funds, the first attempt was made through the Goan corporates. My partner Angelo came down to Goa and practically met each and every prominent corporate house with a proposal. Not a single one responded. They were interested in making only Hindi films. As a result, he returned empty handed to Mumbai.

That is the time the thought struck our mind. Why go begging to the unknown? Let’s talk to our own family and friends. The response was encouraging. We raised Rs. 80 lakh within 10 days. Some of it just with a phone call. The fund raising was not through any public appeal or through social media, but the people whom we knew or our family and friends trust us. I tell you, we actually had Rs 1.25 crore when we started shooting.

Sandesh:- But is it true that you put ceiling on contributions?

Bardroy:- Yes. Because we have to pay back. What if the film flops? We didn’t want to run away. Some people in fact offered to contribute Rs. 50 and 60 lakhs. But we said, No, not a single rupee beyond Rs. five lakhs. While collecting funds, we always remembered one thing. They are the investors and they need the money more than us. With this simple and practical philosophy, we raised Rs 1.25 crore in-house and Rs 2.75 from outside.

Sandesh:- Have you paid back?

Bardroy:- Just finished the first round of disbursal. It’s on pro rata basis, based on ratio of investment. Major amount was paid first. In fact every six months we are paying. The loan burden is still there. Not yet reached a break-even point.

Sandesh:- Is Konkani films worth investing in? Because every film won’t click like NK and get so many awards…?

Bardroy:- Award was never our priority, it was secondary. The main motto was to give back to the people what we owe as artists. NK is not an intellectual film, in fact a very simple film. Not a festival film, not even worth getting an award. The awards came as a surprise for us. It’s a story told in a simple manner; but with love and details.

Sandesh:- Can a five-crore Konkani film be commercially viable?

Bardroy:- May be too much. But a film made within a budget of Rs 2.5 to 3 crore should be safe to recover.

Sandesh:- Do you think government funding will help produce more Konkani films?

Bardroy:- I don’t think so. In fact I am dead against government funding. I see some films which start with a photograph of the Chief Minister and thanking the Government. Whether CM likes it or not is a different issue. But thanking the CM is the first step of compromise. You cannot dedicate it for the right cause. In that sense, government scheme of financial assistance is not the right solution in long term.

Instead, government should create eco-system for the films to be released. Get all other Ravindra Bhavans and such government auditoriums equipped to screen the films so that filmmakers can showcase their films and the venues could also sustain it with the film revenue. That would be a much bigger favour the government could do to promote films.

Sandesh:- You mean to say proper infrastructure is more important than financing making of a film?

Bardroy:- Right, that’s all we need. That will encourage more right thinking people to do the films. You see, the moment there are schemes, there are schemers. I have been watching discussions on this issue in the film forums. But I don’t think financial scheme is the solution.

Sandesh:- But you could make a film because you are based in Mumbai. Goans have always excelled in Mumbai. It is the place to learn. What do you think is needed in Goa to learn and excel without going to Mumbai or anywhere else?

Bardroy:- Again there is discussion in the forum that certain percentage of Goan artists should be there to consider a film Goan. I don’t think we have reached the stage to claim percentage. First of all there is no film culture developed in Goa. What percentage are you talking about? Though I live in Mumbai, my voting and ration card is still in Canacona. I made the film for the love of Goa, not for money. I can make money if I work for few days in a year in Mumbai.  Advertising is a highly paid profession. I gave it up for four years to make this film, put my energies into it with a sole intention to give something back to your own state. If people look at me as an outsider, it’s unfair.

Sandesh:- People have to struggle. There is no other short cut. In Mumbai, anyone can challenge you. You need to work under that pressure.

What prospects do you foresee in young talent entering Konkani films?

Bardroy:- I think NK has managed to change the perception that Konkani films are not watched by majority Goans. Even after one year, while reaching out to only 30% of Goan audience, NK is still going houseful. There is a slight surge with more people watching Konkani films and making it commercially successful. I watched ‘Nirmon’ and ‘Hanv Tum Tum Hanv’, I am yet to watch ‘Enemy’ and ‘Home Sweet Home.’ I feel these young filmmakers have raised the standard of Konkani films. Ramprasad Adpaikar, director of ‘Hanv Tum Tum Hanv’ is a young talent and the whole team is young. They have made the film honestly. I met Miransha Naik and his team, who have made the film ‘Juze’. They are very honest, humble and equally talented. These young boys are the future of Konkani cinema. 

Sandesh:- But what about the young filmmakers who cannot afford to go outside Goa but want to make a film in Goa? Don’t you think Goa needs a Film Institute now?

Bardroy:- I don’t think it is about affording, but struggling. Even we struggled. People have to step out, because it’s a collaborative field. There is no other short cut. I met a young cinematographer. He has done fantastic work, no doubt. But I told him you are doing it in a comfort zone. You have to be thrown to the line. Because in Mumbai, anyone can challenge you. You need to work under that pressure. You have to develop that temperament. Merely having a film institute in Goa will not help. There has to be culture. You have to collaborate with the people who know the craft. I don’t think you can learn it, being in Goa.

Sandesh:- The last question. What after Nachom-ia Kumpasar?

Bardroy:- Definitely there will be another film. I’ll start writing it now. The era from 1974 to 1985 always fascinates me. I want to address that era. A story will be set into it. I don’t know what it would be. Goa has not documented the past. To arrive at contemporary Goa, there should be at least two more films I would need to do it based on the past. Many people are doing films about contemporary Goa. I need not worry about it. I may go backward also, in the history. These films should help future generations to refer to. If I do that, I think I could achieve something what I set out to do and entertain the people.

Stuffed Mushrooms



What you require:-

Stuffed Mushrooms

Medium size mushrooms

Bunch of fresh spinach

Butter

Cheese spread

Eggs

Bread crumbs



How to prepare filling:-



Wash crisp spinach leaves with hand under running water.

Remove the mid-rib from the leaves. Cut the leaves into half inch long fine strips.

Salt them for few minutes. Then dip and remove the spinach strips in boiled water.

Melt required butter in a pan and drop the boiled spinach strips into it. Also add a spoonful or two of cheese spread to butter spinach.

Beat the required number of eggs in a bowl. Add a little extra salt.

Keep bread crumbs ready in another plate or bowl.

Wash mushrooms thoroughly and dab dry them with kitchen towels. Sprinkle salt on the mushrooms and start filling them.

(Do not sprinkle salt on mushrooms and keep them as they turn brown). Break the stem of the mushroom and add the filling in hollow of the mushroom. Place the stem back and poke a toothpick to keep it in place.

Holding the toothpick, dip into the egg and then cover it with bread crumbs.

Once five to six are done, deep fry them.

Serve hot with either Tartar sauce or any dip sauce.

 

Dress code for Carnaval 2016, the Tourism minister must be joking

Yes, you have read and heard it right, the tainted and painted Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar has decided to introduce a dress code for 2016 carnival. And his logic is to stop vulgarity.

It is sheer height of ignorance of this minister who has travelled the globe at taxpayers cost and not learnt the meaning of carnival. Carnival means a festive season of merry-making, feasting, masquerading wearing unusual clothes and dancing. It is simply fun and frolic usually held in the streets of villages, towns or cities three days before Lent.

‘Carni’ also stands for carnivorous and ‘Val’ denotes festival. Hence it translates into Christians before going into 40 days of Lenten season could enjoy meats. And from ‘Ash Wednesday’ observe fast and abstinence of meats.

I doubt if the Tourism Minister Parulekar has any knowledge of this aspect of carnival. But by his stupid plan to introduce dress code, he has taken half the charm out of carnival.

Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar

So also by his order he has over-ruled the decree of King Momo who is supposed to be the ruler for the three days of carnival. King Momo before setting on his entourage declares the carnival open and passes his decree to eat, drink and make merry during his three day rule.”

Parulekar has not spelled out what he means by vulgar. Does that mean when men dance wearing women clothes? Does it curtail women and girls wearing short outfits or does it prohibit display of cleavage?

The ministers in the BJP government be it their own Dilip Parulekar or MGP PWD minister Sudin Dhavlikar seems to have some sort of complex. This Dhavlikar had sought to ban wearing bikini on the beaches. It seems like these men are skewed in their heads to the extent that they act like perverts themselves.

Instead of making observations of who is wearing what or adopting a stance of deciding for the women what they should wear is an insult to the fairer sex itself. Clothed or nude nobody has the right to molest, abuse, violate or rape women. Goa would be better off if these two ministers channelize their energies in providing safety to women.

Keeping our women safe from prowlers and rapists. Three years old toddlers are being raped, 6 years old children are being raped, 60 years old women are being raped. Is it because they were scantily dressed? No, it is because of the perverted minds of men who look at fairer sex as an object of pleasure.

The governments and its ministers should try to change the mindset of perverted men through education, reformatory measures or punishment. The government has to protect girls from eve-teasers, molesters, etc. Dress code or no dress code these perverted men flock to such revelry with one motive and that is to lay their hands on women.

Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar instead of enforcing dress code should use the police to be stringent with male revellers from passing vulgar comments, cat-calls  For using the excuse of applying talcum to molest girls. It would have been much better for PWD minister Sudin Dhavlikar to urge his government to act against those Indian men who ogle at women wearing bikinis at the beach instead of trying to stop women from wearing what they want.

It would have been prudent on the part the Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar to put warning notices all over the carnival parade grounds warning men of abusing festive mood to molest or violate the fairer sex.

Basically what these two ministers in the BJP government want to do in the long run is to stop western culture. But Sudin Dhavlikar and Dilip Parulekar are not ready to lead by example.

It is an open challenge to these two ‘montris’ to first shed their foreign underwears and instead wear ‘kashti’ (loin cloth). Then to discard their trousers and shirts and wear dhoti or lungi and sleeveless banyan (singlet) or kurta.

And if they cannot do that then they have no right to tell our womenfolk what to wear.

Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS, whatsapp to 9422437029)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make Coconut Tree your Valentine

On Valentine’s Day, celebrated universally on February 14, a charitable trust in Goa has invited people to make coconut trees their valentine, to innovatively protest against the state government’s controversial decision to officially de-recognise the coconut palm as a tree.

Picture captured at dawn at Benaulim -- By Nisser Dias

 Armando Gonsalves, who is part of the Goa For Giving trust, told IANS that apart from celebrating the coconut tree for its multiple uses and its significance to Goa’s cultural identity, a unique photo contest is being organised in which lovers and married couples were invited to hug coconut trees.

“Valentine’s Day is a befitting day to respond to this draconian law which the Goa assembly passed on January 14, to de-recognise the coconut palm as a tree.

The ‘Coconut Love, Coconut Valentine’ photo contest is just one of the initiatives we have planned for the day,” Gonsalves said. The photo contest has three categories — the first one for lovers who can post a photo hugging a coconut tree, and the second for married couples.

“Those who don’t have a Valentine, can make the coconut tree their valentine for the day, hug the tree and send us the photos. That is the third category. It is the duty of every Goan to protect the coconut tree and protest against the law which goes against the interests of Goa,” Gonsalves said.

 On January 14, the Goa government amended the Goa, Daman and Diu Protection of Trees Act, 1984, dropping the coconut palm from the official list of trees.

 The amendment attracted a lot of criticism from the opposition, coalition partners of the ruling BJP as well as from the civil society, both in India and abroad.

While critics insist that the amendment was pushed by real estate and commercial interests, Forest and Environment Minister Rajendra Arlekar defended the amendment saying the law was amended to benefit coconut farmers to cut old and non productive palms without having to undergo bureaucratic delays.

 On February 14, civil society activists will publicly hug trees at two locations along the national highway-17, where nearly two dozen coconut palms have been earmarked for felling.

“Subsequently, we have organised another event on the same day where food, music, which will accompany a cultural show involving songs and music about the coconut tree,” Gonsalves said.

Prajal Sakhardande of History-Heritage Action Group said they have also organised a ‘Coconut Valentine party’ at Zeebop at Utorda beach.

“There will be music, coconut art on display by Shalini Gaude, sweets made of coconut by Sufala Gaitonde, tender coconut stalls etc”, he said.

In addition, they announced that Adarsh Toraskar will be organizing Coconut Valentine programme in Ponda.

It would include two events - a painting competition for kids and a cookery competition for women, with coconut as the main ingredient.

Curtorim MLA Alex Reginald Lourenco at the press meet appealed to all the coconut-loving Goans to celebrate this year’s valentine in a similar creative manner, to protest against the government’s decision in a typical Goenkar style.

E-mail a picture also to me at nisserdias@gmail.com and see it on this blog

'Goa Forward' has got to get its priorities right before 2017 Assembly election.

By Nisser Dias

Yet another regional party has formed and christened as ‘Goa Forward’. And just like any other political party, be it National or Regional, promises made are galore but are hardly fulfilled at the end of the term. The captains make us believe them that they will us the heaven but we always end up deeper in hell.

Goa Forward too does not seem to inspire the confidence of the people at large and one cannot pander the sentiments of Goans and coconut trees and win elections. At the onset there are ideological differences among the three driving forces namely Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte and Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal behind the fledgling party.

Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai

How can the Goans even think of aligning with Sawal when as recently as this year wanted to move a Private member’s Bill in Assembly seeking official status to Marathi on par with Konkani.



Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte

Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal

How can Goan voters even entertain such thoughts. It is like this Independent legislator wants to enjoy the status as an MLA of Goa but his heart and soul is in Maharashtra.

Otherwise too, it seems that a casual approach has been adopted during the formation of the party. Credible personality like Prabhakar Timble have soiled his hands being a part of political outfit as he could not convincingly answer the barrage of questions posed to him by journalists.

His fumbled while answering some of the most important issues facing Goa today. For example he said, “The party is also in the process of preparing a detailed agenda on industry, service sector, tourism, solid waste management, agriculture, education, health, housing, real estate, governance, women and youth empowerment”.

The promoters of the party should have first discussed, debated, set their policy right and then publicly announce floating of a new party. When there is no clear line of thought or agenda for such important sectors, can the voters of Goa surrender the future fate of Goa with ‘Goa Forward’?

Party President Prabhakar Timble



Then we have issues like construction of airport at Mopa. This is major concern today as the State is being divided horizontally, North Goa and South Goa which is not very healthy trend.

Then we are being divided on basis of religion or the Medium of Instruction issue. Yes, Professor Timble has said that the party has constituted a 10-member committee of experts to study the issue of Medium of Instruction scientifically rather than politically, which would be ready by 15 February. In his own words. “the whole issue is caught up between the child studying in mother tongue and the freedom of choice of the parent. The UNESCO has also changed its stand recently”.

Parents needed a concrete stand on this issue from “Goa Forward”. Being an academician, much concise statement was expected. Such a loose statement have been made by politicians from the BJP and Congress but when it comes to endorsing through amendment, legislation most of the politicians and political party tend to either distance themselves or allow the confusion to continue. Statement such as these, compromises Prabhakar Timble position.

Education and Health are considered to be the focal point of any governance because these two sectors are directly connected with the younger generation and population and both are in bad shape. Neither the Congress nor the BJP could give it the requisite direction and hence both the sectors are in doldrums.

I have already discussed part of the mess Education sector in Goa is facing, the other part is syllabus which urgently requires to be overhauled to suit modern times. For example students are made to learn history of Poland which is unnecessary and in the bargain India’s or Goa’s history is not given importance. Large portion of Geography has become obsolete but we continue to teach our students the same old geography which must have been written 50 years ago.

Coming to Health sector, government run hospitals are in a pathetic state. Goa Medical College (GMC) itself has chronic cancer due to negligence of the successive governments. Hospicio in Margao is not fit for animals to be housed and similar is the case with most of our primary health centres. I can easily state that the BJP has paid the least attention to Health sector and allowed it to be terminally ill.

The District Hospital at Fatorda which was started during Congress regime by former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat at the cost of hundred of crores of rupees was totally neglected by the BJP government. ‘Goa Forward’ has not spelt out its views on the health sector.

Basically, ‘Goa Forward’ as a political outfit is a brain-child of Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai has created a space for itself on the political canvas of Goa but fell short of spelling out the party’s views for the public that is looking forward for drastic change in socio-political scenario.

The press conference by Prabhakar Timble did not really ignite that burst of confidence in the voters as he was not very convincing. At the same time his comments that Shah Commission which recommended recovery of Rs. 35,000cr. from mining companies is not a judicial authority and that no judicial authority has passed any  order to recover the amount has created doubts in the minds of the voters about the personal motives and agendas of all the three MLAs backing the nascent political outfit.

Back of their mind, the voters know that ‘Goa Forward’ is a Vijay driven and Prabhakar Timble is just the Front. All over the State, Fatorda legislator’s rating are seen as the highest as he has been the sole Opposition to the BJP with Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco coming to close second. Of course Reginaldo has to carry the Congress baggage along, so to some extent he had to restrain himself as he knows the mess created by his own party during its rule.

At the same time we should also not forget that excellent Opposition Leaders do not make excellent Chief Ministers or rulers. Manohar Parrikar is an apt example of it.

That besides the point, undoubtedly ‘Goa Forward’ has got a head-start with all their flaws but as day closes-in for the election 2017, they have lot of spade-work to do to build the voter’s trust.

I can imagine that BJP will be in full force to tarnish the image of Vijay Sardessai. That he built his residence amidst agricultural property, that he sold land in Goa to outsiders. He should be ready with retorts.

But more than that ‘Goa Forward’ should put its head together on issues that are dogging Goa and come out with solution that is appealing to the majority of Goan population irrespective of caste, religion and political affiliation.

Such consensus cannot be done sitting in air-conditioned boardrooms, hotel lounges or suites and closed-door consultation. This has to be done at the ground level, interacting with people under the sun, by observing the views of the public, learning the aspiration of the parents and being the part of the solution and not the problem.

If Vijay Sardessai along with ‘Goa Forward’ can undertake such an exercise and feel the pulse of every section of the society, than this nascent party has my vote.

Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS, whatsapp to 9422437029)