Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: In a significant move aimed at safeguarding Goa’s identity, land and heritage, South Goa Member of Parliament Captain Viriato Fernandes has introduced a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament seeking Special Status for the state. The Bill was tabled during the recently concluded winter session of Parliament.
Addressing the media in the presence of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) General Secretary Adv. Srinivas Khalap and District Presidents Shri Virendra Shirodkar and Shri Savio D’Silva, Captain Fernandes said the Bill was a decisive step to protect Goa’s Asmitai (identity) at a time when the state faces unprecedented threats to its land, environment and culture.
“This Bill is born out of the love we hold for Goa and the responsibility we feel to protect it. Over the years, we have watched our land change beyond recognition, our forests and rivers come under threat, and our villages lose the character that makes Goa unique. Progress and development matter, but they can never come at the cost of destroying the Asmitai and spirit of our homeland,” Fernandes said.
He added that the Bill is a commitment to ensure future generations inherit a Goa where growth coexists with nature and tradition. “Special Status is not just a law; it is protection for our identity, a lifeline for our people and a promise that the soul of Goa will endure for generations,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, GPCC General Secretary Adv. Srinivas Khalap said the Congress party remains committed to putting Goa and Goans first. “Every policy, law and decision must place Goa’s land, people, culture and environment above all else. This Special Status Bill is a sincere constitutional effort to ensure that Goa’s future is decided by Goans and not sacrificed to uncontrolled vested interests,” he stated.
The Bill highlights Goa’s unique position as a small and ecologically fragile state with a distinct cultural identity. It seeks to address challenges arising from rapid land conversion, environmental degradation, unplanned construction and demographic pressures.
Key provisions of the Bill include the proposal to establish a Goa Sustainable Development Council, headed by the Chief Minister, with representation from the Centre, Members of Parliament, experts and stakeholders, to guide balanced and sustainable development. It also seeks strong legal safeguards for Goa’s cultural heritage, traditional art forms, architecture and way of life.
The proposed Special Status aims to strengthen protection of Goa’s land and environment by enabling stricter regulation of development in eco-sensitive areas and safeguarding rivers, forests, beaches, khazan lands, paddy fields and traditional agricultural zones.
The Bill further provides safeguards for traditional Goan communities such as fishermen, farmers, tribals, artisans and toddy tappers, protecting their land rights, livelihoods, housing and access to education. It also seeks to address concerns over demographic imbalance through constitutionally valid policy measures to ensure Goans are not marginalised in their own state.
Additionally, the Bill promotes and protects Konkani in both Devanagari and Roman scripts, while recognising Marathi for its cultural and historical significance in Goa. It also proposes special powers for the Governor and the President of India to intervene when development threatens eco-sensitive zones.
A notable provision of the Bill is the definition of a “Goan of Goan Origin,” based on the Civil Code of 1867 and other relevant criteria, aimed at safeguarding Goans’ rights relating to land, culture and identity.
With the introduction of the Bill in Parliament, the Congress leadership said the fight to protect Goa’s Asmitai has now firmly reached the national stage.
