26th January 2008 may probably be a date that is probably not relevant to most readers. However, down the years the day may well be regarded as the turning point in the way villages in Goan are administered.
On this day, the villagers of Benaulim came together and decided that no mega projects would be allowed in the village. Several villages and their respective gram sabhas have followed suit.
Over the years, the irresponsible 'developments' in the villages have put a severe strain on the resources and the social structures of the villages. While huge buildings have sprouted in so many villages, the support infrastructure and resoruces have not kept pace. This has also led to a sharp increase in the mix of cultures in villages that till now had experienced a truly 'Goan' way of life.
However, is this really the best route? The lack of development and hence lack of opportunities in the first place is what has led to the huge migration of original Goans out of the villages in search of better work opportunities. Can the growth of Goan villages be artificially supressed only to cling on to our traditional ways of life?
1 comment:
Goan culture is much stronger than what majority of Goans think.It will not succumb to external influence. Meanwhile, we should catch up with modern developments and resultant change in life style. We are always over protective - sometimes abusive towards non Goan Indians as if they are villains destroying Goa by all means. Surprisingly, we don't even use word "non Goans" for foreigners (bias). I think we should be certainly careful about controlled development, but never rule out development just for the sake of opposition.Moreover, consider non Goan Indians as human beings and get some help from fellow Indian states like Gujrat where unemployment is negligible without disturbing ecosystem. goans in large number works on ships and foriegn land doing small jobs. I think time has come t0 try to create conducive environment in Goa itself, so that they can work in the motherland.
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