GRA- "Goemchea Rakhondarancho Awaz"

A new HOPE has finally dawned on Goa... once again. Goemchea Rakhondarancho Awaz (GRA) or the‘Voice of the Protectors of Goa’, as they call themselves, has arrived in Goa. My hearty congratulations to the “new protectors" of Goa. Welcome to Goa... Goa and Goans have been long awaiting your arrival.

As you are probably aware, GRA is a newly formed "Group of 35 NGOs". They are from different parts of Goa. Most of them are social activists of known credibility and experience; people who have fought for "just causes" in the past; and people who continue to do their community work , fearlessly. The formation of GRA is indeed a great "new beginning" for Goa; and a genuine new Hope for those who feel let down by our present day politics and politicians in Goa. 

For any Orgenization/Mass Movement to be successful, it needs people of different kinds and minds. It needs visionaries, strategists, back office workers, good writers/speakers, pro-active supporters and fearless field workers. GRA certainly has them all, and it has  them in a big number. GRA also has a couple of sincere, committed and mature leaders in its "Core Committee". In my opinion, GRA is one of the best things that could have ever happened to Goa. GRA has to be given a chance; it certainly deserves our support, guidance and blessings.

It was a great honour  to be invited by Adv Yatish Naik and others to attend one of their earliest "Core Group" meetings. It was a privilege to exchange views, on a wide variety of topics. After listening to them, I was bold enough to point out, that for GRA to succeed in its mission, it should keep the politicians (including myself) out of it. GRA should remain an exclusive "People's Movement"-actively involved in Goan politics. In my opinion, GRA should also be an organization that is totally focused on safeguarding "Goa, Goans and Goanness".

All this while, different NGOs and Forums in Goa were fighting for their respective causes, all on their own. Coming under "one banner" called GRA will not only add synergy to the respective NGOs, but will also strengthen "social activism" in Goa.  NGOs will thus be able to fight their individual and collective battles more effectively. And Government will not be able to take them for granted any more. "Coming together" for the greater good of Goa, was indeed the need of the hour; and I thank God that it has become a reality. And I hope that this is not a "mirage", but a reality that is going to last for some time in Goa, and get stronger by the day.

After meeting their leaders, I was convinced that GRA is in "safe hands", and that it is capable of doing a great job for Goa. However, just as different people have different mind sets, different Groups/NGOs also have their individual agendas and ideologies which can sometimes clash with each other. The ultimate success of GRA will depend on how far these individual Groups within the GRA "discipline themselves", and channelize their time, talents and resources to fight the "real enemies of Goa". They should not fight "each other", as it happened with the famous People's Movement in Goa, a few years ago.  

GRA will be holding its first public meeting at the Azad Maidan, Panaji on March 15th 2011... to demand a "change" in government’s anti-people policies and a clamp down on rampant corruption in the government administration. GRA also want a resolution to be passed in the State Legislative Assembly for granting of a "special status" for Goa by the Central Government. Besides the anti-corruption Lokayukta Bill being passed at the earliest (but not before sufficient time is given to the public to improvise on it), they also want to highlight other issues like the police-politician-drug mafia nexus, the modified  Regional Plan 2021, illegal mining, land acquisition for Mopa Airport and Indian Navy, garbage menace and environmental degradation, Mega Projects, and other issues which are bad for Goa and Goans.

All these actions are indeed a "great beginning" for GRA. I only hope and pray that their wise leaders will take all the necessary precautions to keep politicians out of GRA. People with known political ambitions and self-centered "hidden agendas" should be dealt with firmly, and kept out of GRA. Nobody should be allowed to "piggy ride" and take advantage of GRA (to boost their hidden political ambitions). GRA should neither be a political platform for the existing politicians/Political Parties, nor a political launching-pad for theaspiring (future) politicians. If that happens, both the GRA and social activism movement will dilute their credibility and effectiveness; and people will loose confidence in them. 

Although I am not a politician in its true sense, having already announced my political candidature, I felt it was "not right" for me to be a part of GRA. I have therefore decided to support this great Movement from "outside". I do not wish to take advantage of GRA to boost my election campaign. In my opinion, GRA should be allowed to play a very responsible "dual role" in Goan politics. GRA should not be "tool" of any politician/political party. GRA should be a "catalyst for political change" in Goa; and should act like an "effective community watchdog" before, during and after the elections.

GRA should also take over the role of a "responsible opinion leader" in politics. It should educate the masses on the kind of political leaders they need to elect for the good of Goa. GRA should actively support and canvass for  "good candidates" (people of known credibility, irrespective of their political affiliation) in different constituencies; and explore the possibilities of forming a Third Political Front or a new Regional Party in Goa... totally independent from Congress, BJP and other existing Parties in Goa.  

If GRA could succeed in achieving any one of these two objectives, it will surely change the face of politics in Goa. It will bring in a couple of "responsible MLAs" into the Goa Assembly, and thus usher in a "Change"... a change that we can see and believe in. It is to this hope and prayer, I say... may God bless you GRA, and may the best come out of you. Amen.

IMPORTANT: If you missed reading my earlier Note on Facebook... "A Different Kind of Politics", kindly click this Link to read the same-  http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=169515449762624&id=1141653347