News Clips from Goa
 

The Emergence Of A New Goan Identity http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4977093,prtpage-1.cms TNN 6 September 2009, 04:30am IST Goa is undergoing drastic demographic changes, the consequences of which a majority of Goans have not realized. When Goa was liberated in 1961, its population was just six lakh. Today the state's population has more than doubled that. As per the 2001 census, Goa has a population of 14.5 lakh. What is surprising is that almost 40% of this population consists of people who have come from other parts of the country and settled in the state. There are some people who migrated to Goa over 30 years back and have made Goa their second home. They have contributed to Goa's development in different ways and at the same time earned their livelihood. In spite of this, they are often branded as "voile", "bhaile", "ghantti" or "non-Goans". After the Liberation of Goa from the dictatorship of the Portuguese, the walls between Goa and the rest of India were demolished and we Goans became part and parcel of our motherland India. Liberated Goa witnessed tremendous development in all fields. Social, educational, economic and cultural development took off at a fast pace. In the recent past, Goa has often been adjudged as one of the best states in the country. There is no doubt that development is always accompanied by numerous adverse issues. One of these that cropped up in Goa was the influx of non-Goans, which continues still. Today the number of non-Goans in Goa has increased to such an extent that it poses a threat to the preservation of the social and cultural ethos of Goans. At the same time, on the other hand, Goa needs these people. It is, hence, a sort of dilemma that the Goan community faces today. When I look at the non-Goans issue in Goa, I classify them into four categories. Those who work in government and private offices or who have established businesses. They have constructed their own houses in Goa. Their children have taken birth in Goa and pursue their education in Goa. In order to preserve their identity they have organized themselves into associations. Hence, we have Andhra, Kerela, Kolkota and Gujarati associations in Goa. Their aim is to promote and preserve their parent state's culture among their children. A second type of non-Goan living in Goa is the one engaged in construction works. These people normally are illiterate or semi-literate and work mostly on daily wages. Construction of roads, bridges, buildings is solely dependent on these people. The so-called development of Goa, through the public or private sector, cannot move ahead an inch if these people do not contribute their services. Another type of non-Goans are those who help Goans in their domestic and traditional works. Domestic works like gardening, plumbing, painting, carpentry in Goa today are taken care of by them. Traditional occupations of Goans like agriculture, fishing and bakery and confectionery have also been taken over by them. Mind you, this is not a complaint. In fact, there are no Goans to handle such works, and for me, these people are here to support us in our smooth daily living. A fourth type of non-Goan is those who have established themselves as small vendors of flowers, fruits, vegetables and other assorted items in bazaars, markets and other public places. One of the most perplexing aspects of our lives is that when we Goans deal with these people we do not communicate with them in Konkani, which is the mother tongue of Goans. On the contrary, we converse with them in Hindi, in which they are fluent. I remember, in the late 1960s, Goans agitated to send back government officers and other staff who were brought to Goa on deputation from Maharashtra by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) which was then governing the state. The United Goans Party (UGP) was in the opposition. There were hardly a few hundreds of staff on deputation at that time, but the agitation had taken place because there was an apprehension in the minds of Goans that they were being denied government jobs due to the presence of those on deputation. The agitation was successful. The then MGP government had to send these people back to Maharashtra. Today there are over four lakh non-Goans in Goa and Goans do not complain, leave aside organizing agitations against them. This is because the non-Goans living in Goa today do not deny Goans of their jobs. On the contrary they help Goans by doing jobs that are not touched by the so-called "Niz Goykar". It is also realized that they serve the Goan community. If this is the reality, calling them "voile", "bhaile" and "gantthi" does not make sense. As they have become a part of the Goan community serving it in many waysI think we should consider them as "New Goans". However, one important question remains unanswered in my mind. If the trend continues and the influx of non-Goans into Goa persists, 10 to 15 years from now the number of non-Goans will surpass "Niz Goykars" in the state of Goa. They preserve and promote their regional and linguistic culture among their children whereas we, the so called "Niz Goykar", instead of making use of our mother tongue communicate with them in their language. If so, what will happen to the culture, language and Goan Identity in times to come? There is an urgent need to unearth answers to this question. Powered by Indiatimes

Decreased farming worries Goa Church http://www.indiancatholic.in/news/storydetails.php/13178-1-1-Decreased-farming-worries Some Catholic priests in Goa have expressed concern as more people in this western Indian state are giving up agriculture for desk jobs. “This is the price we are paying for unplanned urbanization,” laments Father Francis Caldeira, Goa and Daman archdiocese spokesperson, referring to disappearance of traditional brown rice from Goan dining tables. Many Goans say they now have to eat white rice. “I know white rice is less nutritious and healthy, but where can we get brown rice?” asked Milagrina Braganza, a Catholic woman. Although the Church has not issued any official directive on the issue, several parish priests have voiced concern on the declining farming activity in the state. On Aug. 24, on the occasion of the harvest festival, Father Miguel Pereira, parish priest of St. Mathew’s Church, Azossim, asked those involved in agriculture to raise hands. Just six among the 300-odd people raised hands and the priest wondered what had happened to the village where 90 percent of its people were engaged in agriculture a decade ago. “In the past, the entire family used to be in the field and there was a mutual exchange of family labor, where one family would not only work in their own field, but also in the neighbor’s,” the priest recalled. Now, people “grumble” since they have to hire labors. The youth prefer either to migrate overseas to make quick money or opt for desk jobs, Father Pereira regretted. On Aug. 15, when Colvale’s St. Francis de Assisi Church celebrated the harvest feast, parish priest Father Savio D’Souza was forced to bless the leaves of rice paddy as the corn had not yet formed as scanty rains had delayed cultivation. The priest blamed people’s diminishing faith for scanty rains. “We ought to have faith, so that God sends us rain in time, so that the harvest is in time,” he told the assembly. Goa is among several Indian states experiencing irregular rainfall this year. The federal government has already declared 177 of India’s 620 districts as drought hit. The worst-hit is rice cultivation, Father D’Souza noted. “Let us pray with faith for adequate rainfall so that whatever little paddy is seen existing in the fields yield the desired fruits,” he added. According to Father Caldeira, “the sorry state of affairs” arose because of lack of encouragement to the agriculture sector and the negative attitude to labor among the youth. “Many feel ashamed to work in fields in their village, but do not mind doing menial jobs overseas,” the Church official noted. The priest wondered whether the government subsidies meant for farmers actually reach the right persons. Realtors also add to decline in agriculture, Father Caldeira said. “Real estate mafia deliberately render fertile paddy fields fallow, by proxies interested in pisci-culture,” he said. Once the fields become saline with seawater they remain uncultivable for years. The realtors then apply for construction projects in those fields. Father Feroz Fernandes, who edits Vavraddeancho Ixxt (Worker’s Friend), a Konkani weekly, says realtors harass land owners with encroachments and thefts of usufructs. Many have sold off whatever land remained to get rid of the head ache,” he added. Courtesy : CathNewsIndia

Govt thrust to encourage reading habit in Goa http://www.villagetinto.in/news/govt-thrust-encourage-reading-habit-goa-412 By: Village Tinto Panjim will see a modern central library in 4 to 5 months. Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat made this announcement while inaugurating an e-library in Margao. Emphasising the need to strengthen the library movement in the state, Kamat said people should be made aware of the library facilities so that the infrastructure is used by students, children and adults to enrich their knowledge. “There’s a need to inculcate reading habits amongst the younger generation, who are switching over to watching TV serials”, he said, adding that he takes time off even today to go through books to enrich my knowledge. In a bid to encourage the reading habit among children, primary schools in the state were asked to establish reading corners. Education dept officials have asked the schools to access the programme. The Goa Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (GSSA), had urged primary schools in the state to establish reading corners during the academic year 2008-09. According to the guidelines, the reading corner display books containing bold and big letters to attract students to pick them up. These books are to be replaced regularly. Schools also have to display wallpapers which are either of readymade material or of material created by students. The GSSA officials will be monitoring the schools to assess the programme and whether teachers involve themselves in promoting the reading corner. Submitted by Gasper Dsouza on Mon, 07/09/2009 - 1:55pm. As children spend more time with computer games, the reading habit has taken a beating. I hope the "modern" library facility will include digital works and facilites for accessing e-books over the Internet. This will go a long way in facilitating the reading habit when more and more households are connected to broadband in Goa. So if the readers do not come to the library, the library should go to the readers.

Paddy fields turn over a new leaf with rains The revived onslaught of the monsoon has spelt good news for the State as it has virtually given a new life to paddy cultivation and more importantly the main dams have shown resurgence – a positive sign for supply of potable water. The second phase of the monsoon has brought much-needed respite to the farmers, who have been anxious about their crops following a partial dry spell last month, are ecstatic in particular. [H]

Rains result in water logging of low – lying areas of Panaji Goa received over 97.6 mm of rain during the last 24 hours resulting in water logging in low – lying areas of Panaji and other places. The capital city on Thursday witnessed heavy showers during most parts of the day and as such traffic moved at a slow pace due to the poor visibility. Goa has received a total of 2310.9 mm of rain this monsoon so far and is facing a marginal deficit of about 50 mm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed. [NT]

Goa’s handicrafts on display at Greek fair Goa’s stall at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair in Greece got off to a rousing start on Saturday 5 September. It is a part of the Indian Pavilion at the fair. The Goa stall drew large crowds. Goa Handicrafts Rural Small Scale Industries Development Corp (GHRSSIDC) MD Nikhil Desai said the handicrafts were being purchased by Greek art lovers. [H]

Air India offers low fares from US Air India is offering low, low fares for flights from New York's JFK airport or Newark to cities across India, including Goa. Round-trip fares to Goa cost between $339 and $433 (Rs16,300 to Rs21,000), depending on the departure date. [H]

Women play vital role in nurturing healthy families: Naik The Minister for Women and Child Development, Mr Ravi Naik heaped praises on women for the important role played by them in nurturing healthy families and a healthy society. Comparing women with potters, he said, as a potter gives beautiful and attractive shapes to clay, women, in the role of mother, sister and daughter, infuse culture, health and education in children and make them capable of doing big things. [NT]

Sea link project State wants Rs 1000 cr, Centre will help Chief Minister Digambar Kamat yesterday said that the Planning Commission had assured the government of financial and technical assistance for the ambitious Dona Paula – Vasco Sealink, provided it is linked to the National Highway – 17. The government has sought financial assistance of Rs 1000 crore for the project. [GT]

MANDO BOOK TO BE RELEASED ON SEPT. 5 A well documented prestigious Mando book , a compilation of rare engravings depicting "Ancient Goa's" cultural aspect and historic journey, coupled with poetic songs composed and harmonised by our ansestors and compiled by Shri C. M. Estibeiro will be released at the hands of Shri Tomazinho Cardozo, President of Tiatr Academy, Goa in the presence of Fr. Domnic Alvares, Nephew of late C. Alvares at Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa on Septemebr 6, 2009 at 12.00 noon. [Joel D'Souza]

Incessant rains posing threat to Arecanut yield The cloudy weather and incessant rains in the last two days has posed a threat to the 4,300 – odd arecanut farmers registered with the agriculture department in Ponda. Heavy rains have led to the Arecanuts prematurely dropping from the palms. Ponda taluka has the largest number of farmers who cultivate Arecanuts in the state and this lot is presently worried about the yield. [NT]