GOA SWAYS ...'SMP' STYLE by Valmiki Faleiro.

GOA SWAYS … 'SMP' STYLE!

By Valmiki Faleiro.

Remember SMP? Acronym of a Konknni expression about whistles and pubic hair, used here last week? If Goa’s last-lap colonial rule was ‘Salazar-shahi,’ this democratic era is‘SMP-shahi.’ Ministers are not bothered about people. Officials care lesser about people. And people do not care about their own common good. SMP-shahi! Let’s view this SMP mindset from another perspective. Even if the story about water contamination in Margao, played up as Page One lead by the local edition of a national daily this Feb 27 was exaggerated, Margao doubtlessly sits on a ticking time bomb.

A word on Margao. Down history, Margao was not just Salcete’s capital but Goa’s principal town. Salcete (including today’s Mormugao, bifurcated in Dec-1880) was the biggest taluka of the Old Conquests. Biggest in area, population, state revenues and foremost in political and cultural trends. “The most noble,” said ‘Oriente Conquistado.’“Athens of Goa,” was how Portuguese surveyor Antonio Lopes Mendes described Margao in ‘A India Portuguesa.’ Margao is going to dogs. Despite Digambar Kamat – a Minister most of the time, and now the Chief Minister – representing it since 1994. At least some Margao residents unwittingly drink government-supplied water laced with mutants of human excreta (my words.)

Let’s recap the newspaper report. A 1.5 litre sample of ‘potable’ tap water collected at Gogol-Margao was tested at the Goa State Pollution Control Board laboratory. Among the results: Coliform organisms – 540(maximum permissible limit: 10.) Faecal coliform – 240 (max. limit: zero.) In 100 ml of water! These bacteria can cause fatal gastric and liver illnesses. Years ago, warnings were sounded that Selaulim water was contaminated with deadly Trihalomethanes (THMs), linked to cancer. Not that there are no quality controls. At least on paper, treated water is tested at various points, from the post-treatment at Selaulim to the point of local reservoirs, before it is pumped into distribution lines. Let us assume the Public Health Engineering (PHE) guys are doing their job pumping only safe water into distribution. But then, everybody knows that Margao’s sub-soil is saturated with raw sewage. How does one prevent soil contaminants from seeping into the porous distribution pipe joints? This appears to be at the heart of the problem.

The age-old, under-capacity, ill-suitedseptic tank/soak pit system that has slowly but surely contaminated even ground water.The supreme irony is that crores have been – and are being – spent, since 1985/86, on Margao’s sewage system. Less than 10 percent households in the covered area have connected to the sewers – despite incentives, like almost free connections. I have an ancient, perennial, drinking water well in my compound. When a cluster of buildings rose in the adjoining property, I randomly tested its water over the last quarter century. E-coli and other bacteriological levels gradually increased. I am not suggesting that only Rohini Apts. was the cause, but despite being a Co-operative Housing Society, it has not connected to the sewage system. There won’t be a single uncontaminated water well in Margao, as I’ve said before. Who’s to blame? PHE guys, who work under Ministers? Who in turn are elected by us? The buck stops with us, the people. At least like those in Margao who have the sewage facility at their doorstep but have chosen not to connect.

Officials indeed have already suggested that water supply to errant households be cut.There was ministerial inertia. Except in the current controversy over Digambar Kamat reportedly reversing water disconnections to some buildings at Colmorod. Granted, the area is not under the sewage network. But what prevented the buildings, now receiving the Chief Minister’s benign sympathies, from using night soil tankers to regularly empty their septic tanks – instead of diverting their raw sewage into municipal drains? When elected leaders are irresponsible, officials wouldn’t lag far behind. I blame neither.

In today’s ‘Goa Meri Hai’, the all-pervasive mantra among elected men and bureaucrats belongs solely to us, the people. SMP!

P.S.: Last week’s column on Candolim’s beached ‘River Princess’ evoked an interesting response from Mumbai-based friend, Nikhil Purov. Says he: "From dust you rise, in dust you settle - a full circle. The Princess was possibly made from iron smelted out of Goa'siron ore (dust). Like salmon, it could have come full circle to return to its shores of origin.‘Rusting In Peace’ (RIP) I think could be a good epitaph.” (ENDS.)

The Valmiki Faleiro weekly.

JASPER DIAS ON "CAN WE HELP?"

Jasper Dias has left a new comment on your post "CAN YOU HELP?":

Bab Veronica, I just want to comment on the write - up under the reference

" CAN YOU HELP ".

It's a very sad and spine chilling article by Rev Andy Thompson of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ahmadi – Kuwait. It is also a very Blood Boiling article to know that this type of things still exists in the world and that too very much in the Gulf areas. I don't say that it is not happening in other parts of the world, I am sure they are but I salute Rev. Andy Thompson for opening the Lid of what is happening in Kuwait. If i am not mistaken there was also an article on the ill treatment of Maids from you sometime back. I salute you both for being a Voice of the downtroden. God gives you both health and courage to bring this type of news to the world thru your GOA KRANTI forum to educate and enlighten people especially the job aspiring MAIDS on the dangers they should expect.


I am sure people have read the article and their 1st reaction would be OMG ( Oh My God ) or Saiba Bogos what is happening? See in both of them God name is there in English and Konkani. We Goans have God in our minds for everything and I hope God gives the courage to the Nepali maid to overcome the trauma she went thru and she will go thru till she dies. My earnest prayer and I hope like minded people will also do the same. Question arises : So, where are the Laws in Kuwait ? Are there different sets of laws in Kuwait for the native and the expatriats?? Are there any Human Rights organisations who can take the issue to the higher authority??? I am sure that the devine punishment will come for the missdeeds they did on innocent people's lives. I am sure lots of our Goan maids also must be going through that hell but are just silent cause if they spill the bean out they will loose their livehood and all family in Goa will suffer as the saying goes " DANTTUI AMCHE ANI VONTTUI AMCHE" so might as well suffer. It is not a right attitude but they have no other choice than be a silent spectator. You two keep on writing and exposing the missdeeds of people and hope something positive comes out of it.


People around the world after reading the article must be saying how bad the Kuwaitis are but let me tell those people that we Goans are also in the same boat but not to that extent. We mostly in Goa the so called ELITE eg: Landlords / Ministers / Builders in one word " The Rich and powerful people" also have maids in their houses. Most of the maids are from Outside Goa or the downtroden village people. They are also ill treated , they have no set of hours to work, they are awake till the BAB is come home and seen all his needs are met cause the madam is fast a sleep. They are paid very low salary, they dont get off day and they cannot complain. The worst thing is that they are mostly UNDERAGE. So are there Laws in GOA to protect the underage workforce??? Even if there are, no one gives a Damm. One thing is that I am not aware of any RAPES in Goa where the maids are concerned as like Kuwait and probaly because this so called Elite Group of people in GOA hire our beautiful looking girls to be their PA so rapes do not play part. They can make Kids outside wedlock and look after them without their legal Wife knowing.


Money and power talks same as in Kuwait but in Goa it is in a systematic way. As long as package is good I guess everyone is happy and no complaints. SO you can see the difference. We Goans also have a share in our Maids agony in our life and that is part of life if you are in that Elite Group. I condemm the Rapes of innocent people and ask God to punish them if the law does not. I also condemm the ill treatment of the maids in Kuwait which only people like you bring it out openly to the world. I think HUMAN RIGHTS organisation headquaters should investigate thEse crimes and pressure the respective govt to punish the culprits as I am sure the Kuwaiti Govt is a signatory to the ILO ( International Labour Organisation ). In Goa the Govt or the NGO should wake up and BAN the hiring of underage Maid thus depriving their childhood nessecities which only kids can appreciate and not slog for hours working. I am glad that the subject came out in print and I had an opportunity to shed my knowledge of what I am aware of where Maids are concerned in Goa. We should ask ourself what can we do to eradicate the hiring of underage Maids menace in Goa. People may think by hiring underage Kids as maids they are doing a favour to their parents moneytarily but I say they are depriving their rights to live as Kids.

Thank you, Kranti. Let Veronica create Kranti thru goa-kranti. Other than you Bab Veronica, there is nobody among us to create a real kranti.

Jasper.

DEATH OF DRUMMER MAX FERNANDES.

MAX FERNANDES

It is with deep regret and sorrow we learnt of the sad and sudden death of our friend Musician and Drummer Max Fernandes on 25th of this month in Goa. He was an ex Kuwait Goan. Before coming to Kuwait he even played for Chris Perry's Band. In Kuwait he played for various Bands. He was a regular sight with his Drums Set for Tiatros and Weddings. He was a member of Albino's Holy Family Choir at Kuwait City Church. A very generous man, he loved Goa, he loved Konkani and he loved Goan culture. For many of the good causes he played free of charge.

His memory will always remain alive in the minds of all those who associated with him in the promotion of music. May his soul rest in peace.

Goa-Kranti.