Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Disturbed over what they termed as rapid deterioration of Mapusa town, a coalition of doctors, lawyers, professionals and activists across political ideologies has announced the formation of a civil society platform named “Together for Mapusa” (TFM) to reclaim the city’s future.
The group said it will function as a “parallel opposition” to hold the current governance accountable, citing issues such as garbage accumulation, poor infrastructure, rising crime and stalled public projects including the sewage treatment plant and Ravindra Bhavan.
Addressing the media, TFM president Adv Mahesh Rane said participating in democracy goes beyond voting and requires constant public oversight of governance. He said the organisation will reach out to residents across wards to identify civic issues and push for solutions.
General secretary Jitesh Kamat stated that the society plans to participate in the upcoming municipal electoral process by fielding a panel of “clean and capable” candidates. He alleged that the municipal council has for decades been influenced by political interference and said the group aims to ensure a council free from party control. He added that the initiative draws inspiration from the concept of Swaraj, seeking local governance “of the people, by the people and for the people”.
Vice president Vijay Bhike said the organisation’s mission extends beyond elections and will focus on long-term civic reforms. He said issues such as waste management, parking, functioning of the district hospital and river pollution during Ganesh visarjan would be addressed through constructive engagement, peaceful agitation and legal remedies where required.
TFM also announced its committee with Adv Mahesh Rane as president, Jitesh Kamat as general secretary, Rajesh Marathe as treasurer and Devendra Rathwal as joint treasurer, along with several vice presidents, secretaries and executive members.
The group said it will soon launch a city-wide survey and public outreach programmes to engage residents and work towards restoring civic governance and infrastructure in Mapusa.
