Movement against Bhumiputra Bill takes shape in Loutolim

Margao: The movement ‘Goa against Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill’ started on Sunday with a largely attended public meeting in Loutolim, addressed by activists from across the state.

Villagers of Loutolim and its surrounding areas collectively demanded that the government immediately scrap the Bhumiputra Bill, claiming that it is an ‘election jumla’ and a ‘vote bank’ move.

Activist Kennedy Alfonso said the movement will be taken to every village in the next two months to make the people aware of the ill-effects of the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill and added that the panchayats will be urged to pass resolutions opposing the bill. “We will force the legislators to scrap the bill during the next assembly session. Goans can change things and this has happened in the past,” he said.

Activist and historian Prajal Sakhardande said, “We need to stand united as ‘goemkars’ and this is our true religion. Let us oppose this bill. Every voice needs to be heard. We all must oppose this bill because it will finish us. The government is trying to hit the last nail in the coffin of Goa by introducing this bill. We do not want any negotiation and we have not come for it, with one voice we demand scrapping of the bill,” he said.

Hridaynath Shirodkar said land issues have still not been resolved by successive governments in Goa. “Bhumiputra is the one in whose blood there is Goa. A person staying in Goa for 30 years cannot be Bhumiputra. Today the government is trying to divide us as goemkars and migrants. The politicians have realised that Goans would not vote for them and, therefore, they are wooing migrants with such a bill. There are in all 13 different laws related to Goa land and these laws are enough to protect Goa,” he said.

President of South Goa communidades Franky Monteiro said the Goa Land Prohibition of Construction Act was passed in 1995 to protect land and in 2013 it was amended, increasing the penalty. “The government, instead of implementing this law to punish persons constructing illegal structures, is trying to gift these people with this bill (Bhumiputra Bill),” he said. 

Another speaker Zarina D’Cunha, who was armed with information obtained under the Right to Information Act (RTI), said the Bhumiputra Bill has been hurriedly passed in the House without following the due procedures. Rama Kankonkar said the politicians are using the divide and rule policy.

Loutolim village panchayat sarpanch Tony Vaz said the bill will affect the people of Loutolim. Ramiro Mascarenhas urged villagers to attend the gram sabha scheduled to be held on September 5 in large numbers to oppose the bill.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Camorlim sarpanch Basilio Fernandes, Gina Pereira, Vishwesh Prabhu, Ganpat Zarmekar and Harichandra Gaude.

Assolda villagers oppose Bhumiputra Bill

Curchorem: Coming out strongly against the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, villagers of Assolda in Quepem taluka on Sunday unanimously opposed the bill during a gram sabha held in the panchayat hall.

When the villagers were asked to put forth their views regarding the bill, all the villagers unanimously expressed their opposition to the bill dubbing it as an anti-Goan bill. Urging the panchayats authorities to keep them informed about any further development on the bill, the villagers said they oppose it tooth and nail.

The meet was chaired by sarpanch Lata Raut Dessai. Deputy sarpanch Sushant Naik was also present at the gram sabha along with the panchayat members. Filza Fernandes was an observer on behalf of the Quepem block development office (BDO), while secretary Lucia Luis was also present.

Speaking to media persons after the gram sabha, panch member Manoj Naik said the villagers have developed a misunderstanding with regard to the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill. “They feel that if this bill becomes a law, then the non-Goans will get a right over the land occupied by them in Goa. However, their feelings and suggestions will be conveyed to the higher authorities,” he said.

Meanwhile, to a question raised during the gram sabha on the bad condition of the main Curchorem-Margao road via Chandor, it was informed that the work regarding reconstruction of the road has already been tendered and that it is expected to be completed by November.

With regard to a query on irregular public transport, the villagers were informed that the required correspondence in that regard will be made to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) authorities.

Villagers from Sattari say sons of soil will benefit

Valpoi: Hundreds of villagers across the Sattari taluka on Sunday came out in support of the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, stating that it will benefit the sons of the soil.

The Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill was passed recently by the state government along with a host of other bills, even as opposition MLAs staged a walkout demanding that the bills be referred to a select committee and not passed in haste.

The bill provides ‘son of the soil’ status to a person residing in Goa for at least 30 years. It provides for a mechanism to give ownership right to self-occupied dweller of a small housing unit to enable him to live with dignity and self-respect and exercise his right to life.

At a public meeting held at Kanekar hall in Valpoi, many speakers expressed their views and extended support to the bill while vowing to turn up in large numbers if the need arises. The villagers slammed successive governments for their failure to resolve the long pending issue of land ownership rights through land reforms. Villagers demanded that the government take immediate measures to resolve the issue of ownership rights pertaining to their land, which has been classified as Alvara, Gavthan, Mokashdari, Kumeri and forest land.

Social activist Ranjit Rane said, “Villagers of Sattari are the sole owners of the land since our ancestors have this land in their possession before formation of any government and now we are the legal heirs of this property. No government has the right to revoke our ownership right.”

Speaking in the context of the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, Rane said a few people with vested political interest have been opposing the bill without a cause. “We are thankful to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for bringing the bill, which will be a remarkable beginning for obtaining our land ownership rights,” said Rane, who mocked the elected representatives of Sattari for not paying any heed to the demand of the people pertaining to land rights.

Ganpat Gaonkar said most of the houses in panchayat and municipal areas are considered illegal, as these houses were built illegally either on government or Alvara land. “Though they are regularising by giving an affidavit in which owners state that he/she will demolish the house if authorities find any illegality, except a few, most of our dwellings are illegal and can be demolished if any complaint arises related to the house constructed,” said Gaonkar.

He further said that the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill provides for a mechanism to give ownership right to self-occupied dwellers of small housing units to enable them to live with dignity. “This bill is perfect for our Sattari and we will support the decision of the government. There may be some amendment needed. Those opposing the bill should give suggestions instead of merely opposing it,” said Gaonkar.

Another speaker Rama Melekar also extended full support to the bill and said the government should exclude cultivable land from the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, de-notify boundaries and transfer land rights to the cultivators.

Rajesh Gaonkar explained the importance of the bill with respect to the Sattari region and asked people to support the bill by raising their hands.

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