Key Concerns and Demands
— Disruption of Religious and Cultural Festivals: The presence of the law college could disrupt the traditional festivals and rituals that are deeply rooted in the community’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
— Encroachment on Sacred Spaces: The project site is close to areas of significant religious and cultural importance, which could be compromised by the university’s construction and activities.
— Impact on Community and Way of Life: The influx of students, faculty, and staff could lead to social and cultural changes that might diminish the traditional identity of Mayem.
— Strain on Infrastructure and Festival Preparations: Increased traffic, noise, and infrastructural changes could make it difficult to conduct religious processions and ceremonies.
— Agricultural and Livelihood Concerns: The project threatens fertile land and water resources, potentially displacing families engaged in cashew farming and other agricultural activities.
— Impact on Chavato: The proposed law college project at Chavato, a sacred place, threatens the community’s deeply rooted religious and cultural traditions.
Team Goemkarponn
MAYEM: In a strong show of unity, the residents of Mayem village in Goa have vehemently opposed the proposed establishment of an international law college in their area, citing significant cultural, religious, and livelihood concerns.
The opposition was formally expressed in a detailed request letter submitted to key government authorities, including the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, the North Goa Collector, and the Hon’ble MLA of the Mayem constituency.
The letter, dated February 13, 2025, and signed by the villagers of Gaonkerwada, Mayem, outlines several major concerns regarding the proposed law college.
The villagers emphasized the potential disruption to their traditional religious festivals, such as Jatra, Jevni, and Jagyakar rituals, which are integral to their spiritual and cultural heritage.
These festivals involve large processions and community gatherings that could be disturbed by the presence of a university in the vicinity.
“We believe that the establishment of this project in Mayem will have severe negative impacts on our traditional religious festivals,” the letter states. “The construction and activities of the university may interfere with these sacred spaces, affecting the sanctity of our festivals and religious practices.”
The opposition to the law college is not a recent development. The Mayem gram sabha had previously unanimously opposed the proposal during a meeting on February 2, 2025, adopting a formal resolution to prevent any development that could disrupt their religious practices.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has criticized the villagers for their opposition, stating that such a mindset is harmful for development projects. However, the villagers remain firm in their stance, emphasizing the importance of preserving their cultural and religious heritage.
The villagers have urged the government to reconsider the location of the project and explore alternative sites outside Mayem village. They have attached a copy of the gram sabha resolution to their letter, reflecting the collective will of the people.
As of now, there has been no official response from the government regarding the villagers’ request. The next steps are likely to involve further discussions and potential meetings between the government and the villagers to address the concerns raised.
