Quick thinking: depiction of the death of demonetized currency notes

Youth of Varca depicted the demonetization of currency notes of Rs. 1000 and Rs. 500 through the traditional old man on the last day of the year 2016.

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Interesting tag lines on election banners in Benaulim constituency -- By Nisser Dias

Elections 2017 are fast approaching but the fever is yet to catch up. Nonetheless candidates, probable’s, aspirants are going all out to catch the eyeballs of the voters.

Of the banners that are fluttering in the space, among the coconut trees et al makes interesting reading. In some cases like Calangute the banners bring aspirants to blows with each other, elsewhere the tag lines are either punchy or meant to take a dig at the opponent otherwise it is simply to take the voters for a ride for another five years.

While the situation in Benaulim assembly constituency is simmering with Congress yet to declare its candidate, so far the battle of banners is between the Goa Vikas Party MLA Caetano Silva (Caitu), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Churchill Alemao and Royla Fernandes for Aam Admi Party (AAP).

AAP was the first party to put up banners in the constituency with a tag line ‘Vote for honest politics’. Then came NCP candidate with its banners with various punch lines like ‘Leader of masses’, ‘Man of masses’, ‘Let’s develop Benaulim constituency together’ and ‘Let’s transform Benaulim into a model constituency’.

Some days back GVP MLA Caitu Silva’s banners have appeared in the constituency which proclaims, ‘For continuation of peace and development’. The MLA’s banner neither speaks of the party he is going to represent nor whether he is going to go it alone as independent. Not to forget that he actively supported the BJP government in the state.

Various people have reacted to these tag lines in more or less predictably, Ganciano Colaco said, “AAP is contesting in Goa for the first time so it does not carry any baggage of corruption. Secondly it brings is some options and choice and their candidate Royla is educated and brings in freshness unlike others in the race, so their tag line sounds fine. About the other tag lines less said it better because constituents know about it”.

Another voter compared Churchill Alemao to a brand that has lost its shelf life, “only when the sale of a particular product starts dipping then they have use all sorts of gimmicks to keep people hooked to the product”. “Churchill was like a top brand before where he had voters eating out of his hand, but over the years people have become wiser of his tricks as he has made politics his career and only source of money said, Saturnino Rodgriues.

“Churchill’s banners say that “Let’s transform or develop Benaulim, I wonder what he was doing all the tenures we elected him from Benaulim constituency”. “Then why should Benaulim people vote for a person who was put in Colvale jail for his alleged involvement in Louis Berger scam”? questioned Joaquim Dias.

Another constituent when asked to comment on the banner put up by sitting MLA questioned about the development, “the incomplete bridge connecting Benaulim and Sinquetim initiated by Churchill Alemao was stalled by MLA Caitu Silva, today it is monumental proof of lack of development, then underground cabling, water enhancement under Jica was again passed during Churchill but he is taking the credit, the main road was done up because of BRICS summit but internal road which were dug continue to be in bad shape, is this called development”.

However and constituent F. Furtado begged to differ and said many of internal road has been laid with pre-mix carpet during the last five year term.

Yet another voter who preferred to by anonymous said, “the current MLA on his own has not brought in any development but has remained faithful to the ruling party and now wants to distance itself from BJP to garner votes from the minority community”.

The dark face of demonetisation -- By Fr. Victor Ferrao.

In a time of demonetisation, we seem to have slumped into a new moral low.  There are several anecdotal reports that are doing rounds that are pointing to this fact.   Forced to queue up to lay our hands on the rationing of our own money, we are compelled to face the prospects of uncertainty overriding the quantity of cash available for us in the banks. This uncertainty triggers a feeling of discomfort, that rings in a fear of being left without the share of our money and we seem to have become insensitive and blind to what happens to persons who is queuing up next to us. There are few instances, where some among us have failed to reach out to ailing persons who were stuck by the weight of the stress of demonetisation.  Some persons have even died due to the apathy of the bystanders. The less cash condition induced by demonetisation appears to have unleashed deep seated insecurities among us and rendered us incapable of compassion.  It has become difficult to stand up for the plight of the poor.

Seized cash

Those who dare to voice the concerns of the poor have been dammed as those who stand with the corrupt. The innocent victims of corruption today are themselves bundled as corrupt. It is amazing that we are anaesthetized and numbed to such an extent that we are unable to distinguish between the corruption and its victims. Demonetisation has effectively blurred the boundaries between corruption and its innocent victims. The victims have begun to look corrupt.   

Right from its origin, demonetisation has become an operation that challenged the innocent to prove their innocence. With several among us going gaga over the so called surgical strike against black money, it has become difficult to interrogate this highly irresponsible act of our Government. The propaganda that accompanied it, dressed it as an action in the interest of our country.  Moreover, it is narrated as pro-poor. We were told that it is an issue of short term pain and long term gain.  Initially, an impression that it was an action  against rich and super rich in our country gave the muscle to stomach the pain, but as time passed by, its poisonous fangs began to become visible among the poor. Now that almost all of the roaming cash in high denomination has returned to the Government coffers and there is no indication of the landfall gain in terms of black money, the cat is out of the bag. It might be apt to ask this difficult question: ‘where is the black money?´  The fact that the  Income tax officials have shown admirable urgency in nabbing the new black in the form of pink all over the country, also begs the question: what were they doing before demonetisation. They certainly did not require demonetisation per se to bring to book the black marketers.  What it only indicates that our impression that all of the black wealth exists as cash is indeed false. Hence, it might be right to say that what is positioned as war on black money is indeed a war on cash dependent poor of our country.        

The entire citizenry of our country, particularly the poor become black listed as hoarders of unaccountable money in one single master stroke.  Demonetisation has to be named for what it is. It is an anti-poor act of our Government. Even, before the 50 days time has lapsed, the banks have already begun to write-off loans from the supper rich. These huge loans are tabled as non-performing assets. This is an effective way of rewarding the defaulters of these loans. While the poor will have to explain, justify and legitimate every single rupee that they might have reported to the banks, the Government is turning nelson’s eyes to some 57 big loan defaulters, among who may stand who-is-who of our country’s big capital. We are not even told the names of these defaulters by the banks, because that is deemed as breach of confidentiality.  Not less than Rs. 1.8 lakh crores have already been gifted to these super rich as write-off or relief in the last three years.  Since the banks belonged to the public sector, that money which was gifted to defaulting super rich was our money. This means the super rich has got their share of money while the poor who were promised 15 lakhs from the share of  black money are still kept waiting in the cold.  This means the poor in our country are being looted to build ‘black capital’ of the super rich in our country.  We see no seizing of the assets of the defaulters among the big capital holders but the poor and small time businessmen are threatened with action of long hand of the law.   

Fr. Victor Ferrao

The law exists for the poor and not for the super rich. The poor have no right per se to have wealth. If they have some money, they have to explain it. The money in the possession of the poor is de facto illegal.  While this mode of thinking may look legitimate, does it not give a blanket cover to the super rich among us?  Does that mean all incomes of the super rich are white and that of the poor are black at birth? While the Government gives free pass to the big capital, the gate is slammed on the poor. There is no discernable action against the black money stashed abroad and even the names of these tax evaders are kept top secret. Certainly black wealth cannot be addressed by demonetisation without acting on the sources of this wealth creation.   We cannot put the burden of black wealth disproportionately on the poor of our country. This is exactly what is happening. It is almost a crime to be poor in our country.  That is why the mask that hides the dark face of demonetization has to be removed. Moreover, there is an uncritical celebration of digital transactions as a mode of fighting black economy.  Is that true?  Just recall Satyam scam. A lot of it involved creating fraudulent transactions using banks and other formal channels.  It is time to understand the dark side of demonetisation and its gains and losses. We need a public audit of this devastating decision of our Government.

 

To stand or not to stand who is to decide our patriotism -- Cleofato Almeida Coutinho

National flag and national anthem represents the soul and spirit of the nation. Citizens must honour national symbols but whipping up sentiments by chest thumping will only bring what could be called committed patriotism. Indians love their motherland. Their fervour for the Indian cricket team is an index of their emotional bond. At the local level ‘Força Goa’ had become the greatest brand.

 The recent interim order of the Supreme Court on standing up for the national anthem before screening of films has evoked strong reactions. The court held “citizens are duty bound to show respect to the national anthem which is the symbol of constitutional patriotism”. Soli Sorabjee, ex-AG of India during the NDA regime under A.B. Vajpayee has dubbed the order as ‘judicial authoritarianism’. Swaminathan Aiyar calls it an ‘unwarranted example of ultra nationalism’. I read somewhere that the court has stolen a march over right wing groups.

Coming at a time when populist nationalism is redrawing new boundaries in the ‘liberal’ and the ‘right’ world, this order is also welcomed by the right wingers. 

In 1986 two judge bench of the Supreme Court in the Bijoe Emmanuel v/s The State of Kerala upheld the right of Jehovah’s witnesses, constituting a religious denomination, not to ‘sing’ the national anthem on the ground of genuine conscientious religious objection. That judgment evoked a strong reaction and the then Prime Minister declared that the government would use legal and constitutional means to undo the damage. A writ petition seeking reconsideration by a constitutional bench did not find favour and Bijoe Emmanuel became a celebration level of our tolerance and diversity.

In 1986 the issue was ‘not standing up’ but ‘not singing’ the national anthem. The US District Court of Arizona (Sheldon v/s Fannin), in the matter of refusal to stand up when the national anthem was sung stated “this refusal to participate, even to the extent of standing, without singing is said to have been dictated by their religious beliefs”.

In India the question was whether they were protected by our constitution as much as the protection they have in America. It is in that context that our Supreme Court ruled “Art. 25 is an article of faith in the constitution, incorporated in recognition of the principle, that the real test of true democracy is the ability of even an insignificant minority to find its identity under the country’s constitution”.   

Honour for the nation and respect for national symbols cannot be extracted on peril of punishment. It is certainly a citizen’s duty to respect the national flag and the national anthem which represents the soul and spirit of the nation. The respect ought to be evolved by eulogizing the rich heritage, history and tradition of the nation. Use of force may work in a counter-productive manner.  History tells us that no amount of force can be used to build a patriotic citizenry. In America at the height of the Vietnam war the anti-war lobby started burning the U.S. flags. They were only attacking the fervour in favour of war, built through patriotic and nationalistic sentiments, in an attempt to suppress all forms of dissent against the war. The states’ laws, making flag burning a criminal offence were struck down by the Supreme Court (Texas V/s Johnson) on the ground of freedom of expression secured by the first amendment to the U.S. constitution. Thereafter, even the federal law called the Flag Protection Act 1968 passed by the U.S. Congress was struck down (United States v/s Eichman). U.S.A. has not been in a position to subject flag desecration, to freedom of expression by a constitutional amendment.

In our country the court verdicts reflect the socio-political atmosphere in the country.  The 1975 emergency period saw our highest court, not standing by the citizens at a time when they required it’s help. After emergency in a very liberal atmosphere, the country saw flowering of dissent. We had a number of judgments providing a new dimension to life and liberty.  2011 to 2014   were the years of accountability and in the atmosphere of holding the government accountable, came the verdicts on 2G, C.W.G., Coalgate etc. There is a perception that the highest court gets swayed not by constitutional values but by the socio- political atmosphere or by the government of the day.

We are at a time in history where politics and society is divided on Nationalism/Patriotism lines. Populist nationalism is now the defining characteristic of our times. Even an economic view on Prime  Minister’s demonetization move, puts one on either side of the nationalist line depending upon one’s view in the matter. Similarly the Supreme Court interim order on the national anthem has been welcomed and attacked depending upon which side of the political spectrum one is.

The interim order on the national anthem came in an atmosphere where dissent is taken to be against the nationalist line.  Vigilante groups have already started whipping up sentiments and started going overboard, attacking those who do not stand up. We cannot lose track of the fact that the respect for national flag and national anthem is in the same chapter which also seeks to promote scientific temper, humanism, spirit of enquiry and reform. That is the flavour of our constitution.

A citizen’s patriotism cannot be tested by making him stand up at purely entertainment places when even court proceedings do not start with the ‘Rashtra Geet’. Rogues cannot be treated as patriots just because they put up that façade. Do not forget, the ‘patriot’ (Chagan Bhujbal) who reintroduced the national anthem in cinema halls is in now in jail on charges of corruption.  

Humanity still exists in Goa in modern times. -- By Nisser Dias

“Whatsoever you do to the least of your brethren, you do unto to me” this is not only a biblical quote but what is practiced by a small group of business in Margao, who basically shy away from publicity and propaganda.

Feeding the poor and the destitute

This unassuming group has been providing lunch for hundreds of beggars every Sunday for the last 17 years. Their motive is to provide the destitute atleast a square meal during the week consisting of rice, dal and chicken.

Simon (does not even want his surname to be published) hit upon this novel plan based on the concept of the ‘American soup kitchen’ (A soup kitchen, meal centre, or food kitchen is a place where food is offered to the hungry for free or at a below market price. Frequently located in lower-income neighbourhoods, they are often staffed by volunteer organizations, such as church or community groups.)

Simon recounted that he put this plan in operation on Christmas Day in 1999 where he offered free lunch to around 10 beggars. From then on there was no looking back and this group has travelled a long way of 17 years to feed the poor every Sunday.

Recollecting his journey, this good Samaritan reminisces that he did not have a place and he requested Dr. Sincleta Rebello for premises who willingly asked him to use her two shops opposite Fatima High School to serve the starving within the vicinity of Margao.

Within weeks the word spread through the beggar grapevine about the free meal and the numbers started increasing and Simon started feeling space constraints.

He then approached Dr. Carmo Gracias who urged him to use the open space at his hospital including his garage where the free meal is currently being served.

Dr. Carmo has gone a step ahead to provide water, sink and washing space, cupboard for storing plates. Besides he also sponsors one meal every month.

Simon hesitatingly disclosed that every meal costs them Rs. 5000 and this is generated through the contribution of the group or whatever they receive from their customers and friends.

Volunteers serving the poor.

Interestingly most of the volunteers serving the meals every Sunday from 12.30 to 1.30pm to the destitute are contributors themselves. “We are in need of volunteers but they should come forward without any selfish and ulterior motive, then they are most welcome”, says Simon. He goes on to inform that is not a mere publicity exercise, “before serving them the meal we pray along them for the sponsors and their intentions”. “Some of the destitute get addicted to alcohol or substance because of problems at home we have detoxified some, counselled them and united them with their families”.

Nisser Dias

He goes on to add that detoxification process at Hospicio is little problematic for his group since as per the Hospicio procedures, besides the patient another person has to be present all the time by the bedside which is not feasible.

Undoubtedly, this is a fast world where one does not have time for others, wherein parents are being admitted in aged homes, families are fighting over properties, neighbours over boundaries but here is group of caring people subtracting relaxation time or time with their families to be with the poor and destitute to feed them thereby show-casing humility, humanity and indeed being human.

 

NGT exposes BJP govt's tearing hurry on various projects -- Jose Maria Miranda

Third bridge over Mandovi river

The Governments both at the Centre and this State are pursuing vigorously their agenda of all round development, promised by the BJP before the last elections. It is their avowed objective to showcase, before seeking a fresh mandate, as many projects as possible, whether necessary or not, properly executed or not. However, nothing can be farther from truth than the usual tirades of Goa Government of activists being anti-development. The proof against this canard is that the NGT has found reason with their appeals and stalled several projects because proper procedures have not been followed or ECs have been found faulty or not obtained. And this is what the activists and NGOs have been insisting upon. Instead of being remorseful of such serious lapses, people like Manohar Parrikar question the source of funds of NGOs for defraying massive Court expenses. This only confirms that this Government indulges in despotic and unscrupulous decisions in the hope that people will not resort to legal action due to heavy expenses involved, energies expended and tenacity needed. This attitude is shameful and highly reprehensible on the part of a responsible Government which ought to follow the rule of law and lead by example. Except during Emergency, the country did not have a more autocratic rule than the present one, where fascist tendencies are becoming more and more evident. In league with rich industrialists, the Government is trampling upon the rights of the people, particularly the poor and marginalized. Development is surely needed and the efforts in this direction of the party in power can be appreciated. However, stipulated procedures need to be followed, the affected people need to be taken into confidence and environmental and ecological concerns cannot be overlooked. These are generally given a go by, mostly because the motives are hidden and dishonest and the protests, if any, expected to fizzle out in no time. Faced with so many challenges in the Courts, be it on mining, Mandovi bridge, Mopa airport, Tiracol project, etc, where this Government has taken a beating, it ought to have sat up and introspected into its misadventures, but the brute majority it enjoys in the Legislatures, makes it bulldoze its way, unmindful of the consequences.

Areal view of land at Mopa where the airport is planned

One of this Government’s pet projects is the Mopa airport. Despite being unnecessary, financially unviable and likely to bring economic and environmental disaster to the State, the Government is pushing through the project in mighty hurry. I will not repeat what I have already pointed out earlier about the havoc being created at the site with destruction of human and animal habitat, water springs, etc. What is distressing is that despite three cases, one in the Apex Court regarding land acquisition and two in the National Green Tribunal, the Government is still going ahead with the project, perhaps banking on Court adjournments and eventual plea or claim of being a fait accompli. The NGT Pune, hearing petitions on Environment Clearance for Mopa, has adjourned the hearing till January, but has directed the Government not to disturb, till the next hearing, the Dhangar community, which has been residing on the plateau for centuries. The Government, eager to hurry with this unscrupulous project, was surely planning to rehabilitate the community elsewhere but now this attempt stands temporarily stalled. The possibility of the EC being rejected cannot also be excluded.

Though people notorious for their U turns, are assuring us that Dabolim will be retained, we are all aware that it is exactly these very people who will be instrumental in turning Dabolim airport into an exclusive Naval enclave. Let us not be naïve and let our past experiences serve us as warnings, particularly to the main stakeholders, like the owners of hotels, eating houses, shacks, taxis, etc. The recent spat between the Government and AAI over the so-called change of use of land sought for aviation allied activities, which included parking and construction of barracks for CISF is another attempt at throttling Dabolim, while giving the public the impression that it is otherwise. The plot is slopy, uneven and more than half a km from the airport, making it unsuitable for parking.

Jose Maria Miranda

Expressway was a pre-requisite for Mopa airport. Yet this Government never thought it fit to consult the people on such massive need of land. It was called a bypass but eventually, at break-neck speed, the 60mts. wide expressway is being bulldozed. It cuts across many villages with massive filling of fields, with resultant danger of flooding. Why such width is needed when Goans face shortage of land for housing is a relevant question to be asked particularly to the altar boys, who in their quest for tickets just nod their heads in approval of their masters’ diktats.

While GMR has won the bid to construct the airport, GVK refused to bid when they could not find satisfactory answers from the authorities to their queries. These were incidentally prompted by the caution letter sent to proposed bidders by Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO). A financial newspaper comments thus on GMR: “GMR Group has been struggling under the weight of heavy debt. With business interest in airports, energy and infrastructure, the Group has a consolidated debt of 39154 crores”.  However, Goa Government, which is itself heavily in debt, is helping GMR by building the approach road at an approximate cost of Rs. 600 crores. This construction which was originally to be done by the bidder is now being undertaken by the Govt. by loading this cost in passengers’ fares. Further 232 acres of land are being allotted to GMR for commercial activities. Such is the clout enjoyed by GMR which will eventually use it to close down Dabolim with active support of Navy.   

Let us not be taken for a ride on demonetization. -- By Fr. Victor Ferrao

Social engineering is another name of propaganda.  It governs our mind, forms our tastes, suggests ideas and influences our choices.  Experts say that a relatively small minority controls us.  They employ the psychology of control to psych us into submission. This small minority pulls ‘the wires’ that controls our mind and pushes us into an organized chaos.  We are living in a post-truth era.

There is no place for truth where a manipulated interpretation that poses as truth.  Somehow we have come to accept the mind control that is forced on us.  We seem to be acting out scripts written by others.  We are all being played at by some unknown forces.  This means our choices are engineered away from our needs.  If we understand how the elite wield control over our minds and produce our dependence, we will reclaim our power to resist it.  We will have second thoughts.   The elite remove or weaken the systems that create self reliance and feed the people on the fear of scarcity.  The method is very plain and simple.  Create an artificial crisis and then push people to legitimate a solution that the elite propose.  There are a several ways of removing self reliance from our people which subject them to dependency that will receive indoctrination without resistance. It is in this way that the elite manufacture consent of people and promote its interest that masks as the cause of the people. May be we can take the case of demonetization and its impact on us to understand the how propaganda has taken control over us.

What is interesting is that we seem to have become willing sheep to be herded into a flock even when the social engine that masks it’s propaganda  seem to have ruptured.  If we just reflect on the official discourse on demonetization, we shall get an insight into the dangers of organised chaos that steadily we are all placing ourselves. We are told that that demonetization will stop terror.

Just propaganda

The fact is terror seems to have a way of surprising us beyond demonetization.  We heard that the government’s action against black money will abolish all cross border fake currency, but quite ironically terrorists were found with new notes even before some of us had the opportunity to lay our hands on our own.  We are told that we are fighting black money in our country yet there is a remarkable silence over any action that will tackle the menace of black economy that funds our political parties.  This silence became even profound when we found that the first person to be caught with unaccounted cash in the form of the new notes is a politician from the ruling dispensation. The war on black money appears to be a fight against the poor. No black marketer is reported to have died. What we painfully hear is the death of tens of ordinary people who were standing in line to gain access to their own hard earned money. What is even more striking is that when the Party in Chief of the ruling alliance at the centre had declared its wealth whose sources are not known, we do not have the gall to view as black wealth. This ‘ill-gotten’ wealth amounted to nearly a whopping 505 crores.  But it did not count as black money when it is clearly an unaccounted wealth whose sources are suspect or unknown.  Even after all this, we seem to circum to a deception of a war on black money. 

Modi's new notes

The official discourse on the war on black money is dressed in a politico moral narrative. It has its compelling effect because it is routed through a nationalism that provides both legitimacy and a glimmer of hope for a better future.  But it appears that this glitter of the future has made us mindlessly unmindful of our present situation. The intoxicating slogan ‘present pain and future gain’ says it all. We seem to have already become inhabitants of the approaching golden future. It has taken an amazing hold over our mind. We are already held captives by the promise of the future. It gives us a sense of advancing into a golden future and makes us feel that our days of pain and hardship are numbered. The promise of the approaching corruption free India, gives us the strength to stomach all the hardship that the cash chaos has unleashed in our country. Even if the programme appears to be pathetically unplanned and mismanaged, we have the muscle to face it with sheer determination that is indeed admirable. The apparent mindless response of the masses is certainly engineered by the ruling elite. Our opinions and are choices are already designed. We uncritically embrace these manufactured options without a second thought.  Thus, for instance, we are already disposed to look favourably at the so called plastic money.  While its benefits towards moving into a corruption free society are highlighted, it vulnerabilities remain hidden. We are not told about the service charge, internet tariffs and host of other dues that we shall be paying for all our transactions. Besides, there are security issues of the e-wallet options as well as constrains of the unorganised sector whose services cannot be simple set aside.



Fr. Victor Ferrao

How are we to resist this organized and designer life? How are we to harness the critical resources of our society?   The killing of rationalists, the disempowering of the institutions of higher learning, the taming of our mass media seems to have already weakened the critical mass of our society. More than ever before, we need to nurture and cultivate a critical consciousness that would enable us to assess, resist and choose our responses. We can begin this long journey with a considered choice that responds to every stimulus that we receive. We cannot be just reacting to the stimulus. We need to offer a soundly reasoned response. Yes, we need to make room for a second thought on every issue. Quite literally the space for a second thought has to be fought and reclaimed. When we open ourselves to the second thought, we open ourselves to critical analysis. Besides, the second thought doubles up. It offers alternatives. We have a second, third or fourth option. That is why making room for the second thought becomes a viable response that will become antidote to those who are out to mono-culture, design and tailor our life to suit their own vested interests. It is a challenge to let the power of second thought became the way of our life.