Goa is at a critical crossroads. In recent years, the coastal state — known for its vibrant culture, picturesque landscapes, and deep-rooted community traditions — has witnessed growing tensions over land use, especially regarding the age-old institution of Comunidade. The latest citizen-led movement under the banner “Save Comunidade, Save Goa” is more than a protest; it is a resounding call to preserve Goa’s identity, protect its land, and uphold a centuries-old community-based ownership system that is now under increasing threat.
The Comunidade system is not just a relic of the past. It is a living, breathing institution rooted in collective ownership, participatory governance, and ecological sustainability. Unlike the fragmented and often exploitative models of land use in many parts of India, Goa’s Comunidade lands — traditionally owned and managed by local communities — represent a unique form of local self-governance that pre-dates even Portuguese rule.
However, in recent decades, the Comunidade system has been systematically weakened. Successive governments, driven by short-sighted policies and developmental pressures, have either ignored or directly tampered with this institution. Land originally held in common trust is being diverted for private projects, mega infrastructure, and questionable real estate developments — often under the guise of “public interest” or “regularization” schemes. In many cases, this is done without genuine consultation with the gaonkars (original village members) or the managing committees of the Comunidades themselves.
The current public outrage stems from the state government’s attempts to regularize unauthorized houses on Comunidade land. While housing and urban challenges do demand sensitive solutions, bulldozing through centuries of tradition without transparent dialogue is dangerous. Critics rightly point out that such decisions are often made in favour of vested interests rather than to serve the common Goan. It risks opening the floodgates to further encroachment, land grabs, and the dilution of Goa’s unique identity.
The “Save Comunidade, Save Goa” campaign represents the convergence of civil society, youth, environmental activists, lawyers, and ordinary citizens who refuse to remain silent spectators to the silent erosion of Goa’s heritage. Their message is clear: Goa is not for sale.
This is not a battle against development. It is a fight for sustainable and inclusive development. The people involved in the campaign are not anti-progress. They seek an approach to development that is aligned with local aspirations, respects traditional systems, and ensures ecological balance. The Comunidade system, with its deep ties to community welfare and land stewardship, could in fact serve as a model for participatory planning in the rest of the country.
The fight is also about transparency. Time and again, land transactions involving Comunidade areas are shrouded in opacity. The call is for clear records, public hearings, and democratic decision-making before any land is diverted or regularized. There is a pressing need to digitize and protect Comunidade records and restore the institution’s autonomy.
Furthermore, there is a cultural dimension to this protest. Comunidades are not just landholding units; they are custodians of Goan tradition, festivals, customs, and local governance practices. To undermine them is to endanger the very fabric of Goan society.
The government, instead of viewing this as resistance, must see it as an opportunity — a chance to reconnect with the people, to reform governance in consultation with traditional institutions, and to position Goa as a model state where tradition and modernity coexist.
The “Save Comunidade, Save Goa” campaign is not just about land. It is about legacy. It is about telling future generations that we stood up when it mattered. That we chose identity over blind expansion, and sustainability over greed. That we refused to allow Goa to become just another commercial hotspot stripped of its soul.
As citizens unite under this powerful banner, they remind us all of something essential: development without roots is destruction. Goa’s roots lie in its Comunidades. To save them is to save Goa itself.
