OHERALDOThe Voice of Goa Since 1900

Visit us at:www.oheraldo.in panjim, monday, oCTober 18, 2010 postal reg. no. Goa 101 priCe rs. 3.00 (air Surcharge rs 2.00) pages 18

IN BRIEF

A fools bolt is soon

shot.

Shakespeare

Inform all the builders that theirbuildings should be only green incolour. I will not compromise onGreen Goa.

Business: Pre-trading call

auction to start today Pg 12

India: Mallika in Murder 2, but

Emraan not happy Pg 9

Sports: Murray lifts Shanghai

Masters title Pg 18

Panasonic Presents

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, OCT 17

Cigarette puffing heroes andheroines and creative minds willhave to be wary this time whenthey light a smoke at Interna-tional Film Festival of India (IFFI)2010.

Goa Governments steeringcommittee has decided to keepa close watch on those violatingAnti-Tobacco Act during theforthcoming IFFI.

Police in plain clothes will beposted at the venue, who willtrack the violators and com-pound the fine, on the spot.

Directorate of Health Serv-ices State Level Steering Com-mittee on Tobacco Control inits recent meeting has decidedthat pamphlets would be dis-tributed along with delegate

cards to make IFFI visitors awareof No Smoking Zone.

They can walk out of prem-ises and smoke. We will notallow the law to be violated.More care will be taken at Inoxcourtyard and at Kala Academy,Dr Shekhar Salkar, member ofthe Steering Committee told

Herald.Dr Salkar, who is also General

Secretary of National Organisa-tion for Tobacco Eradication(NOTE), said that last time NOTEhad complained about coupleof cases involving film stars, whowere found smoking in the

cops to eye smoking at iFFi Notice to

casinoHERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, OCT 17

The State Level SteeringCommittee (SLSC) on tobaccocontrol has issued notice toan offshore casino, for vio-lating Anti Tobacco Act bypermitting smoking even inthe area where crche forchildren exists.

Sources stated that the no-tice was issued after a visitorto the ship, who did notwanted to be identified, com-plained to SLSC about therampant violation of Anti-To-bacco Act there.

The SLSC issued warning

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

VALPOI, OCT 17

Elaborate arrangements havebeen made to conduct free andfair by-election to Valpoi Assem-bly seat on Monday.

The elections officers, includ-ing presiding officers, havetaken possession of their re-spective booths in all the 31booths on Sunday evening. Be-sides, CISF Jawans were seenguarding the booths on Sunday.

According to Returning Offi-cer Jayant G Tari, voters will ex-ercise their franchise in all 31booths, 27 polling stations andfour auxiliary booths on Mondayfrom 8 am to 5 pm.

The Poll Monitoring System

(PMS) would be implementedfor the first time to avoid bogusvoting and to facilitate smoothconduct of poll.

The voters, if any, require as-sistance or guidance could availthe benefits from voters facili-tation centre, set up near eachof the booths.

When contacted, Valpoi PoliceInspector Sandesh Chodankarinformed that no poll-relatedcase has been registered till lateSunday evening and further saidthat intensive patrolling round-the-clock was on to monitor thesituation.

As per the situation prevail-ing till Sunday, poll would beconducted peacefully as far as

law and order situation is con-cerned, said PI Chodankar.

According to sources, a totalof 17,920 voters (male 9,107,female - 8,805, service voters -8) will exercise their franchiseand average number of votersper polling stations will be 663.

The polling stations are lo-cated at Nanus, Valpoi, Velus,Brahmakadmal i , Ambede,Dhave, Kodal, Kudse, Sanvor-dem, Kumtal, Velguem, Kho-tode , S i r sode , Gawane ,Shelmelaulim, Murmune, Guleli,Dhamshe, Savorshe, Bironde,Padeli, Vante and Advoi.

The maximum distance thevoters will have to travel to

Valpoi goes topoll toDay

Election staff carry electronic voting machines and other material amidst tight security at mamlatdaroffice, Valpoi. Photo by Ashraf Khan

PTI

NEW DELHI, OCT 17

Open war broke out betweenleading lights of the Common-wealth Games with SureshKalmadi hitting back at DelhiChief Minister Sheila Dikshittoday declaring he would notwant the Organising Committee,which he chaired, to be thescapegoats any more.

Kalmadis ire was promotedby Dikshits comments to PTIyesterday that the suspicionof corruption in the just con-cluded mega sporting event ison the Games Organising Com-mittee (OC).

The real corruption seemsto be with regard to the moneygiven as loans (to the OC), shesaid. Central Government hadgiven loans to the tune of Rs1,600 crore.

Slamming Dikshit, a belea-guered Kalmadi, said her asper-sions on corruption in the OCwere most disappointing anduncalled for and that she mustindulge in self-reflection on cor-ruption in her own depart-ments.

In a hard-hitting statement,Kalmadi said that keeping quietshould not be interpreted as asign of weakness.

But, on Dussehra day, I oweit to the Organising Committeethat we speak out. We dontwant to be the scapegoats any-more, he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila

Dikshits aspersions on corrup-tion in the Organising Commit-tee Commonwealth Games 2010Delhi are most disappointingand uncalled for. It is not rightto deflect and point fingers atothers when she must indulgein self-reflection on corruptionin her own departments,Kalmadi said.

He said the OC has alreadywelcomed the Prime Ministersdecision to set up a probe paneland hoped that the Terms ofReference of the Shunglu Com-mittee will include not just thescope of work undertaken bythe OC at a budget of Rs 1,620crore but also the Rs 16,000spent by the Delhi Government.

Look whostalking, says

Kalmadi

Dikshit gets it back

PTI

NEW DELHI, OCT 17

Towering effigies of demonKing Ravana, his son Meghnadand brother Kumbhakaranblazed and crackled in fierysplendour as Dussehra, sym-bolising the triumph of goodover evil, was celebrated acrossthe country with fanfare andtraditional fervour.

Amid beating of drums,devotees, dancing frenziedly,also bid farewell to GoddessDurga as she returned to her

celestial abode.As the skies darkened, the

fire crackers-stuffed effigies,dotting grounds and openspaces in villages and towns,went up in flames amid deaf-ening sound.

Fire crackers lit up the skiesand crowds burst into cheersas the effigies went up inflames on Vijayadashmi, mark-ing the slaying of demon kingRavana by Lord Rama.

Dussehra, which also marksthe end of scorching summer

and heralding of winter, is pre-ceded by nine auspicious daysof Navaratri during which devo-tees pray, fast and feast.

Ramlilas, vivid enactmentsfrom the life of Lord Rama,were staged in large parts ofthe country during the ninedays preceding the festival.

In Delhi, Prime Minister Man-mohan Singh and Congresspresident Sonia Gandhi wereamong the dignitaries whowatched the evil going up insmoke at the Ramlila Maidan.

Fanfare marks Dussehra

Effigies of Ravana, Meghnad & Kumbhakaran burning on the occasion of Dussehra celebration atMohrabadi grounds in Ranchi on Sunday.

Thackerays grandson

enters politicsPTI

MUMBAI, OCT 17

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thack-eray tonight introduced hisgrandson Aditya into politics byanointing him as the head of itsyouth wing at a Dussehra rallywhich also witnessed three gen-erations of Thackerays sharingthe podium.

Handing over a sword toAditya to encourage him in hisnew endeavourYuva Sena, the83-year-old Thackeray at thesame time said he does not be-lieve in dynasty politics in theSena. 20-year-old Aditya, whois making his first major publicappearance, is Sena ExecutivePresident Uddhav Thackeraysson.

I never brought Uddhav inSena. He was made executivepresident by Krishnakunj per-son (official residence of his es-tranged nephew and MNS chiefRaj Thackeray). In fact, I opposedit, but all the party functionariesaccepted Uddhavs leadership,he said.

Indias largest IPO opens todayState-run Coal Indias $3.5 bil-lion dollar initial public offering(IPO), the biggest in the historyof corporate India, will open onMonday at a price band of Rs225-245 a share. (Agencies)

Geelani re-electedHurriyat chief Hardline separatist leaderSyed Ali Shah Geelani hasbeen re-elected as the chair-man of his faction of the Hur-riyat Conference for the thirdconsecutive 3-year term. Geelani was elected to thepost unopposed during a Ma-jlis-e-Shoura (advisory council)meeting in Srinagar on Satur-day, a Hurriyat spokesmansaid on Sunday. (Agencies)

Dikshits aspersions oncorruption in the OC aremost disappointing anduncalled for. She mustindulge in self-reflectionon corruption in her owndepartments.

Suresh Kalmadi

India planning Mars mission

in 2030: KalamPTI

DEHRA DUN, OCT 17

Former President A P J Kalamtoday said that India is planningto send its mission to Mars in2030.

We hope that we will be ableto send the mission to Mars in2030, he said at a school func-tion here. Significantly, Kalamhad made a similar announce-ment here in 2001 regardingthe Chandrayaan-I mission tothe moon when he was scientificadviser to the government.

Answering a question, he saidthe best way to eradicate cor-ruption in the country is to starta campaign from the home.

For a nation of a billion peo-ple, if you ask your father, in casehe is unfortunately corrupt, tostop corruption, this is the bestway to stop corruption from thehome itself. If everybody doesthat, then corruption will stop,Kalam told the school children.

He said he had been askedthis question earlier also at aschool function and his answerat that time was the same.

Later, Kalam also adminis-tered an oath asking the youngstudents to fight corruption.

To another question, Kalamsaid he does not believe in thebrain drain theory and said theIndians used to go to othercountries to acquire knowledgeand wealth in the past also.

Headley, a double agent?

PTI

WASHINGTON, OCT 17

David Headley, who confessedhis involvement in the Mumbaiterror attacks, may have been adouble agent who worked forboth al-Qaeda, through LeT, andAmerican intelligence agencies,as he was receiving training atterrorist camps in Pakistan.

By letting Headley maintaincontacts with Lashkar-e-Toibaand other al-Qaeda leaders inPakistan as reflected in thecourt papers submitted by theFBI federal authorities havesaid that they hoped to reachthe top al-Qaeda leaders.

But Headley went rogue andslipped out of their hands.

Those handling Headleys ac-count in the American intelli-gence agencies said that adecision to arrest him was takenonly after he shifted his atten-tion from India to Europe andHeadleys Pak handlers startedusing him for a Mumbai-type at-tack in European cities.

The information coming fromvarious federal (American) andIndian sources coming out inbits and pieces indicate that atsome level intelligence agenciesin the US had information aboutthe possible Mumbai attack in2008 and the key role that heplayed in this massacre of inno-cent people by Pakistan-basedLeT terrorists.

This is possible because fed-eral officials hoped that onceHeadleys handlers had full faithin him, they would be able toget access to the top al-Qaedaleaders inside Pakistan.

However, another official saidthat Headley gradually wasbrainwashed and was leakingout only selective informationto the US and started playingonly on behalf of LeT and al-Qaeda leaders who were hiscontact persons inside Pakistan.(Continued on page 10)

(Continued on page 10) (Continued on page 10)

Coastlines to have radar

sensors PTI

NEW DELHI, OCT 17

The Central government haslaunched Rs 350-crore projectto set up radar sensors alongthe countrys coastlines forsurveillance to prevent terror-ists from entering the nationto repeat the Mumbai-type at-tack.

The chain of radar sensorsalong the entire 7,517-kmcoastline, the Andaman andNicobar Islands and Lakshad-weep is being set up by theCoast Guard under a Home Min-istry scheme.

The radar sensors will be fit-ted on lighthouses at 46 loca-tions, out of which 36 are inmainland, six in LakshadweepIslands and four in the Andamanand Nicobar Islands.

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GOA, MONDAY, 18 OCTOBER, 2010

GOA Pg 2OHERALD

O

CIVIC FORUM

Killer divider at Verna NH-17JEROmE mENDES, CHAiRmAN Of ROAD ACCiDENTS ViCTimS TRuST, VERNA

The recently installed road divider on the stretch from SaiService to Agnel Ashram School is causing many accidents.The divider is not visible since it has not been painted withreflector paint. On Ganesh Chaturthi a 65-year-old couple pro-ceeding to Panjim hit the divider when they tried to avoid anovertaking car. A few days later, a tourist from Yemen hit thedivider and damaged the car extensively. Then a truck smashedfour parked vehicles at this junction. He had no licence. Iphoned the PWD minister about these accidents; he said thatit was the Transport Ministers responsibility, not his. Ourlocal MLA said the police would handle it. Who is responsiblefor these avoidable accidents?

Cuncolim power dept uselessViSHAL DCOSTA, CuNCOLim

Electric poles are placed in the centre of the road at Cun-colim, posing danger to motorists. They need to be shiftedto the side of the road. Light fixtures are dangling from theirsupply cords, ready to fall. Trees are leaning against theelectric poles causing them to bend. The electric poles areused by cable operators for fixing their cable junction andsignal amplifier boxes. The electricity department at Cuncolimis so lethargic; their lethargy is endangering the life of thepeople.

Kadamba corruptioniSHA NAik, by EmAiL

I am a passenger from Ponda travelling every day to andfrom Panaji. There is open corruption in the Kadamba busesspecially the Khethoda bus going from Panaji to Ponda at 6PM. The conductors charge Rs 20/- or even more for a ticketto Ponda and issue a ticket of 18/- or 19/- and keep the change.This has been a trend now and if questioned the conductorgets abusive. The concerned authorities need to look intothis at the earliest.

Help! Mr Power Minister! TuLSiDAS mALkARNEkAR, mARgAO

Electricity bills no longer have the columns for delayedpayment charges. They need to be included because if pay-ment is not made in time the bank does not accept thebill. We have to waste time and money travelling to theElectricity Dept to get the delayed payment charges en-dorsed on the bill. This is a great hardship especially forsenior citizens. The delayed amount and the amount payableafter due date is calculated automatically by the computer,with no extra work for the seemingly overworked electricitydept clerical staff. Will the Power Minister remedy the sit-uation?

Booby trapADELmO fERNANDES, VASCO

The metal sign-board which stands on the pavement alongthe Swatantra Path near the Municipal Garden in Vasco is rustyand bent at an angle. The board poses a grave danger topedestrians who could bang their heads on the corroded metalat night. The concerned authorities should either straightenthe sign-board or remove it altogether as it serves no pur-pose.

House collapse and sparksJONAS CORREiA, ALDONA

A house on the main road, right opposite the Mapusa Mu-nicipality partially collapsed over three months ago. The struc-ture has further weakened during monsoons and unless thehouse is fully demolished, it poses a hazard to pedestriansand motorists alike passing this route daily. Also, the Munic-ipality has kept a garbage bin near Janata School close to theelectric transformer. The garbage is incinerated daily andsparks fly in the direction of the transformer. This is potentiallydangerous for the students passing nearby. Immediate actionby the Municipality will certainly help in averting any catas-trophe.

Roadside garbage dumpWiLLiE SEVERES, mAJORDA

A roadside garbage dumping site is emerging just a fewmeters away from the Majorda beach. Although there is a signboard put up prohibiting the dumping of garbage in this area,it seems that the prohibition has not been effectively enforced.With the tourist season just starting, dumping of garbage islikely to increase with surrounding restaurants and shacksmaking full use of this area. Local panchayat authorities shouldseriously look into this matter at the earliest, before it becomesa nuisance.

(Do you have a complaint against some authority or service? Arethere any violations of the law that you would like to bring to thenotice of the public? Do you have any suggestions for improvementand/or redressal of services?

If you do, then write to us at editor@herald-goa.com. With theaim of improving the quality of our civic life, every Monday Heraldwill publish the best letters on these subjects received during theweek. This is in addition to our regular Letters to the Editorcolumn.)

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, OCT 17

Garbage disposal menace hascome back to haunt the villagersof Benaulim on Sunday afterthey spotted waste dumped bya business establishment alongthe road leading to St John theBaptist Church.

Colva police rushed to Be-naulim around noon after thelocal youth who had beenmaintaining vigil against wastedumping near the Church found that the waste came fromthe Colva-based establishment.PSI Gawde late this evening toldHerald that the police had ar-rested and released one personon bail for dumping waste inthe area.

Benaulim ZP member MariaRebello also rushed to the spot,even as the youngsters de-manded action against the un-scrupulous business owner fromColva for disposing off his wasteat Benaulim.

Secretary of the Colva Civicand Consumer Forum JudithAlmeida, who was present atthe spot, strongly protested overthe disposal of waste from Colvainto Benaulim.

She lamented that the ColvaPanchayat has no system to takecare of the garbage generatedin the village. The village Pan-chayat has written to the high

court stating that they have puta system in place to tacklegarbage disposal. This only goesto shows that the Panchayat hasno system, she said, while ap-preciating the youth for main-t a in ing a v i g i l aga ins tunscrupulous elements fordumping waste from other vil-

lages in Benaulim.Almeida has further lamented

that the cases lodged at theColva police station has failedto deter the unscrupulous ele-ments from dumping waste atBenaulim, adding that dumpingwaste in the open exposes peo-ple to various health hazards.

Benaulim locals demand action against Colva businessman for dumping waste

The waste dumped along the road leading to St John the BaptistChurch, Benaulim on Sunday. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

CORTALIM, OCT 17

After a lull of about two months,the National Highways Authorityof India (NHAI) officials begansurveying the stretch which islikely to be acquired for 4/6 lanewidening of National Highway17.

About 3-5 field staff was seenvisiting houses that are likely tobe affected by the road wideningof the National Highway.

Saying that this exercise hadalready begun in the State, fieldsurveyor Vinay Naik said theyhad been directed to identifyingstructures falling between 35 to45 mtrs of the National High-way.

According to earlier statistics,about 66 structures were likelyto be affected in Cortalim whichare mostly in 1st Arvale ward ofthe village if the road width hadto be of 45 mtrs.

Thereafter, following opposi-tion from various quarters, theState government had an-nounced that the width of theNH would be reduced to 35 mtrsin areas where it would resultin large-scale destruction ofstructures/houses.

An official from CPWD how-ever ruled out the possibility ofreducing the width to 35 mtrs

in Cortalim. We have NationalHighway 17A catering to trafficfrom Vasco-Ponda via Cortalim.So it will not be possible to re-duce the width to 35 mtrs in Cor-talim, the official told Herald.

However, in order to over-

come the crisis resulting fromthe road widening, CortalimMLA Mauvin Godinho had de-manded that a flyover be buildright from the Cortalim junctionto the Pazentar near Toyotashowroom.

NH17 widening: NHAI surveys affected houses in Cortalim

Officials visiting a house at Cortalim on Sunday. Photo by Alvaro Colaco

Carambolim VP to set up vermi

composting unitHERALD CORRESPONDENT

OLD GOA, OCT 17

Carambolim Panchayat has de-cided to set up a Vermi Com-posting unit in the village.

According to sources in pan-chayat, about 8,000 sq mtrs ofland has been identified for set-ting up the unit in the jurisdic-tion of Carambolim Panchayat.The unit would be utilized onlyfor composting garbage beingcollected from Carambolim.

Speaking to Herald, Caram-bolim Sarpanch Balchandra Us-goankar said the process of landacquisition is almost completeand the project will be taken upusing panchayat funds.

I will see that I complete theproject before the end of my pan-chayat term, said the sarpanch.

When asked whether the pan-chayat would recruit labourersfor the collection of garbage inCarambolim jurisdiction, he saidthe panchayat would recruitlabourers from Carambolim ju-risdiction for garbage collectionand also for the Vermi Compost-ing unit through NREG Scheme.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

SANGUEM, OCT 17

The election manifesto of for-mer Sanguem Municipal Council(SMC) chairperson MinguelinhoDCosta, who is contesting fromWard 2 (Khairikanttem/Pangulna)in the ensuing municipal elec-tions, was released on Sunday.

The manifesto was releasedin the presence of DCosta sup-porters and voters. DCosta inhis manifesto has 10-pointagenda with focus on all-rounddevelopment of Sanguem Mu-nicipal areas with support andco -operation from al l theelected representatives from thecouncil.

The manifesto also talks ofbringing on track the adminis-trative affairs at SMC, which isallegedly at cross roads and pro-vision for payment of electricitybills of the poor and the needysubject to the limit of Rs 100per month after due scrutinyand study of individual cases.

Other visions focused in themanifesto includes developmentof crematoriums of all religionson priority basis, allocation ofshops at the SUDA complexunder construction as per theneed and choice of the affected

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, OCT 17

Urban Development MinisterJoaquim Alemao has said thatFatorda MLA Damu Naik has noright to demand his resignationon the controversial reservationof wards in the municipal areas.

Addressing voters of ward 3of Margao Municipal Councilafter opening the election officeof Joseph Silva, Alemao assertedthat only the people of Cuncolimhas the right to demand his res-ignation if the people thinks hehas failed them on the develop-mental front.

Damu should tell the peopleof Goa why should I quit as theMinister for Urban Development.Am I responsible for reservingthe municipal wards for OBCsand STs when the House tookthe decision in view of the callingattention motion. Can the Con-gress say no to reservations forthe OBCs and STs when thesecommunities have rallied behind

the party at all times, he said.Reminding the Fatorda MLA

that reservations have beendone by the Director of Munic-ipal Administration and not byhim or the Chief Minister Digam-bar Kamat or GPCC general sec-retary Vijay Sardessai, Alemaourged the people of Goa to voteand elect good candidates whowould fulfill their aspirations inthe municipal bodies.

Making an appeal to the peo-ple of ward 3 to support thecandidature of Joseph Silva, theUrban Development Ministerpromised that he and hisbrother, PWD Minister ChurchillAlemao would take up all pend-ing works in the ward in thenext two years.

In his address, the GPCC gen-eral secretary Vijay Sardessailashed out at both the FatordaMLA and the candidate PiedadeNorohna for not ushering de-velopment work during theirtenure.

Reservation row: Damu has no right to demand my

resignation, thunders Joaquim

Campaigning for MMC polls gains momentum Candidates open election offices

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, OCT 17

Campaigning for the MargaoMunicipal polls picked up mo-mentum on Sunday with candi-dates opening their electionoffices and distributing voterscards to the electorate.

If writer, singer and Konkaniactivist Purnanand Chari openedhis election office in ward 8 ofthe Margao Municipal councilthis morning, Urban Develop-ment Minister hit the campaignfor the trusted lieutenant of his

close aide and GPCC generalsecretary Vijay Sardessai.

Alemao accompanied bySardessai opened the electionoffice of candidate and FatordaBlock Congress presidentJoseph Silva in ward 3 Silva islocked in a battle with sittingcouncillor and former MMCChairperson Piedade Norohna,who is seeking re-election fromthe ward.

In ward 8, Purnanand Chari,who is backed by the MadgaoLoksamiti, opened his election

office by breaking the sacredcoconut. Chari is locked in astraight fight against sittingcouncillor Gonzaco Rebello.

A cross section of his sup-porters from the ward werepresent during the office open-ing ceremony.

Some of the candidates havealready opened their electionoffices and have kicked off theircampaign in right earnest.Amongst those who were thefirst to open the election officewas Pratima Coutinho, wife ofMargao Municipal ChairpersonSavio Coutinho in ward 16 ofthe Margao Municipal council.

Many a candidates have al-ready started their door-to-doorcampaigning, while many othersare waiting for their voters cardsfor distribution to the elec-torate.

In Fatorda area of the MargaoMunicipal Council, corner meet-ings have already started bysome of the candidates.

Incidentally, banners put bythe candidates sans permissionfrom the election and Municipalauthorities were removed in adrive undertaken last week.

Candidate Purnanand Chari breaks the coconut to mark opening ofhis election office in Madel ward on Sunday. Photo by Savio Dias

Ex-SMC chief releases manifestoshopkeepers, formulation ofschemes for safeguarding andprotection of all religious struc-tures in the municipal areas andtimely payment of salaries work-ing at the council which many atimes is kept pending formonths together for want offunds.

DCosta in his manifesto hasalso chalked plans for the for-mation of a special cell in themunicipal office which will dealexclusively with the power prob-lems faced by the citizens.

Sarpanch promises modern

bus stand at CarambolimHERALD CORRESPONDENT

OLD GOA, OCT 17

In a bid to provide better trans-port facility to the villagers,Carambolim Sarpanch Balchan-dra Usgoankar has initiatedplans to set up state-of-the-artbus stand, catering to the serv-ices of Carambolim bus trans-porters.

According to sources, the newbus stand is likely to be readyin two years time and will besituated close to the Caram-bolim Panchayat, which will alsohouse over 10 shops.

Speaking to Herald, SarpanchBalchandra Usgoankar said thepanchayat has initiated plans toconstruct a bus stand, especiallyfor Carambolim villagers.

We have already initiated theland acquisition process for thebus stand, which is almost com-plete. About 2,300 sq mtrs ofland has been identified for thebus stand with the help of ourlocal Cumbarjua MLA PandurangMadkaikar, he said.

I will see that the bus standget to its completion as soonas possible. We will also ap-proach the State government tosanction us funds for the con-struction of the bus stand inCarambolim, he added.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

CALANGUTE, OCT 17

The North Goa Tourist Taxi Own-ers Association (NGTTOA) at itsgeneral body meeting at St AlexChurch Hall, Calangute, on Sat-urday has resolved to take thematter of their pending de-mands with Chief MinisterDigambar Kamat.

The Association memberswere of the view that the matterof renewal of permits for the800 cc vehicles should now betaken up directly with the chiefminister through Calangute MLAAgnelo Fernandes.

The NGTTOA members havedecided to call on Fernandes toexplain their position on theissue and intervene in their gen-uine demand of renewal of per-mits for the 800 cc vehicleswithout any further delay.

The NGTTOA felt that delay onpart of the concerned authoritiesis killing their business and hasdecided to meet the chief ministerto resolve the pending issue. TheNGTTOA has also come to theconclusion that there is no reasonin keeping their genuine demandpending when other states in thecountry issue permits to 750 cc

and 850 cc vehicles.The NGTTOA also claimed

that the State governmentshould consider a minimal rise

in hire charges due to steephikes in petroleum products.

Others issues discussed at themeeting included insurance anddiscount on spares.

Vasudev Arlekar (president)welcomed the guests of Sai Serv-ice and LIC, while VinayakNanoskar (secretary) proposedthe vote of thanks. The meetingwas attended by Ravindra Ven-gurlekar (v ice president) ,Pradeep Shirodker (treasurer),Vivek Korgaonkar (joint secre-tary), Rajen Palyekar, Sanjay Ven-gurlekar, Irenieu Gonsalvesamong others.

N Goa taxi owners to take up grievances with CMn The Association

members were of theview that the matter ofrenewal of permits forthe 800 cc vehiclesshould now be takenup directly with thechief minister throughCalangute MLAAgnelo Fernandes.

GOA, MONDAY, 18 OCTOBER, 2010GOA Pg 3OHERA

LDO

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, OCT 17

Welcome to Cuncolim wherea total of 46 candidates are inthe fray for the ensuing pollsfor the 10-member CuncolimMunicipal Council.

If you are a stranger to Cun-colim town, dont be surprisedto find most of the contestingcandidates either swearing theirloyalty to local MLA and Urban

Development Minister, JoaquimAlemao or are rest assured ofhis support for their candida-tures.

In fact, banners put up by rivalcandidates in some of the wardswould show that the candidatesenjoy support of the local MLA.Photographs of the Urban De-velopment Minister with thecandidates is not uncommon onthe banners of rival candidates

in some of the wards.This was clearly evident in

Ward no 2 when banners of rivalcandidates Pratima Gaonkar andMangaldas Gaonkar were seentogether with the photographof the Urban Development Min-ister.

Incidentally, the Urban Devel-opment Minister has decidedto play cool and not to intervenein the game of one-upmanship

over the game of banners orwith candidates declaring pub-licly over enjoying support totheir candidature.

It is learnt that most of thecandidates barring his vocalenemies have sought Alemaosblessing before filing their nom-ination papers. And, the rush tothe Varca residence of the Cun-colim MLA by the candidatesalong with their supporters hasnot stopped as yet, sources said.

When contacted, the UrbanDevelopment Minister said thatthere is no opposition for himin Cuncolim. This only showsthat the majority of the contest-ants are my supporters. I didnot discourage any of them fromcontesting since they had theirambition to enter electoral pol-itics, he said, adding theremay be 46 candidates in the fray,but you will see all the 10 Coun-cilors belonging to me after thepolls.

Though Alemao says thatmost of the contestants are hissupporters, it is learnt that theMLA certainly has his blue eyedboys in the fray and is expectedto make his support known tohis supporters only on the eveof the Civic polls.

Majority of candidates in Cuncolim swear loyalty to Joaquim Alemao

The two banners of rival candidates contesting the Cuncolim Municipal polls with the photograph ofUrban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao. Photo by Sidharth Mehta

Calangutepolice arrestone, recover stolen goods

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

CALANGUTE, OCT 17

Calangute Police arrested a per-son and recovered electronici tems worth Rs 2 lakh atCalangute.

Calangute Police team led byPI Nolasco Raposo achieved abreakthrough in theft relatedcases by arresting Rohan Sal-gaonkar on October 11 and re-covering from him various items,including electronics goods.

Police further informed thatthe accused confessed of variousthefts in the coastal belts ofCalangute and Anjuna.

Calangute Police recoveredfour laptops, four mobilephones, three cameras andother items, all worth Rs 2 lakh.The four laptops were stolenfrom a parked car in Anjuna.Rohan Salgaonkar has beentransferred to Anjuna Policestation for further investiga-tions.

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, OCT 17

Goas first ever InternationalTravel Mart (ITM) culminatedtoday with buyers and sellersexpressing their mix reactionsfor the event.

The dates of ITM were ques-tioned by many, who felt thatit should have been little afterKerala Tourism Mart (KTM),which attracts huge interna-tional participation.

ITM should be prior to KTMor after that. We should knowthat international buyers flydown for KTM annually andwe cant expect them to comeagain within two weeks forITM, said Mario Nazareth,General Manager, O Hotel, Can-dolim.

He said that he will be put-ting across to organizers sug-gesting them to shif t the

annual date of ITM accordingto KTM.

Nazareth, however, said thatITM put up a good show andthe response was good.

Jack Ajit Sukhija, represent-ing Welcome Heritage, PanjimInn, said that KTM should bethe deciding point for an-nouncing dates of ITM. Itwould have been better, if ITMwas just after KTM, he said.

Sukhija said that althoughbeing for the first time, infra-structure for ITM was good.We have to improve the buy-ers list, he said adding thatITM has the capability to gainpopularity like KTM.

The participants, who haveput up their stalls, feel thatthe organizers should unveilthe list of buyers in advanceso that the industry can startdialogue with them before

Mixed reactions from buyers, sellers as ITM comes to end

Old Goa VP to hike rates for stalls at SFX feastHERALD CORRESPONDENT

OLD GOA, OCT 17

Old Goa Panchayat in a bid toincrease its revenue has decidedto increase the rates for thestalls, which will be put up atOld Goa during the Novenas andFeast of St Francis Xavier.

According to sources in pan-chayat, from this year, stall of 2mtrs each will be charged Rs1,000 per day, while a stall of 4mtrs will be charged Rs 2,000per day. The stall rates were lastincreased two years ago.

Sources further informed thatthe forms are expected to beout from November 10.

It may be noted that hundredsof pilgrims from all over theworld attend the Feast of StFrancis Xavier at Old Goa duringwhich over 500 stalls are put upat various places in Old Goa.During 10 days, Old Goa Pan-chayat earns huge revenue inthe form of rent from stalls.

Speaking to Herald, Cumbar-jua MLA Pandurang Madkaikarsaid the panchayat has decidedto increase the rates of the stallsso that the panchayat could earnsome extra revenue.

The panchayat thought ofincreasing the rates, as the pan-chayat felt that the rates weretoo low, said Madkaikar.

they arrive here.The footfalls on the stalls

are low compared to what wewere expecting, Atish Fernan-des, Director (operations), FirstClass Holidays reacted.

He said that buyers list waskept confidential till the lastwhich stopped us from con-tacting them.

We are willing to partici-pate next year. The organizersshould also take the sellersand buyers into confidence be-fore putting up the show nexttime, Fernandes said.

Fernandes company is intoinbound tour in Goa and UttarKarnataka. He said that 15per cent of the people who in-teracted during the event werehere to sell their own locationslike South Africa and SouthEast Asia, he stated.

The four day long ITM whichbegan on October 14 had var-ious sections including knowl-e d g e s e s s i o n s i n w h i c hindustry experts expressedtheir opinion on various is-sues.

As the tourism season nears, the work of erecting shacks is in full swing. In this photo, workers are busy in their job, at Vagator beach, onSaturday. Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, OCT 17

T h e Tr a d i t i o n a l Fa m a o fMenino Jesus will be cele-brated at Colva Church onMonday on October 18.

The Eucharistic celebrationwill begin at 5.30 am on Mon-day at the hands of ParishPriest, Fr Diogo Fernandes,after which the image of InfantJesus will be brought downfrom the glittering bullet proofvault on the Altar and takenin a procession, followed bykissing by the devotees till10.30 in the evening.

Parish Priest Fr Diogo Fer-nandes said the entire villageof Colva is geared up to cele-brate the Fama of MeninoJesus. The Fama has a mag-netic power as the grand cel-ebration grips the natives ofColva. People from differentcommunities participate in thecelebrations to thank InfantJesus for the favours receivedas the Image is endowed withthe power of performing mir-acles, Fr Fernandes added.

Historically, many legendssurround the statute of InfantJesus as regards its origin, Therecord in the Church, illus-trated by a couple of paintingson the wall of the sacristy, tes-tifies to strange happenings inthe 17th century.

Fama of Menino Jesus

to be celebrated in ColvaThe statue of Menino Jesus

was located by a part of ship-wrecked sailors led by a JesuitMissionary Fr Bento Ferreiraoff the coast of Mozambiquein the 17th century.

On his posting to Colva, in1648, Fr Ferreira had the statuegrandly enthroned on a specialaltar, Soon, the statue invitedhordes of devotees for an an-nual Fama ceremony when theimage was exposed for publicveneration. The popularity ofthe event in Colva spread be-yond the borders of Goa.

SHWETA KAMAT

PANJIM, OCT 17

Miramar beach is likely to leadGoas shores in becoming to-bacco free zones in near future.

Directorate of Health Serv-ices State Level Steering Com-mittee (SLSC) has decided totake up pilot project of TobaccoFree Beaches from Miramar.

Dr Shekhar Salkar, prominentanti tobacco activist and SLSCmember said that the statehealth departments tobaccocontrol board has planned tostrictly enforce the anti-smokinglaw in the popular beaches ofGoa, which are thronged bytourists during the season.

Proper boards would be dis-played on Miramar beach whichwill prohibit smoking as well asconsumption of other tobaccoproducts on the beach.

Tourists visiting here will beinformed in advance that use oftobacco is banned here as it isa public place.

Tourism department and Po-lice department has been ropedin this ambitious project whichwill pave way for other beaches

to be tobacco free, he said.Voluntary Health Association

of India (VHAI), Goa branch hasbeen appointed as a party toundertake this ambitious proj-ect.

Dr Salkar said that the stategovernment itself wishes tomake Goa, a tobacco free state.

During a recent function or-ganized by Indian Medical As-sociations (IMA) Goa branch,the chief minister DigamberKamat had written on bannerthat it is his dream to have To-bacco Free State, he said.

SLSC discussed implementa-tion of the law during its re-cently held meeting. It wasdecided that tourism along withpolice will form a flying squadwhich will crack down the vio-lations and fine the offender onthe spot.

The vigil will be kept roundthe clock, he said adding thatevery 100 metres boards wouldbe displayed warning the visitorsagainst smoking.

State tourism department isexpected to formally announcethis pilot project through media.

Goa has seen almost 80 per-cent implementation of theanti-tobacco law and actionsare being taken to make thestate tobacco free. The stategovernment and the anti-to-bacco group are working intandem to make Goa a smokefree state.

SLSC which has decided tonail the violation at every publicplace had recently conducted asurvey at Quepem on implemen-tation of anti smoking act.

Salkar said that around 400hotels were checked of whichjust 13 per cent lack implemen-tation. Rest 87 per cent has putup boards and ban customersfrom smoking in the hotel, headded.

While smaller establishmentshave been holistically imple-menting the law, two of biggerhotels from Panaji are allegedlyviolating the law.

Salkar said that they have re-ceived complaints about NovaGoa and Fidalgo which lacks theimplementation. We will be is-suing them notices shortly, hesaid.

Tobacco Free Beaches campaign to be tried and tested at Miramar

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, OCT 17

In an interesting development,the Curtorim Communidade onSunday cancelled the auctionscheduled on Sunday and Mon-day for extraction of basaltstones and setting up of stonecrushers in Sao Jose de Arealvillage.

Sao Jose de Areal villagersunder the banner of ScheduleTr ibes As soc i a t ion , whomarched to the Curtorim Com-munidade office this morningto protest against the auction,hailed the cancellation of theauction as a victory for the peo-ple.

The cancellation of the auc-tion came for want of any bid-ders and also the fact that theAdministration of Commu-nidades, south told the CurtorimCommunidade to keep the auc-

tion in abeyance.The Curtorim Communidade

will now meet on Wednesdayto take decide on the applica-tions received from the peopleopposing the auction of the hillsfor extraction of basalt stonesand for stone crushers.

Around 300 Sao Jose de Arealvillagers marched to the officeof the Curtorim Communidadewell ahead of the auction sched-uled at 10.30 am. When thecommunidade attorney DrErnesto Rodrigues came to theoffice, the villagers questionedhim on the auction and under-lined to save the village hills forposterity.

Rodrigues explained to thevillagers that his office has re-ceived a communiqu from theAdministrator of Commu-nidades asking the Commu-nidade to keep the auction. He

later gave a note to the villagersstating that the auction standscancelled.

A villager Freddy Travassolater told the villagers that theauction has been cancelled bythe Communidade and reiter-ated the resolve of the peopleto protect the hills from furtherdestruction. Our only requestto the Curtorim Communidadeand other authorities is to justleave our hills alone and not de-stroy them for basalt stone ex-traction. We will never allowauction the land and hills of ourforefathers to be destroyed bystone extraction, Travassoadded.

He said the villagers have toldthe Curtorim Communidade toinform the Sao Jose de ArealChurch about future decisionson the auction or other issuesaffecting the village.

Curtorim Comunidade calls off auction of Areal hills

Sao Jose de Areal villagers with placards outside the Curtorim Communidade opposing auction of thehills for basalt stone extraction. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

CALANGUTE, OCT 17

Nine persons, including three foreign nationals,were saved from drowning by Drishti Surf Lifeteam of lifeguards along the Candolim, Calanguteand Arambol coasts.

According to Drishti reports, a Mumbai couple,Rounak Marfartia (25) and Gauri Kandira (25)were saved at Candolim by lifeguards NarayanGauns and Rajendra Gaonkar, while at Calangute,

Sudesha Devi (40) from Bangalore and RenukaBarde (26) from Karnataka were saved by lifeguardAnil Gaonkar and others.

A Kerala duo of Rakesh and Sujit were alsosaved by lifeguards Arun Kumbharjuvekar andAmit Shinde.

At Arambol, a Kazakhstan trio of LawrenceGodwin (38), Ushtap Nuqthaiva (31) and GulsimA Kulrary (26) were saved by lifeguards SakharamBandekar and Vijay Pednekar.

Nine rescued from drowning

upcOming EvEnTS

GOA, MONDAY, 18 OCTOBER, 2010

GOA Pg 4OHERALD

O

Gram sabha at CortalimPANJIM(HND): The ordinary gram sabha meeting of the Vil-

lage Panchayat Cortalim-Quelossim for the month of Octoberwill be held on Sunday, October 24 at 9.15 am in the officeof the Village Panchayat Cortalim-Quelossim.

The following agenda will be discussed: To read and confirmthe proceedings of the previous gram sabha meeting, to placebefore the gram sabha the half yearly statement of accounts,to place before the gram sabha the list of name underDhangar/ST/IAY/RAY/NREGS, to discuss on proposals receivedfrom the gram sabha members if any, any other subject withthe prior permission of the chairperson.

Any person who desires to place any suggestions beforethe gram sabha meeting may be sent by him/her in writingaddressed to the Sarpanch four days before the gram sabhameeting. If the required quorum is not found within thescheduled time, the meeting will be adjourned and the samewill be conducted after half an hour on the same day andplace, says a press release.

Tiatr Kusovo at MargaoPANJIM (HND): Ami Daizi Fatorda, a newly formed insti-

tution, will stage a traditional tiatr titled Kusvo on October22 during the 36th Tiatr competition organised by Kala Acad-emy, at 7 pm. A pre release show is scheduled to be held atPai Tiatrist JAF Auditorium of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, onOctober 17 at 10.15 am which will be followed by criticalanalysis of the presentation by drama critics.

Kusvo is scripted by Conceisao Fernandes, directed byAvinash Chari and has Rupesh Jogle in the lead role withSuzeta Pereira, John Marques, Ivy Pereira, Nazario Pinto andPobre Dias. Singers include Francis Pinto, Bernardo Noronha,Mario Pinto, Alfred Colaco, Antonette Barbosa , Kareen Mas-carenhas, Reema Dias, and Conceisao Fernandes.

Ami Daizi, a registered society, aims at preserving andpromoting cultural heritage of the state, besides tappingtalent and endearing them its rich culture, says a press releaseissued here.

SHORT TAKESProgramme on HIV/AIDS held

Sensitization programme on HIV-AIDS at Dharbandora.

CURCHOREM(HC): The Goa State AIDS Control Society incollaboration with Goa Institute of Rural Development Agencyrecently organized one-day sensitization programme on HIV-AIDS to the self help groups of Dharbandoda and SancordaPanchayats.

About 70 members were present for the function held atDharbandoda Panchayat Hall.

Dharbandora Sarpanch Shamu Velingkar was the chiefguest for the function. Project Manager Sanjay Naik, facultyof GIRDA Sarita Patil, Gram Sevika Nirmla Marathe andSecretary Khushalidas Gaonkar were present at the pro-gramme.

Velingkar in his speech urged the need to spread themessage of HIV AIDS at the grass root level.

Resource person for the programme Sanjay Naik briefedabout various issues of HIV AIDS, myth and misconceptionsof HIV AIDS, services about HIV AIDS issues, stigma and dis-crimination, etc.

Earlier, many such programmes were organized for selfhelp groups, anganwadi workers, panchayat members, electedmembers and government officers all over the State with thehelp of GSACS and GIRDA.

Dr Pradip Padwal, Project director of GSACS, and RekhaJoshi, Assistant Director GIRDA, are the key persons behindthe programme.

Sarita Patil welcomed the chief guest and other participants,while Sarita Patil proposed the vote of thanks.

Konknni compering workshop held

Dr Ajay Vaidya inaugurates the workshop in the presence ofGKA Vice-President Vincy Quadros, DKA President PremanandA Lotlikar and Secretary Jose Salvador Fernandes.

PANJIM (HND): The second Konknni compering workshopwas conducted recently by Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA)in Margao BPS Club. Dr Ajay Vaidya was the main resourceperson who guided the participants on various issues andskill that are required for competent compering. He also in-augurated the workshop in the presence of Goa KonknniAkademi's Vice President Vincy Quadros, DKA's president Pre-manand A Lotlikar and Secretary Jose Salvador Fernandes.Certificates were presented to the participants by the guests.

DKA is plans to hold two more such workshops shortly;one in Ponda and another in Canacona.

Navtara opened at Porvorim

Imelda Tavora inaugurates restaurant at Porvorim. Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

PORVORIM(HC): Imelda Tavora inaugurated the Porvorimbranch of Navtara, the pure vegetarian multi-cuisine restauranton Thursday.

This is the third branch of Navtara in North Goa, the firsttwo being in Panjim and Mapusa.

Speaking to Herald, Navtara proprietor Carlos Tavora saidthey have been receiving good response from customers inGoa. I studied in Karnataka and during my stay for sevenyears, I happened to visit Udipi hotels and hence urge wasdeveloped to start such pure vegetarian restaurants in Goa,informed Tavora. Considering overwhelming response fromthe customers, I decided to open more branches. I plan toopen two more branches, one each at Margao and Calanguteshortly, added Tavora.

Tavora further informed that about 300 dishes are beingprepared in his restaurants and Derick Barnes is the architectof his restaurants.

Talk on career guidance held

Pradeep Joshi, Vivek Kerkar, Ashok Kerkar, Ashok Kenkre, AjitKolwalkar, and Vaman Gaitonde seen on the occasion.

PANJIM (HND): Progress HS recently organised a talk onPersonality and Career Guidance' for the SSC students andtheir parents. Vaman Gaitonde, the founder of the trainingcentre called 'Make Over' was the guest speaker who spokeon the various careers which students could opt for andadvised them oriented study towards their career and excelin the one they choose. He also underscored the importanceof personality for a successful career. Chairman of the managingcommittee, Vivek Kerker, manager Ashok Kenkre, vice-chairmanPradeep Joshi and the headmaster Ajit Kolwaikar were alsopresent. Maria Ribeiro compered and the vote of thanks wasproposed by Satish Mhapsekar.

Fr Diogo M Fernandes

Its October and once again its time forthe Colva Parishioners to celebratethe traditional Fama of Infant Jesus

popularly and lovingly known as MENINOJESUS.

Generally, the Fama of Infant Jesus at'Our Lady of Merces Church, Colva is cel-ebrated on the second Monday of October.But, if the second Monday comes beforetwelfth, then it is celebrated on the fol-lowing Monday. This year it will be cele-brated on October 18, the theme being,"Let us imbibe the values of Infant Jesusin Our life. The statue of Infant Jesus isendowed with the power to perform mir-acles and hence, thousands of devoteesthrong to this church irrespective of castecreed or religion to seek His blessings orto thank Him for the favours received.

On the morning of the great day abrass band announces the much awaitedevent with traditional music Alvoradawhich means dawn in Portuguese.

As in the past, let me acquaint thedevotees of the historical legends thatsurround the statue of Infant Jesus as re-gards its origin. The record in the church,illustrated by a couple of paintings on

the wall of the sacristy, testifies to strangehappenings in the seventeenth century.

From 1498 to 1600, Portuguese navalfleets and merchant ship had the monopolyof the control and trade of the Indian Ocean.Each ship had a small chapel with a statueof Jesus or a saint and always, at least onepriest accompanied the fleet in order toenable the sailors or soldiers to performtheir religious duties. Many a time theseships were caught in storms at sea andshipwrecks were common. One such tookplace off the coast of Mozambique, on theshores of Africa in 1640, involving a part ofthe sailors with a Jesuit priest accompanyingthem. The priest was Fr Bento Ferreira sj.They all swam a shore and reached Sena inMozambique, perhaps at night. When theygot up in the morning, they saw a numberof birds surrounding an object on a rockclose to the shore. On closer scrutiny theywere surprised to see that the object wasa statue of the child Jesus, seated on therock, dressed in fine clothes having goldring on his finger with a diamond.

The statue may have floated from aPortuguese ship that had previously sunkand carried away at high tide by thewaves and stopped on the rock as the

waves receded at low tide,The Jesuit, Fr Bento Ferreira brought

the statue along with him to Goa. In 1648when he was posted at Colva church, hehad the statue solemnly enthroned on aspecial Altar in the church. Soon the statuebecame an object of veneration for thehordes of devotees that flocked the church.Somehow the original statue reachedRachol Seminary church, while the originalring with the diamond remained in Colva.

There are popular legends which ex-plain this event, but it is not known whichone is correct. The first Legend is that afew years later Fr Bento Ferreira wastransferred to Rachol church, attachedto the then college of the Jesuits for Sal-cete, presently the Rachol Seminary.

On his transfer, he removed the statuefrom the altar at Colva, leaving there theoriginal gold ring with the diamond thathad slipped out. He took the original statuewith him to Rachol church and mounted iton other altar. The legend seems plausible.

Another legend gives that the statue wasrobbed from Colva, but the Parishionerspursued the robber up to Sonsoddo, a placeon the borders of Raia village, where thegold ring fell from the finger of the statue.

At this moment there is said to have beena dazzling light and a vision of the childJesus, directing them to take the originaldiamond ring to Colva. This legend is pop-ular amongst the villagers of Colva.

The Eucharistic celebration on theFama day will begin at 5.30 am, with themain celebrant being the Parish PriestRev Fr Diogo M Fernandes. This will befollowed by bringing down the miracu-lous statue of Infant Jesus from the bulletproof vault on the altar. The image thenwill be carried in a procession followedby blessing of the flag pole bearing thebanner of Infant Jesus. The image thenwill be thrown open for kissing by thedevotees, even beyond 10 pm.

The novenas will begin from October 19,followed by the Feast of Infant Jesus on Oc-tober 28. After the main mass, other masseson the Fama Day will be celebrated outsidethe church from 8 am to 12 noon and againin the evening from 3 pm to 8 pm.

On the Feast Day, masses will be cel-ebrated at 6 am 7.15 am and the feastmass will be held at 9 am. This year thefeast of Infant Jesus is being celebratedby the new committee and all the mem-bers of the Confraria of Colva.

Fama of Menino Jesus at Colva

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

PORVORIM, OCT 16

Organic Farming Association ofIndia, GOACAN and Green Es-sentials along with ThomasStephens Konkani Kendra (TSKK)celebrated World Food Day byorganizing an exhibition in thepremises of TSKK at Porvorim.

Students of Chubby CheeksGreen valley school, Pilerne,Holy Cross High School, Bastoraand SFX High School, Siolimpresented a demonstration onways to detect food adulter-ation.

A number of local vegetablesand garden tools were also ondisplay at the exhibition, whilefarmers from Choaro held dis-cussion on food security.

Additional Director of OrganicFarming Association of IndiaMiguel Braganza said the WorldFood Day is generally celebrated

by the Agriculture departmentsand ICAR.

"This year, NGO's decided tocelebrate it with the involve-ment of people and students.The prime objective of organ-izing this exhibition is to invitethe attention of the people tothe necessity of food and itsproduction," said Braganza.

TSKK Director Fr Pratap Naiksaid the purpose of organisingthe exhibition is to create publicawareness on ways to maintainecology and open spaces, to freeGoa from insecticides and non-organic fertilizers and to culti-vate vegetables using organicfertilizers.

"Every home should have akitchen garden. People shouldgrow vegetables or plant treesif open spaces are available intheir residential premises," saidFr Naik.

World Food Day held at TSKK Porvorim

A student demonstrates ways to detect adulteration in food items. Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

HERALD REPORTER

VASCO, OCT 17

Going by the performance of the previouscouncil, most candidates winning electionsto the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC)will end up either serving as chairpersonor deputy chairperson.

Such has been the musical chair syn-drome at the MMC during the previouscouncil, that as many as 14 of the 19 coun-cillors have either served as chairperson orvice chairperson in the last five years.

Though the council has 20 members, thestrength was reduced to 19 following theresignation of Mormugao MLA Milind Naikas councillor.

While six councillors served as chairper-son, all seven women councillors had theprivilege to become the vice chairperson.

When barely three months were left forMMC to go to polls, the vice chairpersonspost was allotted to a male candidate andKashinath Yadav was elected to the post.

According to sources, when the councilbegan its tenure in 2005, the ruling group hadmutually agreed that the chairperson would

serve for one year, while the term would beabout eight months for the vice chairperson.

But after a year, the one-year "term" forthe chairperson was reduced to six months.

Councillor Manesh Arolkar, recentlyelected unopposed to the new MMC, hadthe privilege to serve as chairperson for amaximum of nearly 15 months. Later, CarlosAlmeida who took over as MMC chairpersonwas voted out of office within four months.

Councillor Anita Chopdekar served asvice chairperson for nearly one year, whileShanit Mandrekar occupied the same postfor only 49 days.

The chairpersons in the MMC during thelast five years have been Sharad Chopdekar(October 13, 2005 to December 21, 2006),Manesh Arolkar (December 21, 2006 to Feb-ruary 4, 2008), Carlos Almeida (February 19,2008 to June 23, 2008), Kritesh Gaonkar (July1, 2008 to April 24, 2009), Saifullah Khan (May12, 2009 to November 25,2009) and ShekharKhadapkar (December 8, 2009 till date).

The vice-chairpersons in the MMC duringthe last five years have been Kishori Haldankar(January 31, 2005 to July 8 2006),Lavina DSouza

(August 1, 2006 to May 16, 2007), AnitaChopdekar (May 16, 2007 to May 6, 2008),Shanti Mandrekar (May 6, 2008 to June 23,2008), Suchita Shirodkar (July 1, 2008 to No-vember 12, 2008), Chitra Gawas (November12, 2008 to April 2, 2009), Chitra Gawas (April25, 2009 to July 8, 2009), Rohini Parab (July28, 2009 to July 28, 2010) and Kashinath Yadav(July 13, 2010 till date).

The 'musical-chair' syndrome also affectedthe administration in the council, with sixchief officers serving the council in the lastfive years. Moreover, the council functionedwithout a full time chief officer for nearlyone-and-half year.

Due to constant change in guard, de-velopment works were hampered and nota single project has been followed properlyby concerned authorities, admitted a seniorofficer in the council, who spoke on condi-tion of anonymity.

The new chairperson took his own timeto know the affairs of the council and bythe time he got involved in some seriousbusiness, he was replaced by another chair-person," the officer added.

14 councillors served as chairperson, dy in MMC

The residents of Aivao, Dona Paula celebrating Dandiya Raas at Sateri Temple, Dona-Paula on Saturday.

Teachers visiting UK briefed on

Indian festivalsHERALD CORRESPONDENT

PORVORIM, OCT 17

Holy Family Primary School or-ganized a programme to depictfestivals of India to the teacherswho are leaving for UK on Oc-tober 30 to visit the partnerschools in Cornwall, UK.

Speaking on the occasion,Holy Family High School Head-mistress Fatima DSa said out ofthe eight teachers selected fromBardez to visit UK as part ofGlobal Schools Partnership pro-gramme, two teachers Irene D-Souza Manuel and Reena Simoesare from their primary school.

During their stay of oneweek, they will learn culture andobserve the teaching techniquesof schools in UK. This GlobalSchool Partnership programmewill benefit the teachers of theschools in UK and Goa, saidDSa.

Teacher Irene Manuel said thevisit will enable the teachers ofboth the countries to shareideas, teaching experiences andthereby develop harmonious re-lationship between the partnerschools.

This will increase open mind-edness and with the exchangeof thoughts the change in edu-cation can be brought about,added Irene Manuel.

Spring Valley High School, Pil-erne, Headmistress Selena D-Souza said four schools fromBardez taluka have been se-lected to visit UK. This visit willhelp to develop joint curriculumand critical thinking.

Legal literacy camp held

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

COLLEM, OCT 17

Sanguem Taluka Legal ServiceCommittee and JMFC Sanguemjointly organized a Legal Literacycamp for the students of Std IXand X of Abhinav VidyamandirHigh School Mollem at MollemPanchayat Hall on October 6.

Adv Rupa Prabhu Gaonkar ofJMFC Sanguem and Adv Pan-durang Parab were the keyspeakers for the programme.

School Headmaster SharadChandra Khandeparkar and JMFCHead Clerk Elanna Alfonso werealso present on the occasion.

Speaking on Anti-ragging,Adv Rupa Gaonkar said involve-ment in ragging activity inschools or educational insti-tutes is a crime. Many studentslost their career as well as theirlives by committing suicidesdue to ragging cases. Adv Pan-durang Parab spoke on FreeLegal Aid.

Expo at Panjim

HERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, OCT 17

New Ayushi Craft and WeavesPromotion Society Bhopal (MP)has organized an exhibition"Cotton Fablo in India" at ClubNacional, Panjim, and today isthe final day.

The society has been provid-ing training, design and market-ing facilities to the identifiedpoor weavers and artisans.

The products on display areChanderi Sarees, cotton suits,Baghprint suits, Butic Suit, Top,Fulkari Dress Materials etc. Prod-ucts from Madhya Pradesh,Chhatisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujrat,Maharashtra, Patiala, HariyanaAndhra Pradesh, Lucknow, UttarPradesh and Kashmir.

The Pearls and Stone Jew-ellery from Hyderabad, woodentoys, Masoor Chandan Agarwatifrom Karnataka, Saharanpur Fur-niture, Japur and many moreproducts are on display. 20% dis-counts on handlooms and 10%discount of handicrafts are avail-able, says a press release.

HERALD CORRSEPONDENT

VALPOI, OCT 17

Opposition Leader Manohar Par-rikar said he is confident thatBJP candidate Santosh Haldankarwill win the by-election, as Valpoipeople are fully convinced withthe issues BJP has taken up dur-ing house-to-house campaign.

Parrikar was addressing thepress conference at Valpoi onSaturday evening.

Parrikar, North Goa MP ShripadNaik, Govind Parvatkar and othersenior BJP leaders claimed thatthey have toured entire Valpoi con-stituency in the last few days andfound that no big developments,as claimed by Vishwajeet Rane,have been carried out in Valpoi.

Major projects like busstand, market complex, up gra-dation of Dabose Treatmentplant could not be completed.The conditions of the interiorroads in the villages are bad,they claimed.

Parrikar stated that about 39hectares of land has been con-verted into reserve forest in Sep-tember, this year, and about 100families from Karmali Budruk, whohad cashew plantation, will be af-fected due to the conversion.

Local MLA Vishwajeet Ranecould not do anything to providerelief to the affected people.Hence, all those families willback BJP candidate this time,alleged Parrikar.

I am confident that BJP can-didate Santosh Haldankar will

Parrikar confident ofBJPs victory in Valpoi

HERALD CORRSEPONDENT

VALPOI, OCT 17

Congress candidate Vishwajeet Rane has accused the BJP of mis-leading people regarding his comments on mining activities.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Rane clarifiedhis stand stating that no mining activities will be permittedwithin the limits of Valpoi Municipal Council (VMC) and nonew mines will be allowed to operate in Valpoi constituency.

I am with the people. Whatever the policy on mining, I willadopt and will be with the collective decision of the people,stated Vishwajeet Rane.

Coming down heavily on Manohar Parrikar and other seniorBJP leaders, who are campaigning in Valpoi since the last fewdays, Rane said that one BJP MLA and another ex-minister inthe Parrikar cabinet had recently visited his office and blamedParrikar for not doing any development work in their con-stituencies during his tenure as chief minister.

Rane claimed that he went to the people during his campaignwith three issues, development, employment and women em-powerment, and got overwhelming support from the people.

Its the people who will teach BJP a lesson on October 18.I am confident that I will win the election with thumping ma-jority. Whatever projects are incomplete, I will complete it assoon as possible, said Rane.

BJP misleading people: Vishwajeet

win, as Valpoi people are fullyconvinced with the issues BJPhas taken up during house-to-house campaign, added Parrikar.

North Goa MP Shripad Naikaccused Congress candidateVishwajeet Rane of misleadingthe people by saying that NorthGoa MP has not done anything.

Naik clarified that he carriedout 22 projects in Sattari talukaunder MP funds, including 11

community halls in Poriem andfive community halls in Valpoiconstituency.

BJP candidate Santosh Hal-dankar said he is born andbrought up in Valpoi andpresently stays in Valpoi and willbe available to people at anytime on all the days unlike hisopponent who stays in Panjimand most of the time remainsout of the country.

Restrictions on misuse of vehicles for bye-poll

PANJIM (HND): The office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Altinhohas issued directions for the use and hiring of vehicles duringbye-election at 19-Valpoi Assembly Constituency, which will be inforce on the polling day October 18 from 8 am to 5 pm.

Section 133 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 providesthat free transportation of the voters by candidates or their agentsto and fro from the polling station is a Corrupt Practice and shallattract prescribed penalties. One vehicle each only shall beallowed to the candidate and his Election Agent on the day of polland such vehicle should display the permission letter on the frontwind screen.

GOA, MONDAY, 18 OCTOBER, 2010SUPPLeMeNT Pg 5OHERA

LDO

Maria de Lourdes

Bravo da Costa Rodrigues

Down South of Goa thereis a beautiful villagenamed Colva, where ex-

ists the Church of Our Lady ofMercy, in which is installed theidol of a Miraculous Infant Jesus.The Fama marks the beginningof the celebrations and an an-nouncement to the devoteesabout the ensuing festivity. Onthe day of the fama, people fromall over Goa throng to thischurch to pay obeisance to theInfant.

Before celebrating the feast,preparatory novenas are held.A day prior to the beginning ofthe novenas the Fama is held.On this day a Maddi (areca nutpole) is put up in the open spaceof the church, facing the church.

Fama of Infant Jesus at Colva On this pole is hoisted the ban-ner with the picture of the deitywhose feast is to be celebrated.It remains there till the feastday. The feast is celebrated withgreat pomp. However, it is veryinteresting to note that the Famaof the Menino de Jesus of Colvais the only one that is celebratedwith great pomp and gaiety.

The Fama of Menino Jesus isheld on second Monday of themonth of October. It is so pop-ular that the schools in Southof Goa declare a local holidayon this day to enable the stu-dents attend the Fama.

However, if the Monday is be-fore the 12th then it is on thethird Monday.

When Rev Fr Bento Ferreira, amissionary belonging to the Je-suit Order, was going fromMozambique to Sena in the year1640; the ship on which he was

travelling got wrecked, so thathe and the other passengerswere obliged to swim to an islandnearby, from where they contin-ued their journey by foot. Reach-ing the shores of Sena they sawfrom a distance a number of birdsencircling a huge rock on whichrested a curious and indistinctobject. Being all keen sportsmenand thinking it might be gameof some rare sort, they hurriedto the spot to investigate, butfound a statue of the Child Jesuswhich with great reverence Fr.Ferreira took possession of.

In 1648 Fr. Bento Ferreira wasappointed the first Vicar of theChurch of Our Lady of Mercy atColva, and later was made theRector of the College of Rachol.With him he brought the imagewhich he had found on the rocksand kept it in a niche in hisroom. He found that he wasnightly disturbed by a strangesupernatural light, which shonefrom it and flooded his chamber.Realising then that the statuewas no ordinary one, he had itfixed on the main church altarfor public veneration. So filledwith gratitude and love for theInfant who had taken up hisabode in their midst and gen-erously dispensed his favoursand blessings on them, the peo-ple constituting the four villagesof Colva, Sernabatim, Venelimand Gaundalim, belonging tothe parish of Our Lady of Mercy,raised funds through subscrip-tion and got a magnificent altarerected especially for the statue

to be placed.The Jesuits meanwhile, who

had Christianized the area ofSalcete and taken control of allthe churches of this province,were in 1834 banned from Por-tugal and her provinces byD.Maria, the Queen of Portugal.

The Rector of Rachol Semi-nary took the Menino Jesus fromthe Church, claiming that theMenino was found by a Jesuitpriest, the late Fr Bento Ferreira.This action was taken on 11thof September, before the thenVicar Fr Jose Figueiredo left theChurch. He not only took theMenino, but all the jewelry thatadorned the image, and themoney of the treasury. It wasthe faith of destiny that whilecarrying away the Image, a golddiamond ring which adornedone of the Infants

finger, fell into the niche ofthe altar and remained there.On hearing this people of Colvaand surrounding areas were sad,that they had lost the miraculousInfant, for whom they had fer-vent devotion.

Together they sent a letter tothe Superior of the Jesuit Order.

However, his reply was not

favourable, as he said that theimage was found by a Jesuitpriest, as such it belonged tothe Order. The reply did not sat-isfy the devotees of the villageand the surrounding areas.

The people once again gottogether, and made an appealto the Viceroy, Francisco JoseSampaio, who advised themto follow the usual procedureas he was powerless to helpthem. They then sent a peti-tion to the king of Portugal,Dom Joao V, who on the 18thof April, 1835, wrote a docu-ment to the Viceroy and theCounselor of the State order-ing that the Image, togetherwith all its jewelry and funds,should be restituted to thechurch of Colva and withoutany further delay.

Inspite of the Royal edict, theMenino continued in the Semi-nary of Rachol and the villagersand the devotees gave up anyhope to recover them and in-stead started collecting fundsto buy a new statue.

The new statue was installedon May 2, 1836, and the ringthat belonged to the originalimage, and was found in thesame niche where it was in-stalled was put on the Infant. Itis important to note that whilethe original Image existing in

the Rachol Seminary does noteffect miracles, the new one in-stalled to replace the one takenby the Jesuit rector, continuesto do miracles till date. The peo-ple of Colva believe that theMiraculous Menino was theirs,that even when taken away byforce, He chose to leave behindfor them all His virtues and pow-ers in the ring He dropped.

A large number of devoteesattend the fama, not only fromColva, but from all over Goa.On this occasion the Infant istaken out from the niche, andis covered with regal robes andjewelry and taken in a solemnprocession, around the church,in which hundreds of devoteesparticipate The clothes on theImage are then removed andthe Image given a bath, and thewater collected by the devotees.It is then exposed for publicveneration, when thousandsqueue up to kiss the Infant.Childless parents who were be-stowed with a child, to fulfillthe vow made by them, bringthe baby for the fama and de-posit the child on the altar ofthe Menino, as thanksgiving.Others who had vows to fulfilloffer their thanksgiving to theInfant. Near the altar of the In-fant in the Church a huge boxcollects offerings in wax likearms, legs, eyes, ears and stom-

Colva Fama

celebrated

like a feastBy JOEGOAUK

Which one is most pop-ular? Maddi/Famna orSalvi or Vespr or Fest?

The answer of course, is theFest' or feast, with vhodlem mis,sutt-boott, Feri beri, Poskotteboskotte, Kaddio boddio, ker-mes bermes, chonnern bonnern,Cheu

Risam bheurisam, housiebousie, goddgodo boddgodo,Soirim Dairim, Tiatr Biatn DansBans, Dhirio Bhirio, Muzg Buzg,Soro Boro, Sannam bannam, DukorBukor, Gai Bai, Nustem Bustem,Verddur Berddur, Undde Bundde,Kellim Bellirn, Apol Bapol, etc.

But this one is different. TheTraditional Colva Fama', wherethe Fama is celebrated withpomp and gaiety with high massearly in the morning at 5.50 am.

Fama day here is like theFest, everything usually seenfor the feast (like above), yousee on Fama day too.

The traditional Fama of mirac-ulous Infant Jesus (Menino Jezu)is celebrated today at Colva. Thestatue of Menino Jezu is broughtdown as usual at 530 am.

Followed by the procession,then the statue is kept open forkissing by devotees throughoutmidnight. Another peculiarity ofthe Fama/feast is the Betina blackand yellow striped blessed holycords. Nowhere else do you seethis type of betina'. People usuallytie it around their wrists or theirgold chain or around their necks(its about half a metre long).

Although the miraculousstatue of Infant Jesus (knownfor its healing powers] is about170 years old, the golden ringwith diamond it has on its fingeris about 358 years old.

As the original statue, of l648,ms taken to the Rachol Seminaryin 1836, the said ring had slippedoff home the original statue andwas mounted on the new one.

We saw all types of peopleChristians, Hindus and even nonGoans. We also saw a large num-ber of people playing goddgodoon the main road, with plenty ofpolice marnas around. As it waslate, we quickly had chouricopao, veg patties, cro quettes andbeen then gorrom gorrom chor-rrrnem, and we were back homejust before midnight.

So, this time if you go thereand meet some Colvakars, howwould you wish them? HappyFeast or Happy Fama? I guessHappy Feast will do. Happy feastto all Colvakars!

achs as promised by the devo-tees, who pledged to make theofferings if they were free fromthe ailments they suffered. Thewax of the offering and that ofthe thousands of the candles issold and the income depositedin the treasury. Another pecu-liarity of the fama is the sale ofmedidas. These are cords, olive

green and light green in colourand entwined, measured to thesize of the Menino touched to themiraculous statue and carried awayby almost all devotees as souvenirs.These are tied to the wrists by thedevotees or worn on the chainsor escapularios, which are alsosold on this day. It is a sign of pro-tection and good luck.

Slavish electorateArwin Mesquita, UAE

Many Goans sing praises of their MLAs/Min-isters who help them with specific favours.Surely, if the system of governance was ef-ficient at the macro level there would beno need for the MLAs to assist the peopleat the individual level. It is lethargic, cor-rupt, inefficient governance which forceGoans to approach the MLAs for assistanceand then be forever enslaved to their sav-ior. Literacy makes for better democracy,but in Goas case it has not.

Advice to GoansStephen Dias, Dona Paula

My friend visited Goa after 25 years. Hesaw the dirt and degradation of Calangute,the Russian grannies in Baga being mas-saged by beggars, Anjuna loaded with trin-kets and thrash. Israeli clubs with signsthat said, No Indians allowed and he askswhat are Goans doing? Beach after beachdecimated; miners rape the hills and not a

peep from Goans. He said East Indians inMumbai are protesting against a SpecialEntertainment zone which will destroytheir culture and environment.

No politicos in sportsAires Rodrigues, Ribandar

There should be a total ban on politiciansholding posts in sports organizations. Hav-ing corroded the political sphere they dragthe same rot into the sports arena. Wehave been seeing sports organizationsgoing down the tubes due to such bad in-fluence. Let the sports field be managedby sportsmen and sportswomen. We haveso many of them and they will do us proud.

Tourist security forceJ M de Almeida, Alto Porvorim

In the past one year Goa has witnessedserious crimes against tourists. Our fairname has been shaken. The World Traveland Tourism Council, India initiative, pro-posed the creation of a Tourist Security

Force manned by ex servicemen to patrolbeaches and arterial roads, markets, beachparty venues, to keep tourists safe. 20four-wheeled SUVs equipped with moderngadgets and l5 Hero Honda motor cycleswere donated to the Tourism Dept. Asusual, due to red tapism the said vehiclesare yet to start their operation despite thefact that the tourist season has alreadybegun.

Lorna owes Chris PerryDiogo A. Rodrigues, Majorda

Late Chris Perry, music wizard and com-poser, first groomed and introduced Lornain his band, recorded his songs and intro-duced her to the Konkani stage. They fellout and never came together again. Hissongs with other singers never clicked. Avery close friend of mine, Chris showedme a written contract signed by Lorna tosing exclusively for him. Till his death, shenever came back to record songs for othersor appear on stage. The public crave to lis-ten her voice on stage. When the cat isaway the mice will play. Lorna has beenagain making waves on stage with ChrisPerry songs. Her mentor is no more, buthe must be certainly looking on with somederision.

Clean air is our rightAgnelo DSouza, by email

This has reference to the news item Oretransportation via Quepem will not be al-lowed (Herald, 15 Oct). Breathing dust freeair is the fundamental right of Quepemkarsas much as it is of Sirvoicars and all otherGoemcars and Kawlekar should understandthat he cannot please his voters by causingpermanent hardship to others. He begandumping Quepem garbage in Sirvoi onlyafter Sirvoi became part of Curchorem Con-stituency. Let the mining by-pass issue besettled on sound reasoning and in the largerinterest of Goas future. As Satardekar said,it needs to be solved by co-operation andnot thinking of ones individual benefit.

GBA and the RP2021P L Fernandes, Old-Goa

First of all our CM should make promiseswhich can be kept. Just putting away thingswont work because people are waitingwith bated breath. If the CM, who is a de-ified figure is perceived as lying throughhis teeth, then all that aura and charm ofthat Chair is lost and bodes ill for the future.And the Goa Bachao Abhiyan, will not ceaseto exist after their achievement of the RP-

21. There is another major issue of strength-ening the Gram Sabhas at local levels, end-ing corruption and giving a boost tosuggestions made by Arvind Kejrival in re-spect of Goa?

Brand campaign neededAdelmo Fernandes, Vasco

The four-day Goa International Trade Martwill go a long way to attract tourists andmake Goa a leading holiday destination.The Goa Government should create a pro-motional video clip for international travelchannels like TLC.

Gujarat Tourism has an effective cam-paign with Amitabh Bachchan as their brandambassador. We should do the same withours.

Whats ails our youth?Moon Charles Afonso, Vasco

What a waste of life entering teens anddying. Is it the fast age or the easy avail-ability of death-defying machines giftedto our youth in appreciation or as a statussymbol?

We can always encourage our childrenbut not compete with the wealthy. Whenthings go wrong, what legacy do we leavebehind for our children? They are youngand we need to impart knowledge, wisdomand advise them on the realities of life. Weparents should give them our time andcare for them as youth of today are theleaders of tomorrow.

Dont target shack ownersJohn Lobo, General Secretary, ShackOwners Welfare Society

This has reference to Letter to TourismMinister by Rui Ribeiro da Gama (Herald,14 Oct), saying that action should be takenagainst the shack owners for sunbeds onbeaches. Sun beds and tables were seenon all the beaches of Goa for the last twomonths. Permits for shacks were onlygranted last week.

No person is allowed to put a shack be-fore obtaining all permissions. The sunbeds and tables on the beaches right noware by private parties. The authoritiesshould act against them and not just blamethe shack owners. Rui Gama should comeand see for himself.

CWG scam investigationCedrick Fernandes, Margao

All is not well just because the Gamesended well. All states should also get thesame kind of infrastructure. More impor-tantly, will the Congress-led UPA govern-ment stick to their word on investigatingthe CWG scam on a fast-track basis?

Will action be taken on the Central Vig-ilance Committee Report and their earliercomments of sub-standard work? Or willit just be denial mode and blame game ashas been the procedure in the past untilpeople forget about it?

GBA leaders for GoaRamdas Naik, Siolim

Is it time for a political change? If thosewho spoke at the Goa Bachao Abhiyanmeeting on bringing a change in the Gov-ernment are really serious then it could bea possibility. But will Goans vote for a po-litical change?

This question fills me with anxiety, butagain I start wondering where are the goodleaders to take on the might of the oldjockeys so firm in the saddle. If the GBA isserious then it has to in tandem with otherserious people and groups start lookingfor probable leaders who are smart andintelligent. Can we vote for a change? Westill have the time.

Hang bride burnersMarcos Alemao, Varca

The strong worded judgment of theSupreme Court of India against thekillers of young brides is most wel-come (Herald, 10 Oct). In the absenceof such judgment, thousands of bride killerswent scot-free.

This type of judgment is very muchneeded to save the lives of young bridesfrom the hands of greedy husbands andtheir murderous families. Similar judgmentshould also apply to murderers and crimi-nals.

The Herald office

Charles Darwin in his essays on Evolutionhad asserted: In the process of evolution,the fittest survive and propagate. Thus, the

natural process of selection and elimination in-volves a process of adaptation and mutation tocounter the forces of extinction which are directedtowards inhibition and elimination.

I do not wish to delve into details on the fineraspects of evolutionary biology, but only wish tomake a point that virulence, toxicity and aggres-siveness are not the only ways by which the strongerspecies overcome and overpower their prey.

They can also achieve it by remaining passive,dormant or using the aggressive behaviour ofthe opponent to subdue or counter, which is alsoa very important trait employed in the battle ofwits for survival. While the snake can be venomousand kill an aggressive tiger, a clever mongoosewhich is a far too small a creature, is able to killthe deadly snake.

I would like to reflect on these three years ofDigambar Kamats rule as the Chief Minister ofGoa using the evolutionary approach to the Goanpolitical scenario.

A pessimist sees the glass half-empty; whilethe optimist considers the same glass as half-full. The glass of Digambar Kamats reign is 70per cent full and now only 30 per cent of his fiveyear term still remains to be completed. Thethree turbulent years of Digambars rule werethreatening to overturn his cup of governance atleast on two major occasions.

The farmhouse our elected representatives in-habit at the Goa Assembly complex has seen how5-star hotels, the mining lobby and the drug mafiaprosper and grow. Goa Assembly complex is de-void of those who exhibit the traits of the statelytigers, and the graceful lions. There are howevera few who are faithful dogs, cats and horses,reared both by the major political parties andthe Chief Minister himself. These have helpedhim survive and overcome the political turbulenceduring the last three and half years.

The common man of Goa is forced to accept allthat happens at the farmhouse at Porvorim. Thereare those who are harsh and declare that Digambaris a chief minister whose rule is lacklustre and

unproductive. The state of Goa, his detractorsclaim, is full of chaos, crime and corruption.

There are those others, who are generous andobjectively state that the three years of Digambarsrule were filled with concrete actions and deci-sions. Be it the stalling of the Regional Plan 2011,abolishment of the SEZs brought in by the Ranegovernment, or the recently established FlyingSquads, to bring down the growth of mega build-ing projects, rampant hill cuttings and the de-struction of our ecology. But, are they effectivelyfunctional? This is not easy to address.

Looking objectively under the ecosystem pre-vailing around the Goa Assembly complex, Digam-bar in my viewpoint assumes the role of the humblemongoose, taking cover under duress of the pesti-lence and the virulence, which is all around.

The Aam admi in Goa is not expecting muchfrom Digambar Kamat, who is surrounded by thepoisonous reptiles in Goa governance, who haveparalyzed our society with crime, corruption anddraining our public exchequer. Needless to say,if Digambar uses his mongoose instinct to strikethe poisonous snakes or against the politicalscorpions dominating the seat of power in GoaAssembly, the rodents in the farmhouse and thebulls in the Assembly complex, would gang upto ensure Digambar is eased out of his chair,causing even more havoc in Goa.

In the animal farm Digambar does not pose asa lion or a power hungry tiger, for he knows thathe would soon be the victim of a bite or stingfrom lethal colleagues sucking the blood of thecommon man. Through sins of omission, com-mission and manipulation, Digambar survives.

Goans know full well about contractors givingcommission for infrastructure projects and thatillegal gratification is the order of the day in allministries and government departments. Licensesare granted for a price whether it is mega projects,destruction of forest land, excise scams, illegalmining, power pilferage, health scams.

It is not about live and let live. It is about eatingor cheating together as along as one does not cutoff the hand that feeds you. For Goans, corruptionis the way of life today. The big brother from Delhioften brokers stability for Goa through suitcasediplomacy, using the carrot and stick system toensure discipline at the animal farm at the Assemblycomplex. The Aam admi is left watching the circusand paying for the shows with high taxes.

As you sow, so shall you reap; as you give, soshall you receive. You cannot expect donkeys toperform like stallions. We have elected thosewho live by corruption and expect Digambar todeliver mangoes on blades of grass. Come onGoans, be practical and realistic. University doc-torates and High Priests are not representing

you. Those who swear at or scream against Digam-bar Kamat should realize that you get the gov-ernment you deserve. The Aam admi in Goa doesnot see beyond his home comforts.

Digambars has had to deliver steadily understress and strain of a fractured mandate, underthe dubious Congress framework where nomi-nations for party tickets are based not on loyaltyor performance, but on price.

Some may give Digambar bouquets for his threeand half year rule. There are others who wouldshower him with brickbats, but I, in all humility,would encourage him to better his performanceunder serious constraints, threats and severehandicaps. We must learn to count our blessingsand also appreciate the consequences of our ownpassive outlook. As Digambar rightly says, Goansdo not want to pay parking fees in Goa, but oncein Belgaum, they meekly pay Rs5 per hour.

As of today, we do not have the Regional Plan2011. Would we have the dubious SEZs floodingGoa with hordes of migrants? The notoriouscamel in the MPT is still actively pursuing thegoal of changing the face of Goan coastline andour traditional occupations. Digambar has playedhis role to retard the rate of degradation of Goaand reduce the adverse impacts in a limited way.

Goa is degrading slowly, but the aam admi too,is at fault. We are today in the Golden jubileeyear of Goas Liberation. May I wish Digambarwell that he may profitably use the funds releasedby the Centre t