GOAN PUBLIC IS HELPLESS AND YET NO ALTERNATIVE TO CHOOSE by Goenkar Poilo

We are all aware and victims ourselves of the mess in Goa, especially since this last decade. Last 4 years has been even worse, the assembly proceedings are a farce played by both the CM and the Opposition. Opposition makes noise, CM assures....matters forgotten, its a shame!!!!

The public is helpless, and yet we do not have an alternative to choose. We plan them for taking money and voting, but trust me the day we have a strong plan Goa alternative, people will rally towards the alternative. The fact is that there are corrupt amongst us, but I don’t believe that their number is more thant 20%, perhaps 30% max, so we need to unify the rest of 70% who right now are helpless. There is no honest alternative that would address the regional aspirations of us Goans. the GRA has been born at the right time, the first meeting can be termed a success with the turn out, but what will happen next? I believe there are enough smart people working on strategies. Permit me to share some thoughts which you all may use in pieces or reject as there may be better ideas on table.

As we go about organizing new meetings across Goa, let us make it a point to give the crowd direction/next steps to achieving an end Goal- a better Goa, safe guarding Goans. The public looks up for direction, however mighty someone may be we all look up to someone for guidance, that is human nature, so we need to provide the public clear options in simple, honest terms. What would this direction be? It would be in terms of showing a clear vision for the GRA. the GBA was like a group of smart leaders who asked the public to join the ship for war, the public joined in large numbers...set sail at night...in the pitch of darkness the leaders took the only raft on the ship and came back ashore, leaving the public to direct the ship, a recipe for failure. What we need is a vision organization backed by the masses and it must be a permanent watch guard for Goa, that will last a 100 years if not more.

1. Define the ideology/core values/vision document for GRA

Some of us know this know this, but would be good to put it in writing, which will help in communication over the next few months, locally, print media/electronic media.

2. Define the organizational structure.

A key to succeed is to have a right organizational structure, that is sustainable, democratic and is not hijacked by individuals as has been the case with regional parties. To this i was wondering if we can study and replicate cadre based organizations like the Rotary/rotract club through its chapters organization by each city, their structure makes sure no single person is bigger than the organization.

The idea is to have village/town/city chapters (parisads), where all or as many villagers as possible could be members. Every two years there are elections to the chapter heads of the village, based on the population of the village, let there be say 1 chapter head for every 200 people, so a village with 800 people could have 4 chapter heads, one with 2000 people could have 10. These chapter heads are like senators or Panchayat members. To stand for elections a member has to declare his/her vision- for the village, for Goa, declare assets and character certificate.

Now all these village/city heads come under a taluka head, so we will have 11 taluka heads, these will be the governing body of the GRA. These taluka head could be directly elected by the members of GRA, every two years. Let there be no concept of nominations.

3.Membership Drive

Having 1 and 2 defined, lets begin our campaign at the village level, let us organize sunday gram sabha type events, through the church and temple gatherings, and spread the message and in parallel sign up members, from this point we build our membership. Our goal should be to have 2 hundred thousand(lacs) Goan members. Moment we have this, people will listen, the good and the bad, all will listen to our demands, which will be all about Goa. Let every member have an identity card, which will be used for GRA elections.

4. Organization Elections

Once we have a membership base, by October, we should hold the first village/city heads and taluka heads elections. Let this lead to lively debates(like the american primary system) where candidates have 2-3 debates through a gram sabha/town hall. No personal attacks, the debates are focused on solving problems, values and integrity and vision for the village and Goa. 11 taluka heads nominate a member amongst them to lead the GRA for 2 years(fixed). the President puts all resolutions to voting by the taluka head, if there is a tie, only then the president casts his or her vote.

5. Citizen's Council

We should also have a citizens council will could be of a defined strength which would include 2 year terms of reputed citizens who have excelled in their field of profession. These would guide the GRA is addressing Goa's needs. IT would have environmentalists, doctors, architects, ex-judges/lawyers, professors and economists. One of each category would be enough, and it should not be too large. each nominated member has a fixed 3 year term. This council could be put in place right away.

6. Define future/political role of GRA

At this stage, let the entire elected council decide what the GRA should be, just a Goa centric non-political organization? Will it be sustainable or will it collapse without political power? Strange but it might fail without power. One approach for the council could be to float a party affiliated to it, or to be the party itself. In this case the candidates for each constituency would need to file nominations(to the taluka heads), go through the same electoral process of debatings and elections by GRA members. the Member that wins the nomination by >50% votes(not simple majority) gets the party symbol. the fact of the matter is that we will need a regional party to save Goa and it would be the GRA's responsibility and opportunity to provide that alternative. the other parties are terminally ill and its time to forget them and not trust them again, ever!

7. Funding

Once we get through stage 3 or 4, funding will start pouring in from locals and NRGs who would be happiest to see this progress and would contribute. Such a meritocratic system will not need alot of funds as the members would have their own professions and the GRA would not be their profession, so the GRA funding would be to cover election costs and run office works, which could be restricted for a few lakhs a year, and we could have an annual fund raising, locally and at various overseas goan organizations.

My two cents, in all humility of for the love and posterity of my beautiful Goa!