EDITORIAL
The state has to think in futuristic terms to preserve its Asmitai
At last, the government organised a state-level function to celebrate the Opinion Poll day. Besides, several other programmes were held across the state yesterday as part of the Asmitai Dis celebrations.
In a positive move, the government announced plans to support and safeguard traditional occupations such as salt pan farming, toddy tapping and fishing. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the state government will soon implement a scheme for those practising traditional occupations. He also presented the “Kaushalya Mitra Card” to individuals engaged in traditional Goan occupations. The government has also come out with a salt-pan conservation policy. He said the government is committed to protect and support these traditional occupations.
The issue of Asmitai Dis celebrations also figured in the assembly on a private member’s resolution tabled by the Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao. He urged the government “to take steps to preserve Goa’s unique identity (Asmitai) that special uniqueness of Goan Communities as manifested in peaceful living, tolerance, harmony, liberal attitudes, mutual respect and mutual trust” and to protect Goa “rooted in its society, environment, rivers, hills, forests and wild life”. Several speakers called for concrete steps to not only promote Konkani but also protect hills, rivers, forests with a moratorium on land conversions. MLAs, cutting across party lines, resolved to protect Goa for future generations. The Opposition members demanded that the government come out with concrete steps to ensure that Goans do not feel marginalised in their own land.
The Chief Minister said his government has taken several steps to preserve the Asmitai of Goa and announced that Asmitai Dis will be celebrated by the government every year on January 16. He said it is important that the young generation knows about the history of 1967 when Goans voted to preserve its distinct identity. The last time Opinion Poll Day celebration was held in a big way was in 2018. Primarily it was organised under pressure from the alliance partner of BJP, the Goa Forward Party. BJP had only 14 MLAs then and was dependent on its allies to run the government. It is not clear why the governments over the years had not thought of celebrating the Opinion Poll day. Probably, as Goa is witnessing fast transformation and that huge tracts of land are being controlled by people from outside the state, there is apprehension, and manifestation is loud due to social media. This has resulted in the government coming under pressure to respect the people’s sentiments.
Yesterday, discussion was also held on another important issue – protection of khazan lands. Responding to a private member resolution moved by AAP MLA Cruz Silva, the Chief Minister announced that a Khazan board would be constituted soon for the protection and preservation of khazan agricultural lands in the state.
Similarly, the government will have to identify what requires to be protected and preserved for posterity. Not only the land, fields, hills, forest, rivers, water bodies but also the social fabric that existed for centuries has to be preserved. The government will also have to think of how to retain Goenkars within the state. It will have to draw a plan with the help of experts to identify what needs to be done to make the youth feel good to stay back in the state and keep Goa’s flag flying high. It is also important to make some serious efforts to involve Goans who are occupying high positions across the world to contribute to the growth story of the state. There needs to be better networking with the expat population. Trust has to be built. Goans, on their part, have to contribute and not blame the “corrupt system” all the time. Only then we can dream of a Goa where not only the environment is protected but Goemkar and Goemkarponn too.
