Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA – The much emphasised ‘Canacona Vision -2030 got off to a subdued beginning, as many of the stakeholders stayed away from the first-ever meeting to prepare a Roadmap/ Vision Document for the overall development of the Canacona constituency.
The meeting, as convened by Speaker/Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, was held at Shri Mallikarjun and Chetan Manju College on Saturday and attended by around a hundred (believed to be stakeholders) including a few present/past Teachers, a couple of Leaders, CA’s, Engineers, Doctors, Lawyers, Reporter’s, Agriculturist, Banker, against the anticipated participation of around 200 persons.
Seventeen different Committees were formed, each with 8-10 members on other matters such as Education, Health, Tourism, Road Infrastructure, Water -Supply, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Sports, Art and Culture, Canacona Branding, Forest and Environment, Garbage, Artefacts and Handicrafts, Human Development, Business, amongst others.
Shri Mallikarjun College Principal Dr Manoj Kamat, who had coordinated the program, said each of the committees will prepare a road map, which by 2030 will change the entire face of Canacona as a whole.
Different personalities from various political parties participated in the deliberations and put forth their views and suggestions; however, the program, which was also attended and addressed by Speaker/Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, was skipped by Ex-Dy Speaker Isidore Fernandes, Ex-Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot, 2022 Assembly elections candidates (AAP) Adv Anoop Kudtarkar, Revolutionary Goans Prashant Pagi, TMC Mahadev Dessai, reportedly to whom invitations were extended to attend the program.
While CMC Chairperson Simon Rebello and a few Councillors attended, none of the Sarpanch and most panch members from Six(6) village panchayats of the Canacona constituency (Agonda, Shrishthal, Gaondongrim, Khotigao, Poinguinim and Loliem-Polem) was present.
Besides, political entities who made their presence felt were congress leader/candidate (2022) Janardhan Bhandari, Goa Forward leader Prashant Naik, Vikas Bhagat, AAP leader Sandesh Telekar, ex-Loliem-Polem sarpanch Ajay Lolienkar, Bhushan Prabhugaongkar, and educationists ex-HM Ulhas Pai Bhatikar, Kamlakar Mhalshi, Hemant Kamat, Vithoba Desai, Shirish Pai, Shantaji Naikgaunkar, Chandralekha Mestri, adv Dharmesh Vernekar, Adv Pratibha Gane, DPMs Shri Mallikarjun and Chetan Manju College Chairman Chetan Dessai; Vice-chairman K B Naik Gaunkar were also present.
Earlier, addressing the meeting, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar said, ‘keeping in mind the development of even the last person, a road map (Vision Document) is required to be prepared so that by 2030 all-round development of Canacona is achieved. As a part of Vision Canacona, Canconcars having a vision is requested to help prepare a roadmap towards the progress and development of Canacona. The document will ensure future developmental works in every sphere and be taken up priority wise. There is a substantial increase in tourism Trade in Canacona. Outsiders come and conduct the trade and bring in an outside workforce to their establishments. This, however, doesn’t benefit locals.’
While a few listed their suggestions, Janardhan Bhandari submitted a representation with the charter of demands and requests for implementation by the government to see a better developed Canacona constituency.
After explaining how the respective committees will function and deliver, Program coordinator Dr Manoj Kamat went ahead to form concerned Committees with members drawn from amongst the participants as per their specialisation of the expertise.