GRA should be given a fair chance to evolve. It is made up of well intentioned NGO`s and is also a newly formed organisation, that wishes to act as a WATCHDOG for Goa.It covers various subjects that affects Goa, its Citizens and its development and above all its future. Such organisations are required to keep the Government "in Check”. It is not the MLA`s that own Goa. It is "we", the people that own it and have a part to play in it.
I am quite sure many Goans would like to offer their support in whatever little way they can. The need for funding has been vehemently discussed on earlier forums. There has been a lot of hot, critical and acidic debate on this.
I am sure if all legitimate avenues of donations and funding are in place, there will be willing volunteers. It has become quite obvious here on discussions that Donors should not seek "Self Publicity" or "Shaming" of others for the amounts of Donations they have pledged. Donations or funding should not be a "Public Contest" or "Personal Vendetta". It demeans the ethos of giving. We should only give what we can truly afford and is within our means.
Many of us go to Church, Temples and Mosques, where we give money / alms for the benefit of our weaker segments of Society or charitable causes. However, I have never ever heard anyone coming out of these religious Institutions shouting how much they donated, at the collection bags or boxes."
Anyone that chooses or insists ,on displaying the amount of Donations they have made, and insisting too, that it should be displayed in "NEON LIGHTS", must suffer from an inferior complex or has an ignoble motive.
It is also my personal belief , that for GRA to succeed, it needs to make its presence felt at village level.
There is nothing wrong about asking / inviting Villagers to come to a Grand meeting at a central location.However this method causes many logistical problems and is unlikely to touch the hearts of people.Once again I must state I am not being critical,purely objective.
I am sure that many well intentioned people would have liked to have attended the Azad Maidan meeting held recently.However as it was on a weekday / working day/ schoolday, it would only attract a few people, due to their work commitments.Nevertheless it was a good start. I am sure the GRA will go through a learning curve and in due course appeal to the masses.
I am sure that even if GRA fails as a a collection of Organisations, it will still exist as NGO`s.This is where, we should see it as a "FAILSAFE" organisation. The NGO`s have been pursuing their activities for a long time now and have, to a great extent become a force to reckon with. Hence we should offer GRA our support in whatever way we can.
Yes we need to support the GRA movement as it is young and just born it will take some time for them, yes they have to create more awarness and I was happy with the first meeting there was almost 6000 people. I was also attending the meeting. I am from cortalim 63 yrs old and we were renovating our church and lot of donations plus lottery coupons were done, the Parish Priest read all the names and amount donated every sunday mass, so I think there is no much harm in that as this give oppurtunity for others to donate. Look this site is run by Menino de Valpoi and he has put all his details in it, can we call this publicity? No he deserve it, he is taking lot of trouble in doing this and by putting his name and address is 100% correct, we have to appreciate his efforts. We call ouself Goans and we write, we talk, we comment but when the time comes we are afraid to give some contribution for the sake of motherland. We go for tours, we drink alcohol and go for party's and big parties on weekends, but to contribute we lack behind, can't we give something for the cause instead of doing this? or we are just here to taunt others?
ReplyDeleteLet us forget this at the moment as the writer said N. Fernandes we have to agree with him that we have to support GRA, we have to help them in our contribution & morally this is our hope. The GRA must be zero balance in the coffers and its responsibility of every Goan to contribute if small or big and also try to attend the meetings. The people of Cortalim voted for Mauvin, Mathany but they could not meet our demands, so I hope GRA will put a candidate in Cortalim. We have Sharda Rathod and now Yatin Parekh non goans as the Sarpanch and Chairman of the municipality, where is goan blood we are just fighting with ourself and the 3rd person takes the advantage. This are only my thoughts it is not critism for others.
To Goeanchoazo:::Firstly , welcome to the Niz Goenkar site, and also thank you for replying to my article, most kindly, with your views . It is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to commend you and your co-Parishoners and the good Residents of Cortalim for assisting, in raising funds for beautification of your Parish Church.
I have made many donations for my Parish Church in Goa, but I have never "demanded" or "insisted" or made it a "condition" that my name must be announced.Neither have I used, other "Implied" or "devious" methods, to do so.
If the Priest wishes to thank me or other Parishioners publicly at Sunday Mass , then that is purely an appreciation by the Church and is acceptable.The Priest has not been forced to do this.He has done it purely as his duty, and, out of common courtesy and decency.
What I feel uncomfortable with , is when an individual or person goes around the village, blowing his horn /trumpet and telling everybody how much he has donated. It is worse when it is done, with such arrogance, to belittle you or make you feel "SMALL", unimportant and useless.
Donations , I hope you will agree, must be made voluntarily and there should not be a price tag / label on it.
Many Current and very corrupt MLA`s practice this method of self-service , to enhance their electoral chances.
Pick up any Goan newspaper and there are pages of self felicitations .Churchill is the King of this practice.
He is also known to pay his so called friends to take out adverts in newspapers in praise of himself and his daughter Valanka.This is one method Churchill uses to get noticed and respected.It is a demand.
Put in another context,even in Dubai, Churchills lackeys , parasites, foot kissers and arse lickers,are known to do this.No doubt these "few" Dubai Goans, do it, so as to benefit from corrupt benefits & favours when in Goa.
It must be remembered any donation given by Churchill , is done from the stolen and looted wealth that rightfully belongs to us Goans.He manipulates the PWD accounts to facilitate his criminal activity and for self-glory. These donations are proceeds from his criminal activity, which has been undertaken by his whole family from the date of his birth and before too.He has also imparted his criminal knowledge to his children( not in english medium??!!).
In conclusion, this method of publicity/ donation is done at National level and not just Local level.
As per my opinion, any individual contribute any amount should not be disclosed because it is within his/her reach. If someone can afford large amount and next person makes a small contribution in the discolsure section it makes a publicity and moreover it will hurt someone who contribute lesser amount. One can mention the names but not the amount and this mount to publicity. I am positively against on this type of publicity and this is my opinion.
ReplyDeleteBefore GRA puts its candidate let us know what demands you Goenchoazo has in his head. Also let all people know what demands Mauvin and Matanhy have not met. How many times did you personally met your previous MLAs ? Also let us know what is your contribution to make Cortalim a better place. Since elections are round the corner it will be better if you could name anybody who is fit to represent you in the Assembly. Mog Assundi.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Vincente.
ReplyDeleteDonating money should not be seen as a COMPETITIVE FINIANCIAL SPORT...but a GESTURE.
Thank you N Fernandes for clearing the air on this issue of money and support for GRA. I want the GRA to succeed. I do believe money can be useful to advertise and get the word out. It takes money to create banners, flyers, even advertise on tv etc. I hope that the GRA can utilize the youth of Goa to go door to door to encourage our people to think not only of the future of Goa but also their future in Goa. One can already see the 40 Chors see the GRA as a threat. It is time; our people shouldn't have to choose between, Congress and it's CHORs, and the BJP with its RSS sympathizes...........It is sad that we are loosing ground with non-Goans ruling over us. We have to act NOW!
ReplyDeleteMy hopes and my aspirations are with the GRA! OUR beautiful Goa has fallen into the wrong hands; it is time to take her back!....................In the words of Remo Fernandes, lets STOP the 'politicians who act like parents who rape and molest their own children'!
ReplyDeleteDonations by some individuals to religious institutions are projectd by the concerned priests as if money order send by God from heaven via electronic transfer? The donors are showered praises for days and nights on the alter. And this is done intentionally as a favor or to create publicity to the individual whos is either a politician or musclemen. This publicity then is used to gain votes either for panchayat elections or otherwise. After a well know fact that the money donated by the individual is not his own as he has got no known source of income or was neither born rich.
ReplyDeleteMoral of the comment: Some criminals, looters donate money to wipe out ill fame and sins? I know a certain incident where a poor lady turned rich Sarpanch of the village enmassed huge wealth in three years, donated Rs. One lakh to the Church and was hailed, praised and even feciliated for the deed.
Another property broker who ruined so many families in Goa by creating forgeries and selling their land also donated Rs. two lakhs for the same Chruch, he too was made the Chief of Fabrica, hailed with praises by the same priest. So, when we donate a part of our loot to God's institutions, does it mean we share the reward of God back to God?
Donations for social causes should not be for the sake of publicity but if one is interested to know, he should approach the concerned authorities and cleanse his thoughts.
Hi Dalia::: I agree with you , that many Politicians and also very corrupt individuals, make donations to the Church out of ill-gotten money, thinking it will absolve them of their sins and promote them as social "do-gooders".
ReplyDeleteWhen money is earned the "HARD WAY", it is usually spent cautiously and considerately.
When money is earned the easy way, and notably by corrupt or fraudelent ways it is spent to cover up the crime.
Chief architect of such fraudelent and corrupt income is the Churchill family.
In the Goa Legislature on the 23rd March 2011, Churchill`s corruption was highlighted by another MLA.
Here below is the article published on Herald....
Damu demands inquiry into PWD functioning
HERALD REPORTER
Damu demands inquiry into PWD functioning
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MARCH 23
BJP legislator Damu Naik today demanded special inquiry by agencies like CBI into the functioning of Public Works Department (PWD), which is plagued with financial misappropriation and corruption.
“There is immense corruption in the department. The common man who pays the taxes wants to know how his money is being spent,” Naik quipped speaking on the cut motion on the floor of the house.
“The agencies can be either CBI or CID. But there is need to check the functioning of PWD,” he demanded.
The BJP legislator took Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao head-on in the House tabling a letter by Navelim Block Congress Committee, which had alleged large-scale scam in the department.
“I am not saying this. BJP is not saying this. Your own Navelim Block Congress is accusing you of a scam. They say that the department is corrupt,” Naik said showing the letter.
Without naming anyone, Naik said that a Bangalore-based doctor acting as a commission agent frequents Goa and strikes deals related to PWD.
“He stays in five star hotels and returns with bags containing crores of rupees,” he said.
Naik offered to quit from the politics, if PWD Minister Churchill Alemao proves that he had notified the distribution of tanks scheme, prior to the actual distribution.
“I will quit the politics, if you prove that notification existed on March 17 when the issue was raised in the assembly,” the BJP legislator said adding that Alemao was going around on Tuesday getting signature of Chief Secretary on the note to formulate the scheme.
Alemao, last week had claimed before the State Legislative Assembly that he has already notified the scheme related to distribution of water tanks. He had further assured to table on the floor of the House.
When politicians make donation be it churches and village clubs it comes with a price tag attached to it.They will not give donations to charitable organizations as there is nothing to reap from them. With GRA in the fore front Goans could see a new beginning in Goa. But they alone cannot do it without the support of every willing Goa.
ReplyDelete