Goa Beaches - Benaulim Beach

Benaulim beach is located in the immediate neighbourhood of the picturesque Colva beach in south Goa and is around 6 km from the city of Margao.

HOW TO REACH TO BENAULIM BEACH IN GOA

If you have decided to fly down to Goa , then the only airport in Goa is at Dabolim. Benaulim beach is located at a distance of around 33 kms from Dabolim.

If you happen to travel from the capital city of Panjim, Benaulim is  at a distance of around 42 kms from Panjim city.

The nearest railway station to Benaulim is at Margao , also known as the "MADGAON railway station" which is hardly 7 kms away.

The local bus service from Benaulim is quite a frequent affair. Also if you happen to be at the neighbouring beach, Colva, you must know that Benaulim is  less than 2 kms away and there are plenty of buses plying from Colva to Benaulim.

Also , there are other services of transport to Benaulim from Margao such as a taxi, a motorcycle pilot or a rickshaw from the Margao Kadamba bus stand.

ABOUT BENAULIM BEACH

A pretty serene environment,  the Benaulim beach is still untapped by revellers coming to goa and therefore it is an idyllic spot to spend one's time and have a peaceful vacation away from the crowds. However crowds mainly from Goa, flock to the beach on the weekends owing to its historic ambience and traditional belonging in the hearts of Goans. Benaulim has always been a favourite among the people in south Goa.

The Benaulim beach is known to be the historic fishing village and now has consumed itself into the realm of tourism. It is currently hosting very few hotels. However the area is famous for the presence of one of the largest hotels in Goa,The Taj Exotica. There are also various self contained  apartments with all amenities offering a comfortable accomodation, with plenty of shacks and other eateries nearby offering delicious Goan cuisine.

WHATS GOING ON AT BENAULIM BEACH

The beach front is also home to a host of adventure sports and water sports activities which tourists can happily indulge in besides services such as spa treatments,tatooing , ayurveda etc are all available around the beach zone. Sunbathing is a favorite choice of most tourists around this area. Benaulim is known for fishing,underwater snorkelling, Dolphin watching , crocodile watching , island tours and other such activities which are often organised by the boatmen on the beach.

Boat trips are also a very popular leisure activity at Benaulim beach which can help you move far and deep in the sea . There are various options of Leisure available including the long haul option of a boat trip all the way up from the Benaulim coast to the Flea market at Anjuna.

WHERE TO STAY AT BENAULIM BEACH IN GOA

Benaulim beach has scanty accommodation available and a few hotels are around the area. However self contained apartments are the best way to stay at the beach. Besides being cheaper, they are very convinient and have most amenities included such as refrigerator, airconditioner, gas connection, utensils for cooking, sparkling flooring and clean and crisp bedding , well maintained hygienic bathrooms etc. The best part is they are much cheaper than the hotels in Benaulim. For options send an email or enquiry to " Goa Living Styles" . They have accomodation in Benaulim at affordable cost and longer durations are offered a discount.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN BENAULIM

Benaulim used to be known for Bull -fights in the olden days. however nowadays these Bull-fights are banned and there are presently no bull fights staged in Benaulim whatsoever. Only rumours about bull fights are doing the rounds .

Benaulim is blessed with a beautiful Church known as the Church of St John the Baptist. The Church is situated on a hill beyond the village and is worth a visit. On the arrival of the monsoon, the traditional feast of St John the Baptist is celebrated here with plenty of enthusiasm and fervour.

The feast, popularly known as "SAO JOAO FEST" is celebrated as a thanksgiving day. On this day it is a common sight to see young and old wearing crowns of leaves and fruits touring the village to the accompaniment of the drums and songs, especially the Goan Mandos, urging everyone to participate in the celebrations.

The villagers than gather around various wells or ponds in the village and jump or dive in the waters of the wells or ponds while Mandos are being sung in the background with the chant of " Viva Sao Joao" resonating vibrantly on everybody's lips.

Nuvem locals want Goa's western bypass to be scrapped

Yet another meeting of the villagers of Nuvem last week was a show of complete indignation as various speakers lambasted the government's plan of the proposed western bypass and called for its immediate scrapping.

Accusing the government of planning to scuttle Goan houses and lush green paddy fields including the River Sal, the villagers have threatened to go on a fast unto death to if the government fails to pay heed to their genuine concerns.

The Citizens Welfare Committee leader Ms Ethel Lobo flayed the government over the issue of employing outsiders in Goa's public utility projects  such as hospitals etc and questioned the wisdom of the government in denying the same to locals of Goa.

CWC general secretary Sanjeev Raiturcar was critical of the very need of the western bypass when the eastern bypass was reportedly enough to meet all the requirements.

Goa BSNL's personal accident insurance benefit. No takers as yet!

Awareness seems to be the most uncommon thing in Goa. BSNL has been offering its telephone subscribers in Goa with an added benefit of a personal accident insurance cover for a long time. However lack of awareness seems to be the reason why there has not been even a single insurance claim in Goa made to the BSNL in this regard.

The information on the insurance cover is clearly mentioned both on the front of the telephone bill as well as the back. On the front side of the bill, the information is given just below the final bill total and reads as follows

 

" BSNL offers free insurance coverage to its customers of landline, WLL and Postpaid mobile survivors for Rs 50,000/- per connections in  case of accidental death and permanent total disability due to accident" whereas the information is also provided on the back portion of the bill which reads as below

" BSNL offers free life insurance coverage to its customers of landline, WLL and Postpaid Mobile survivors for Rs 50,000/- per connections in case of accidental death and permanent disability due to accident. Contact M/s Bajaj Allianz toll free No 1800-225858 ( from BSNL/MTNL) 1800-1025858 ( From Bharti Mobile/ landline)

BSNL has an estimated 1,65,000 landline connections in Goa while the WLL connections account for over 8,000 subscribers and the postpaid cell phone connections in the state of Goa have totalled to around 22,000 users. However the department is yet to receive even a single case of accident insurance claim which is shockingly surprising.

As detailed in the information in the bill a subscriber/ survivor can claim an insurance cover of over Rs 50,000 in cases of accidental death and permanent  total disability due to an accident. The BSNL has tied up with a private insurance player Bajaj Allianz for the service, and they will depute a surveyor to verify the authenticity of the claims made by the survivors.

The procedure is indeed very simple.All that one has to do is to dial up the toll free number mentioned on the bill (reproduced above ) and the insurance company is expected to follow the case from there on. The insurance company clarifies with BSNL the bonafides of the BSNL subscription of the claimant and since no such clarification has been sought from BSNL so far, the company has confirmed that no one has availed of the benefit till date.

According to the insurance coverage scheme offered by Bajaj allianz through BSNL, the permanent total disability is deemed to mean " loss of sight in both eyes, physical separation of/or loss of ability to use both hands or both feet, physical separation of/or loss of ability to use one's hand and one's foot and loss of sight of one eye.

One hopes that Goans will take advantage of the benefit in future and reduce their financial burdens rather than allow their claim to lapse thereby benefiting the insurance company

The Goan Shigmo

Shigmo is celebrated in  Goa with the usual Goan fervour that Goans are so proud of. It seems to be a festival which is celebrated in a transition period of Goan climate when the winter season in Goa ends and the vagaries of summer begin to take over with various creatures which had laid low in the winter emerging out of their hibernation to partake in the joy and merriment awaiting them with  colours, fun and frolic.

While the rest of India celebrates the festival of Holi in full spendour, with different groups and teams singing and dancing to folk songs and folk dances, with drums and cymbals to give the desired effects, Goa on the other hand celebrates its own distinguished brand of holi known as "shigmo"which is unique to Goa and Goans.

Some opine that the word Shigmo is a clear derivation which has evolved from Sugimha or Sugrisha which means a "pleasant summer time".

The advent of summer with the goodbyes to winter actually marks the festival of Shigmo as if the change of the season had brought in merriment and fun accompanied with it. So the Shigmo essentially is a heralding of happiness and merry, signifying the change of the winter season to the advent of the summer.In Goa, all d ifferences of caste and creed or status is set aside to celebrate all kinds of feasts and the same goes with the Shigmo, with people from all strata of society partaking in the celebrations wit a spirit of festivity. The folk dances , folk songs and the cultural beat is the backbone of the rich Goan cultural heritage which Goans are very proud of.

With a unique identity that the Shigmo has, it was also the hotbed of natural eco friendly methods of fun. The colours used in the shigmo festivities were very natural in the olden days and were made from dried wild flowers which never caused any problems or irritation to any revellers or passers by. Also the traditional colour, Gulal made of rice mixed with turmeric powder was also sprayed in Goa on the revellers partaking in the festival.

There were innovative natural ways to spray the colours with the older generation using jet sprayers mad of bamboo sticks which were very effective while being eco friendly. Also the colours being safe and natural nobody  bothered about the ill effects of the  colours. In contrast, we see modern times where colours are normally included in chemicals which can be quite hazardous.

The festival of shigmo has always been one which has seen unique traditions specific to each village or area. While the festival is celebrated across the length and breadth of Goa very actively, unlike Carnival, it is not observed on a fixed day but rather on different days with each village or area having its own tradition of celebrating it. However there are certain disciplines followed in the celebrations which forms the essence of the festival.

The Shigmo is therefore a true Goan festival which has survived the times and can be traced centuries back showcasing the unique identity of Goa, Goan character and the rich Goan culture.

Goa's Motorcycle pilots - a unique breed.

  Goa is known all over the world for a host of things very unique to the state. The motorcycle pilot in Goa is just another one of them. A unique trade, the motorcycle pilots as they are fondly referred to in Goa have always been received warmly by the tourists coming to Goa owing to the cheaper means of conveyance while also being able to enjoy the green view of Goa in open and naturally aromatic freshly whizzing Goan breeze.

A pillion ride on a motorcycle pilot's bike can be a pleasure trip, in all kinds  of weather, be it rain or shine. Fuel prices notwithstanding, the Goa motorcycle pilots are a rare breed found only in the state of Goa within the Indian union.

The whole of Goa is host to this very peculiar trade of motorcycle pilots who have ferried millions of people to their destinations over the years and continue to do so till date. The motorcycle pilot has been often viewed as the speedy answer to a comfortable and affordable means of conveyance for one and all. Some have faithfully stuck to the motorcycle pilots preferring them over the rickshaws and the taxis or even the buses  in Goa.

It is not clear how the trade of the motorcycle pilots came into existence in Goa. However it has to be attributed to the rather non-motorable terrains in Goa in earlier times which seems to have given birth to this breed of pilots who have intervened to sort out the problem.Although the buses in Goa may be a cheaper option, they are unable to drop the passengers right upto the doorstep, something which the motorcycle pilots can do effortlessly. Goa's terrain and geographical ambience surely aids the pilots who ride adroitly and zip and zoom through green village field paths,mud roads or among the cattle and thick forest foliages , dodging cats , cows, buffaloes and dogs who often park themselves right in the middle of the road.

Painted in the taxi colour of yellow and black the bike of the motorcycle pilot provides the pillion rider a whiff of fresh air and breeze musing through your hair and running past your ears and the sun shining on your face.The clients patronising the motorcycle pilot range from the avid adventure tourist willing to launch himself into the fresh and wanton breeze of Goa to the tired Goan shopper who has bags to carry home or the late student who needs to catch up with lost time, or the lost traveler who needs to find a difficult address or simply the Goan who would like to catch the Mumbai train on time the motorcycle pilot is the best to take you across.

In the olden days  of seventies and eighties, the motorcycle pilot was very attached to the "Rajdoot" and the "Yezdi" brand of motorcycles, with the two brands ruling their roads. However with the advent of the four stroke bikes, the newer brands of Hero Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki Bajaj and the Yamaha have made permanent inroads into the lives of the motorcycle pilots who have adopted these newer modes into their brand of living.

In recent times the motorcycle pilots  have come out to form an association to place their grievances before the government of goa. Under the banner of " the Goa Motorcycle taxi riders association" the  pilots , organised a peaceful dharna last month and submitted a memorandum to the government to look into their grievances.

Demanding appropriate shades for them at the KTC bus stands in Goa to conduct smooth business, they have urged the RTO ( road transport organisation) of Goa to take them into confidence before issuing permits to new entrants in the trade in Goa. They have also sought restrictions on the rent-a-bike businesses mushrooming in Goa and a ban on renting out of private motorcycles.

The association also demanded that the old-age scheme be extended to them and other homeless pilots to be allotted plots of land for constructing houses.

The Cellphone and Goa

The cell phone has been part of a revolution that the world is witnessing in the last decade and Goa hasn't been indifferent to this changing culture of an excessive speech medium. From the topmost honchos in the business world to politicians and clergymen upto the poorest labourer in the slums, all have fallen for the bait set by the delight of having your own cellphone.

While the utility of the cellphone is debated by many, given our happy existence in Goa before its introduction, there is a big school of thought which seems to think that the cell phone is a necessity and not a luxury anymore. It has been painfully experienced by those without a cellphone number, having been met with a curious look of " which planet do you belong?". The result has been that the cellphone has become an object of prestige and pride as much as it is of communication with the former surpassing the latter in terms of need.

In Goa there are many who have more than one cellphone. The desire of being connected with various networks is too tempting to avoid given the continuous churning of plans. Besides the Goan arms of the cell phone companies are continuosly on the prowl. Seeking new subscribers. Cold calls and tempting offers ( which all mean the same thing) are the order of the day in Goa.

In Goa, from the businessfolk to the fisherfolk, the cellphone has caught on like a deep necessity as if it was always there. However some places are finding it too difficult to handle the nuisance anymore and have woken up to the extreme need to do away with the disturbance. With the early part of the euphoria with the cell phone over and done with, there are new signboards put up in every office or establishment which have discovered the irritation quotient of the cellphone.The " please put your mobile phone off" signboard is more visible in offices in Goa nowadays than the "where is the toilet" sign.

So now cellphones need to be put off before entering many establishments which is a big relief to many in Goa .Imagine a dentist in Goa busy on your tooth and your most important call comes in and the poor guy has to wait with all his tools, and cement waiting for you to finish.

Or take the case of the doctor busy on a life saving operation and his mobile rings with his wife reminding him to hurry up to catch the next movie show. What if the mobile rings in a Goa church while you are attending mass and you scamper to find it in your bag and silence its deafening sound after many irritated eyebrows find you?

And imagine the appointment you get after hours of waiting for a bureaucrat in Goa and when you enter his cabin, your phone rings with an important caller at the other end and you are suddenly caught between the devil and the deep sea.

Mobiles have also been the curse of many accompanying friends in Goa who have had to bear the brunt of watching their friend busy on the cell phone with a caller for hours while they have to yawn and grind their teeth untill the "infinity" call does finally finish.

The cellphone has indeed changed our life in Goa. And I wonder how Goans will ever be able to live without a cell phone.

Goa sarpanchas rapped by HC. Say sorry!

Four sarpanchas had to face the music from the high court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday 5th march 2009, when they were severely reprimanded for not demolishing structures violating CRZ rules and built after the cut-off date of February 19, 1991.

A division bench comprising of Justice P.B Majumdar and Justice U D Salvi instructed the sarpanchas of the four village panchayats of Khola, Agonda, Poinguinim and Loliem to produce the documentary evidence supporting the validity of such structures if existing before the cut-off date. The directions were issued after the respective panchayats claimed that the disputed structures seem to have been in existence before the cut off date of February 19 1991.

The directions of the court were given to Khola sarpanch Bhiva Velip, Agonda sarpanch Jovy Fernandes, Poingiuinim sarpanch Mrunali Pagi and Loliem sarpanch Vipai Lolienkar who were asked to explain the merits of regularizing the structures retrospectively without evidence.

On their part, the sarpanchas maintained in their afidavits that "social backwardness " of the local population was the reason behind the ignorance of completing legal formalities for constructing such houses by the locals.

The visibly angry bench subsequently asked each of the four sarpanchas their educational qualifications  which revealed that none of them had studied above the twelfth standard which prompted the bench to comment as to "how these  people who don't know anything about law, rule the people?"

The High court observed that the sarpanchas appeared to be fooling and cheating the court and the citizens and warned them of facing consequences thereof and sought to know form the Advocate general to point out the appropriate provisions of the law to check whether the sarpanchas can be found guilty of contempt of court.

Warning that the court would send the four sarpanchas to jail the bench cautioned them not to pass any orders with regard to the structures that are a subject matter of the petition, while also reminding them of being tried for cheating and forgery should they attempt to create any new documents.

Later, on Friday, the court however accepted the apology of the four sarpanchas attributing their attitude to illiteracy which failed to help them differentiate between judicial and government orders. The court also remarked that someone should assist these sarpanchas to understand that "everybody is equal before the law".

The sarpanchas informed the court that based on documentary evidence and in accordance to the law, they would act against illegal structures built after the cut-off date while also assuring the court of withdrawing their earlier decision to regularize these structures.

The panchayats have now been given a  fresh date of June 16 to file affidavits before the court after hearing cases relating to the validity of structures in the no development zone anew and as per the law.

Meanwhile at the same hearing, amicus curiae Norma Alvares told the court that the best solution to the problem of CRZ violation would be for the government to constitute a committee to verify constructions raised after the cut-off date which would lead to a uniform and expedient process in the matter. The suggestion was note by the bench  which asked the Advocate general Mr Subodh Kantak to get the governments stand on the matter at the next hearing

Goa's "GI" list growing steadily

With Goan Feni reportedly in the bag, there seem to be a host of other contenders in Goa who are queuing up for the Geographical Indication for Goan products.

Leading the temptuos line-up is the King of Mangoes hailing from beautiful Goa, the "Mancurad". The Mancurad has been known to be a delicacy that Goans do not miss out on come April-May. and the variety is expected to make it to the list fairly easily. Though very delicious, the production of "Mancurad" is on a minimal scale and it has not been commercially exploited.

The Taleigao brinjal and its purple colour is also in consideration in the list to be submitted by the Goa science , technology and environment department besides other delicacies from the agricultural basket of Goa.The Taleigao brinjal which is a much sought after vegetable is currently grown in limited varieties as a horticultural crop and sold in local markets only.People in Goa especially north prepare various delicacies of the vegetable especially the Vaigann bhart ( a roasted brinjal dish).

So while the Mancurad and the purple brinjals of Taleigao are topping the list, the cow-peas( alsane) of Nerul and Cansaulim-Verna, some pepper and ladyfinger varieties from Ponda are also in contention.

There are some varieties of ladyfingers in Goa which are found with seven or nine ridges and this variety is only found in the state of Goa and very few other parts of the country. Also the cow peas( alsane) and some strains of pepper are unique to Goa.

There is also a variety of rice in Goa called "korgutt" which is a hardy red kernel rice which is also under consideration for GI status

Geographical Indication helps to prevent promotion of lesser quality products and protects the interests of stakeholders before the brand is captured by others . Information about these products is being compiled for the purpose of filing applications for GI status.

The endeavors to obtain GI registration is common abroad and products such as Champagne(France) , Tequila( spirits - Mexico) , Jaffa ( oranges) and Bordeaux ( wines) have obtained it. For Goa, the process for obtaining a GI tag for Feni took many years.

In India the government of Himachal Pradesh in northern India was the first to fix a policy for registration of GIs of its state products and its Kulu shawl and Kangra tea have been granted this recognition in 2005 while their government is also considering applying for the status for angoori, a special wine and red rice.

Shigmo festival of Goa

After the carnival festivities, it is the turn of the Shigmo festival in Goa and the state is slated to celebrate the festival this year for a p eriod of around 14 days beginning the 12th of March 2009.

The Goa tourism development Corporation has constituted the central committee which includes the chairpersons of the 13 municipalities of Goa which met recently to decide the dates of the float parades in the state.

Float parades are now slated to be held at Ponda on 12th March, March 13 at Curchorem, March 14 at Panaji, March 15 at Mapusa, March 16 at Vasco, March 17 at Bicholim, March 18 at Sanquelim, March 19 at Valpoi and March 20 at Pernem.

In South Goa, the float parades will be held on March 21 at Quepem, March 22 at Margao, march 23 at Sanguem, March 24 at Cuncolim and March 25 at Canacona. There have been respsective local committees appointed for the smooth functioning of the parades.

For Panjim, Margao, Vasco and Ponda prize monies are fixed at Rs 25,000, Rs. 20,000 and Rs 15,000 for the first three prizes.

CRZ violations in Goa - law catching up?

The law was clear on this one for a long time. No constructions within 200 metres of the high tide level. Yet people in Goa willingly made their own abodes of living. Some extended the old houses .Some converted them into dens of merriment and fun for tourists. Others transformed them into restaurants and eateries. Some others made beautiful guest houses to rent out to foreigners and themselves preferred to stay in smaller hutments.

It was a free for all. Not many questions were asked. No answers needed. Some even called the CRZ as their own "carelessly regardless zone". But one day the worst news came hitting hard. The high court passed an order under the CRZ rules instructing Panchayats to identify and demolish these constructions within 200 metres of high tide line from a cut-off date of February 19, 1991" (the date on which the CRZ came into force).

The whole initiation to identify and act against CRZ regulation violators began in 1996 and in July 2006 taking cognizance of a suo moto petition, the High Court directed the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to expedite and finalise pending CRZ violations and to the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records (DSLR) to complete identification of HTL and mapping of structures in 0-200 metres No Development Zone (NDZ) from the High Tide Level (HTL) on cadastral level maps.

Subsequent to the exercise of identification carried out by DSLR and GCZMA, on the 26th of September 2007, the  High Court  directed each coastal village panchayat and municipality to identify structures in respect of which the CRZ authorities had initiated action.

The said authorities were asked to issue notices to the illegal structures and take a decision on them within 90 days of serving the notice.

However in January 2009, the High court observed the slipshod attitude of the panchayat bodies who had issued blanket demolition structures within the No development zone without considering the legality or traditional inhabitation of the structures. This prompted the high court to warn the Panchayat bodies on their slipshod action and especially for their lack of will for not heeding to the directions of the high court.

Further on 21st January 2009 the High court issued show cause notices to these Panchayat authorities as to why the proceedings under the contempt of court should not be initiated against them and pointed out that the sarpanchas and their secretaries shall be personally held responsible for not complying with the directives of the high court.

According to the CRZ Regulations, areas which fall in a zone up to 200 metres from the HTL in CRZ- III are No Development Zones’. Such areas are not permitted any permanent constructions except for repairs of existing authorised structures not exceeding existing plinth area and density.

However the unwillingness of the panchayat bodies to act against their voters seems to be the main reason for the entire problem since the panchayat bodies may themselves have members who have such structures besides many such structures receiving political patronage.

The village panchayats have been served with the onus of identifying these violators and the responsibility of demolition has also been given to these panchayats. However plenty of vested interests especially among the political class of Goa, perhaps inspired by the promulgation of the ordinance issued by the Digamber Kamat government to protect the Cidade de Goa, are attempting to subvert the orders of the High Court by infusing a sense of reluctance on the panchayats to demolish illegal structures which fall in the no development zone of the Coastal Regulation Zone.

On 16th February the high court ordered the arrest of the sarpanch and secretary of the Velsao-pale panchayat for failing to be present in the court despite its instructions on the same. It was the date of hearing regarding a suo moto petition regarding  illegal structures that have come up in the no development zone (NDZ), in violation of the 1991 CRZ notification.However the court later cancelled the non-bailable warrant issued against them after the duo surrendered and apologised to the court.

The Division Bench expressed its unhappiness that  not a single illegal construction   built in NDZ after 1991,    has been  demolished and that   coastal  panchayats are still stuck with issuing show cause notices which have been issued to all irrespective of merit.

Cidade de Goa - the great escape?

The five star resort Cidade de Goa currently seems to have got a breather. Courtesy, the ordinance of the Government of Goa which incidentally changed a 114 year old law bringing relief to the five star hotel whose partial demolition had been ordered by the supreme court of India last month.

So what exactly is the story behind the whole saga? Claude Alvares of Goa foundation who was part of the bunch of public interest petitions challenging the closure of public access to the Vainguinim beach by the hotel has written in the letters to the editor of the Herald newspaper which details the story as under:

On 20 Jan 2009, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a batch of three appeals filed by Fomento Resorts, owners of Cidade de Goa, a five-star resort. The Court found the hotel had violated the provisions of a land acquisition agreement which it had signed with the Goa government regarding the use of a plot of land the government had acquired for the hotel for creation of sports facilities for the public.

Instead of erecting the sports facilities, the resort owners had illegally extended the main building of the hotel so that it now formed a significant part of the acquired plot. The area of illegal extension is 1114 sq m. Since the hotel had constructed three storeys on the 1114 sq m, the total extension today at site is actually 4500 sq m. In this illegally built area, the hotel had installed 50 residential rooms, in addition to a convention centre, a health club and a beauty parlour. All these must now be demolished.

Outside, in the balance of the plot, the hotel had erected a laundry building, extension to the laundry building, boiler room, cluster of open air bars, sheds, store-rooms and kitchen. These must be demolished as well. Some of this construction was actually done to block a traditional access to the beach for the public, which the hotel had pledged to keep open in its agreement with the government.

The Supreme Court has upheld the Bombay High Court judgement which had clearly required the public access to be maintained. Since the appeals filed by the hotel have been dismissed, the remaining directions issued by the High Court in its judgement will also now be implemented. One of these requires the Goa government to issue a notice to the company for resumption of the land itself for violation of the terms of the agreement.

The Supreme Court has set a time frame within which its various directions in respect of the pathway and the demolition of the illegal extension must be carried out. Within one month, all obstructions to the pathway must be removed. The demolition of the structures listed in the High Court’s order and in the order of the Supreme Court must be done within three months. A compliance report must be filed by the Fomento Resorts in the Bombay High Court after the expiry of the period to indicate to the Court that the directions have been carried out.

However on Saturday, the 28th of February 2009, the government of Goa notified an ordinance which is deemed to have come into force with effect from October 15 1964 when the Land acquisition Act 1894 was made applicable to Goa. The ordinance has amended section 41 of the act by inserting four clauses in the section.

The amendment seeks to validate the development and construction done by the company as being undertaken in accordance with the agreement.

However this move to bypass the Supreme court order has brought in sharp criticism from various NGOs such as the GBA and the GGRM ( Ganv Ghor rakhonn Manch)and political parties like the BJP. The GGRM while flaying the promulgation of the ordinance, opined that it was yet another example of " absolute disregard" for processes of law and called it a double speak for the concern of the common person from Goa. While expressing its shock and outrage, the GGRM has demanded an immediate revocation of the ordinance amending the land acquisition act .

The GBA termed the governments move to save illegal structures of a city hotel as a "mockery of the law" and pointed out to the promulgation of the ordinance on the eve of the announcement of Lok sabha elections, suggesting that it had been done with the obvious motive of defeating the model code of conduct. Ms Reboni Saha of the GBA said that "the ramifications of such an amendment with retrospective effect is too shocking and flies in the face of justice".

The BJP in Goa, however chose to exploit the issue in the forthcoming elections and is using the opportunity to accuse the government of Mr Digambar Kamat as being one for the " khaas aadmi" rather than the "aam aadmi" . Strongly criticising the promulgation of  the ordinance the BJP called the government as a 5-star government and accused it of going to any extent to provide relief to the rich and the influential while turning a blind eye to the poor and marginalised in the state of Goa.

The value of the Portuguese passport for Goans

The pursuit of the Portuguese passport by Goans is sure to gain momentum with the news of the United Kingdom and the United states enforcing new visa norms aimed at curtailing the influx of Indians into these countries.

While recession is the root cause of this decision by the respective governments of the two countries, Goans pursuing the Portuguese passport, stand to gain from these new regulations.

The new regulations apply to all citizens outside the UK and the European Union.This means that whoever is outside this framework will have to abide by some tough regulations to enter these countries. However Goans with a Portuguese passport shall be deemed as Portuguese nationals and therefore be considered under the umbrella of the European union which is excluded from the new guidelines and are therefore eligible for applying for jobs anywhere in the United kingdom freely.

Apart from being eligible for all kinds of jobs in the UK, Goans will also have no competition for jobs from other Indians in the United Kingdom thereby making their market value higher than the present levels which is a big advantage. Housing and other related factors also will be a shade cheaper owing to the vacancies created by non-eligible Indians in UK.

Also the United states allows European citizens a tourist visa to enter the country and this should enable Goans to enter United states and search for jobs and thereafter legally enter the country on employers sponsorship basis

It is therefore in the interest of all Goans to apply for the Portuguese passport and follow up the process diligently as the same is a golden opportunity to tap employment in Europe.

UK, US plans to enforce visa curbs on Indians

The pursuance of the Portuguese passports by Goans will definitely gather more teeth with this news. Both the United States and the United Kingdom will lay down new guidelines for Indians seeking jobs in these countries as a part of a plan to contain local unemployment in these countries.

While Indian workers' prospects will get sour with US Congress linking bailout packages to employment of United states citizens, there are an estimated 1 lakh Indian nationals from around 1,63,000 candidates across the world who had applied for the H1-B visa and who could be stranded with the new regulations coming in force.

The US has capped the H1-B visa at 65,000 a year out of which around 45,000 normally is eaten up by Indian professionals mostly from the IT sector. However with the specter of recession, these positions could now be gobbled up by low-cost foreign workers or may be outsourced to other players around the globe.

In the UK, amidst rising unemployment, Britain is trying to put in place a new immigration policy restricting professionals from India and other non-EU countries so that existing jobs are first offered to local candidates from the UK itself.

From April, the basic requirements to enter Britain under the Tier-1 category of the points based immigration system will be raised. Around 25,000 people including many from India entered  Britain under Tier 1 last year.From April, the minimum qualification required by Indian and non-EU professionals to work in the UK will be raised to a masters degree and 20,000 pounds in salary which is an enhancement from the current requirement of 17,000 pounds and an undergraduate degree.

Only those  industries officially recognised to having a skills deficit will be allowed to recruit from outside the European Union. Other changes could include migrants families banned from Britain.

The measure seems to be part of the plans by the British government to ensure that the vast bulk of jobs are first offered to British based workers in an era of rising unemployment. New restrictions are also expected to be imposed on tier 2 immigrants who enter Britain for specific jobs and are sponsored by an employer.

Dependents of professionals are also likely to come under the scanner of the Migration advisory committee who is expected to advise the government on whether dependents of a qualified person can enter the country or not. Currently if one person qualifies for entry under the points based system, the spouse and children can also enter Britain.

Goa Board to enforce strict measures against cheats

Students cheating in examinations, as a means of getting through, are expected to find the going tough during the forthcoming SSC and HSSC exams in Goa.

Students are being forewarned about the rules of examinations in all schools in Goa along with the consequences of being caught cheating during exams and the same is printed along with the applicable punishment on the application forms for the exams while also displaying them at prominent locations in exam centers all over the  state of Goa.

In a bid to clamp down on malpractices indulged by students, the conductors of exams at all centers in Goa will follow guidelines to ask students to relieve themselves of any materials in their pockets, outside the examination halls with strict warnings before entering the  halls.

If found guilty under the prevailing rules of the Goa Prevention of Malpractices at universities , Board and other examinations act 1991, the intimidation or cheating at exams is considered to be a non bailable and cognizable offence which can be charged with a six months imprisonment or a fine of Rs 500 .

The Chairperson of the goa Board has therefore warned the students to refrain from any cheating in any form as the same could hurt their prospects in future very badly as also leading to the holding back of their examination results.

As per  the rules enforced a few years back, the unique bar code and hologram stickers on answer sheets have proven to be a deterrent in cheating with the mischievous students unable to copy by exchanging the answer sheets.

Around 17,300 students are expected to appear for the SSC exams on March 30 across 23 centres in Goa while a tally of around 13,400 students are scheduled to appear for HSSC exams all over the state across 13 centers in Goa beginning March 14.

UK opportunity of scholarships for Goan students

Scholarships for higher education in the UK may be a reality for many Goan students who will now have an opportunity to explore such options when the British council in association with the University of Goa will brief Goan students on ULK scholarships on 9th and 10th of March 2009.

The briefings are expected to be held at various college institurions in and around the state at Dhempe College of Arts and Science in Panjim, MES college of Arts and Science in Zuarinagar, St Xavier's college of Arts and Science Mapusa and Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts and Science Margao.

Scholarships ranging from the Dr. Manmohan Singh scholarship,The Bristish Chevening scholarships, Commonwealth scholarship to the recently launched Scotland Saltire Scholarships , Popular Arts scholarships, Charles Wallace India trust and scholarships instituted by Goan trusts such as the De Souza Trust Goa scholarship and the Modu Timblo Scholarship etc will be deliberated.

The De Souza scholarship which was introduced in 1998 has granted scholarships to many Goans out of which around 21 Goans have completed their studies in diverse fields such as human rights, TV documentaries, media management, Architecture, communication systems and signal processing, law, innovation technology, music therapy, computing and design and architectural conservation.

The above scholarship provides financial assistance for Goans to study in the UK. The other Goan scholarship established in the honour of Mr Modu Timblo is the Modu Timblo scholarship which covers tuition fees either in part or whole besides arranging a UK visa for the duration of the course and all other costs are to be borne by the student themselves.

Who is a Goan ?

The question has been haunting people in Goa like a shadow in recent times. Part of the reason for this shadow is the rampant degradation of Goa due to haphazard development which has inadvertently brought in a lot of migrant settlers with no knowledge of Goa's culture or Goa's civic sense. The result has been a deep divide which if unchecked is bound to change the cultural topography of Goa. For the worst.

Some would opine that a Goan is  somebody merely by virtue of his/her birth in Goa. Others would probably attribute it to domicile while a third would rely on ancestry to support the "Goan" argument. However it is important to note that mere migration to Goa may not be sufficient to dig roots if the person does not have the natural attachment to Goan culture, Goan language and Goan traditions which have been followed for centuries.

However even if a person is born outside Goa and also reside outside  the state he can acquire his Goan roots by simply identifying to the deep sense of the Goan ethos. However the pride of being a Goan and revelling in the essence of the Goan heritage is very important. Being born of parents or ancestors who may have relocated to other parts of the world long ago from Goa, but being unable to identify with Goa or with no pride in being a Goan, would belie the attachment to Goa. The pride of Being Goan should speak loudly in your personality to be classified as "the Goan".

There are probably hundreds of facets of being a Goan which can be manifested through various connotations and actions. Some of them are through Goan music, Goan food, local Konkani language, thought processes, customs and traditions and Goan camaraderie.

Goan food as people will know is unique and every Goan takes pride in relishing it. Roots of origin are often detected with the love of ethnic tastes in a person and a true Goan will be no different. Language is another revelation of the Goan, that while he may have traces of other languages, The Konkani language is an unmistakable part and any Goan can be identified with his depth of the Konkani language as also its accent. Although this trait has also been mastered by many who have migrated  to Goa for years, it still is a revealer. It is the mother tongue and every Goan needs to be proud of it.

Goans are also known to be very affable people and a sense of friendliness is a natural trait of Goans. People from all over the world would like to repeat their visit to Goa more often for the meet up with friendly Goans rather than for the place itself. All kinds of religions and societies are wonderfully blended in the Goan sphere and thats what makes Goa so unique.

Our clothing, our music and the camaraderie of the "niz goencar" also bears testimony to our Goanness and cannot be mastered by one and all. Our celebrations of family occasions, and religious festivals is also blended to our culture and our tastes and cannot be imbibed by others easily. A complete Goan will identify with his roots in Goa.

Goa casinos to float in Aguada bay

The fate of the six floating casinos in Goa seem to be finally decided to be the Aguada bay at a distance of 5km on the west at Sinquerim from their current location in the Mandovi river and they should find themselves relocated within the next 10-15 days.

The casinos have been a bone of contention in recent times for the ruling dispensation in Goa and have been served notices to relocate their vessels. The six casinos which are in the eye of the storm are Caravela, Rio, Casino Royale, Kings Casino, Pride of Goa and Maharaja Casino.

The casino vessels are expected to be floating within an area of 2 square kilometres in the Aguada bay and will be away from the channel used by barges by a distance of atleast 500-750 metres. The spot for anchorage of the vessels will be finalised subsequent to the relocation of the casinos and after discussions with the Ports administration after an introspection of hydrographic charts and records.

However the tentative spot for the anchorage of the casinos is expected to be about 500 metres from the shoreline off the Sinquerim river mouth. Feeder boats are most likely to take the Casino clients to the casino vessels from the current usual points in Panjim.

The casino vessels have in recent times found themselves embroiled in controversies with NGO's , local fishermen and political parties gunning for their removal from the Mandovi river due to different considerations.

While the political pressures from the opposition parties is due to allegations of kickbacks and pressurized licensing policies, the NGO's are demanding a total ban of casinos whatsoever , due to the alleged gambling lure influenced on the Goan population. Also the NGO's have accused the casinos of illegally occupying footpaths and parking on the river front road under " No Parking" signboards and disposing sewage and garbage in the Mandovi river.

The fishermen in the Mandovi however have a third reason which is of the casinos causing a hindrance to their traditional movements in the river and allegedly driving away fishermen.

Portuguese Nationality for Goans

As explained before, Goans are fooled by agents of all types within Goa who claim to have complete know-how of claiming the Portuguese nationality for Goans which is the much sought after desire of Goans in recent times.

This post is an attempt to guide Goans on the simple procedure to follow while aspiring to claim Portuguese nationality.

Firstly please note that you are merely not in pursuit of the Portuguese passport. You need to claim the Portuguese nationality which has already been granted to all Goans. All that you are doing now is presenting papers and documents of the Portuguese era to claim for that nationality since Portugal asserts that it is not in possession of olden records which can prove that you are a Portuguese national by birth. We are not acquiring fresh citizenship of Portugal.

For all those born before 1961, are simply registering themselves in Portugal which is the official declaration that they wish to remain Portuguese citizens, a facility which came our way due to the alteration made in the Portuguese nationality law in 1975, wherein people from Goa were assumed to be Portuguese citizens.

The first thing to do is apply for the appointment to present your papers in the consulate in Goa. the address of the Portuguese consulate is:
Parwati House No 38/39, Fr Agnelo Road, Altinho, Goa - 403001

The telephone numbers of the Portuguese Consulate in Goa are

0832 - 2421524, 2421525, 2224004, 2229266.

( Please do not call in the mornings since the staff is naturally busy with consulate work attending to the public. Better time to call is in the evenings between 4 pm to 4.45 pm. However if you get a negative reply or even an irritated reply, be patient and call the next day. Remember the staff of the consulate is as human as you and me and can get exhausted with a hard days monotonous work . So be patient and learn to pursue your query patiently)

However, currently the Portuguese consulate in Goa does not accept physical applications for appointment directly. Instead you need to apply for it through their website. Also, earlier one could easily book appointments on their website directly, take a printout of it and then go to the consulate on the appointed date. In recent months the procedure has been modified, which means that now you need to send them an email with the details of your name, address, telephone number, Indian passport number and the date of birth. After receiving your email, the office of the consulate will send you a reply with the appointment date.

Applications for appointment for nationality have to be made at the following email address : app.nationality@goa.dgaccp.pt. The official website of the Portuguese consulate in Goa is www(dot)consuladoportugalgoa(dot)com. You need to click on English version to get the website in English. If you click on "Appointments" you will get the page which has the above email address.

After you get your appointment, you need to prepare your documentation. However do not prepare your documents months in advance as the documents have a validity ( as per the consulate regulations) after being attested by various authorities. This validity varies from 6 months to one year for different documents.

So the best thing would be to start preparing the documents around a month in advance of the appointment date. The documentation required for Goans born before 1961 is explained here. Also the documentation required for Goans born after 1961 is enlisted here.

You also need to have an original document of the Portuguese era. The type of original document you need to have is explained here.

In my next post on the Portuguese passport, I will explain the procedure for preparing the documentation.

Goa's special status : Need of the hour

The scene is getting murkier by the day and land grabbing exercises are becoming rampant all around us in Goa. However there seems to be absolutely nil movement in the respect of granting special status for Goa.

Even after a lapse of 47 years after liberation, Goans are still awaiting the fructification of the apparent promise made to Goans by Nehru to grant us special status. But there seems to be no more word on that. We are continuously bordering on the prospect of being called strangers in our own land.

If there is a real calculation of our existing land  it is a pittance. After deducting forest land, cost line area, hilly areas, agricultural land and the seven rivers, Goa is left with just around 350 sq kms of land which is completely insufficient and cannot bear the influx of migrants on a continuous basis. Rampant selling of land  and lack of jobs for our youth in Goa is a matter of big concern but our legislators seem to have only vested interests in mind instead of targeting this problem earnestly.

While Goa's scenic beauty , for which the world marvels at Goa, is gradually transforming into a concrete jungle, our politicians seem to be so shortsighted in their immediate conquests for riches at the expense of Goa, that they dont realise that they are actually killing the golden goose. Who will come to see the concrete jungles of Goa if we allow the blatant rampage on our beautiful land?

There is an enormous pressure on the existing fragile infrastructure and complete breakdown in the facilities like proper water, sewerage systems, electricity and lack of garbage disposal sites which is slowly eroding Goa and pushing it on a downslide.

Our ruling politicians should therefore wake up from their petty slumber and pull up their socks and work wholeheartedly for the most important issue of granting special status for Goa immediately

World Recession and Goa's medical tourism opportunities.

Recession has stung the world like a dreaded bee and sucked out much of the high net worth of many, into nothingness. The problem still persists and is showing little signs of abating. The whole world seems to have been walloped by this certain bug of  housing blues first originating in the mother of all economies, the United states which later unwillingly consumed the rest of the world.

Stock markets have since crashed and are showing no signs of normalcy returning to them and every day makes the rock bottom expectations of the world heading for the seemingly unending downslide.

In such times spendings have become frugal and people are searching for all cost saving mechanisms to ensure that their expenditures are cut down to a minimal. However when it comes to expenses related to medical attention, it is a tough call and people cannot do anything else other than  ensure that medical attention is given prime importance over all other.

This predicament of people in a financial crunch all over the world has opened the doors of medical tourism much wider to places like India and specifically Goa. While Goa has had its share of gloom due to the financial troubles affecting the world which hit tourism badly, the avenue of medical tourism is something that Goa needs to explore efficiently. Many opine that the recession in the US will turn out to be a boon in disguise for medical tourism for the country.

In 2007, Deloitte, the audit and consulting major released figures which showed that about 4.5 lakh patients from overseas visited India for medical treatment that year with potential for growth up to around 40% in this year. The reason for this surge is obvious. The cost of surgical procedures in India are around one fifth of those abroad.

A liver transplant operation in the United states costs around $4,00,000 ( approx Rs 2 crore). In the United Kingdom the cost would be close to pounds 1,20,000 ( approx 85 lakh). However in India , a liver transplant would cost only around $ 40,000 ( Rs 17- 18 lakh).

A heart bypass surgery in the United States costs anywhere close to $100,000 ( approx Rs 50 lakh ) whereas in India the cost is around $ 9000 (Rs  4.5 lakh ).

Such a high difference in cost is definitely very attractive for tourists all over the world to consider India/Goa as the right location to conduct such surgical operations. If one also includes the cost of travelling to  India/Goa, plus accommodation costs, the cost still remains significantly lower. Besides who would not enjoy a plush holiday in the post operation period to convalesce in luxurious surroundings like that of Goa, and still happily save a lot of money?

Anti-aging treatments such as neck lifts, face lifts and lipo-suction are currently the most sought after cosmetic procedures in India and the cost saving is around 75% over the cost of these procedures in the United states or the United Kingdom.

Dental treatment however is the hot favorite among tourists especially in Goa and all beach front areas in Goa as well as any hospitality locations are full of dental treatment facilities. Besides having qualified dentists for treatment, Goan dentists have struck a very friendly chord with world tourists who faithfully come back with more of their relatives for the finest treatment available here in Goa.

Interestingly, the Wellpoint, the largest health benefit company in the United states has added a new medical tourism product in their portfolio, aimed at helping recession hit American business houses to cut their costs of healthcare. this product significantly mentions about the option of choosing India as a healthcare destination for non-emergency procedures.

So this interest in India from medical houses abroad amply proves that India has arrived and places like Goa with beautiful ambience, clean surroundings and stunning array of holiday spots coupled with world class healthcare, is the right destination for the world tourist and the world recession may soon turn out to be Goa's gain in the long term.

Goan tiatr : Celebration time?

The 16th of February was a red letter day for most Goans who thronged in large numbers at the Joao Agostinho Fernandes auditorium , Ravindra Bhavan Margao, to witness the official inauguration of the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG). And the Chief Minister Mr Digambar kamat did not disappoint. As promised he delivered and made this long standing demand of tiatr lovers from Goa a distinct reality. Full credit to his ethics which are very rare in today's politicians.

Over the years the tiatr has stood the test of time to remain afloat above all political considerations without any support from the government. In its 117 years of existence the tiatr has not only survived but grown exponentially without any government patronage either after liberation or before it. The only yearly tiatr festival has been organised faithfully every year at the Kala Academy since the year 1974. Such resistance of the Tiatr against the travails of time has been its strength which has been derived by the love of Goans for this konkani theatre form due to which the tiatr grew from strength to strength.

The tiatr is considered to be a lively piece of  entertainment in Goa since a long time. It is neither full of prose nor is it a musical. It is a blend of both and that's what probably makes it very appealing to audiences.

The tiatr has been known to be consisting of a full story which may be in atleast seven or eight different sections. Each section is known as the "porddo" ( curtain) in which besides the dialogues in prose, some dialogues may be delivered in the form of a mini song which is known as "canth".

While the entire tiatr may have many such "canths", in between the sections or "pordde" there are atleast two to three separate full songs known as "Cantar" ( actually derived from the portuguese word for song itself). These " Cantars" or "Cantaram" are often composed on themes which may or may not have anything to do with the main story of the ongoing tiatr and are often composed on different themes ranging from social, political or religious leanings.Therefore the "Cantaram" in a tiatr serve to deliver a message which is different from the story of the tiatr and such cantaram may be around ten to fifteen in number in the whole tiatr.

Besides the main plot of the tiatr, there is another unmistakable element which often tends to draw the crowds to the tiatr on its own merit. That element is the comedy section of the tiatr. The comedy is often related to the main story of the tiatr or it may also be irrelevant to the entire theme just like the "cantar". However the comedy element helps in entertaining the crowds to the hilt and is often responsible for the successful run of the tiatr.

The tiatrists or the actors are often gifted with the talent of spontaneity and this adds to the life of the tiatr. Melodramatic scenes also form an essential part. All these facets, make the tiatr a unique art form compared to other dramatic theatrical forms in the state of Goa and outside it.

The survival of the tiatr has been largely due to the strong bond that Goans have with the tiatr and have faithfully patronised it over the last century with thousands of shows per year and each tiatr is staged hundreds of times very often to house-full audiences. Places like Mumbai, the Gulf, UK, and even Canada and Australia where Goans have settled over time have seen the tiatr being staged regularly every year.

The tiatr has also been the unmistakable entertainer at village fests all over Goa both before liberation and after it till today. No feast is complete in its entertainment without the staging of a tiatr on the night of the feast with the village folks and the guests in the village all flocking for a piece of the traditional action.

However the tiatr now needs an overhauling. A renovation. Its standard needs improvement and various facets of its performance chain has to be analysed and developed in search of excellence. Good direction, innovative scripts and improvised acting skills need to be inculcated, with an infusion of good original music with suitable lyrics. Hence a professional attitude needs to be absorbed for such changes which are needed badly in the tiatr to increase its following.Attention to good modern stage setups , technological additions in background music, good light effects etc are needed for the tiatr to make an all round impact.

The tiatr also has to be part of a marketing campaign and merchandise can also be produced to add to the campaign while tiatrs and its songs need to be documented in books and CD's . Songs need to have a better avenue of being marketed as separate identities thus giving its composers a new platform to grow.this would encourage more talent to blossom as well.

It is also time for the Goan tiatr to showcase Goa and make its presence felt on the national scene of the country while being the ambassador for the Goan art form. till now Goa is known for sun, sea sand and Feni besides soccer. Tiatr could pleasantly add itself to that list. The Goan tiatr must therefore strive to achieve a status nationally. Presently the tiatr in Goa does not have any critical assessment. In the absence of critical assessment no art form can grow . Same goes with the tiatr. In pursuit of excellence tiatr must evolve with the complete infrastructure for its growth and that's where the Tiatr academy can play a constructive role.

The tiatr Academy of Goa was therefore a much wanted blessing and the tiatrists along with tiatr patronisers of Goa and all its lovers all around the world should contribute to the TAG in whatever way they can to help the evolution to prosper.

Casino Royale! A Goan political gamble?

The mud slinging match has begun in the Casino Royale imbroglio. The Opposition leader MR Manohar Parrikar has almost declared war on the methods of issuing licences to all Casinos in Goa and has singled out the Casino Royale as one of special interest

Amid allegations that the Commissioner of customs and central excise Mr Chandrahas Mathur was pressurized by bureaucrats and politicians alike, to grant  the licence  to operate the casino, Mr Parrikar demanded that the Chief Minister should cancel the licence within days or face a legal notice under the prevention of corruption act 1987 for misuse of power  so as to enable criminal proceedings to be initiated against the government .

The Chief Minister Mr Digambar kamat on his part has refuted all allegations and instead has indicated that he would take up the matter with the union finance Ministry to question the alleged disrepute brought by Mr Mathur to the office of the Chief Minister..

However Mr Parrikar Maintains that the Casino royale is an illegal ship possessing an illegal licence issued by the state government despite it  not being in possession of a licence from the a director  general shipping or a certificate from the Captain of Ports. Mr Parrikar also mentioned the prospect of kickbacks in the case of licences issued to Goa casinos and indicated that under the Goa public gambling act 1976 even the customers patronising the Casino Royale vessel for gambling are liable for criminal action.

How Goans are fooled by "agents" of Portuguese passport

Goans all over the world, even if they are in Australia or Canada, or in the gulf are quite interested in making their Portuguese passport, thanks to the enormous benefits that accrue simply by way of being a Portuguese citizen.

However in their bid to get it done, plenty of Goans have fallen prey to big touts who have promised the stars but delivered very few. Many Goans have spent lakhs of rupees on these dubious agents whose prime qualification it seems is merely the knowledge of the Portuguese language. So there is a beeline at their door and they have started a full fledged business out of this new found trade in the last couple of decades.With grandiose returns of course!

Like willing guinea pigs, Goans flock to these so-called agents under the presumption that their ticket to Portugal is in safe and quick hands. What a tragedy!These agents claim that they have lawyers in Portugal who can handle the cases efficiently and swiftly thereby luring Goans to shell out their hard earned money to these "facilitators'.

It is no secret that the Portuguese authorities and the Consulate in Goa detest these agents and openly advise people to approach the consulate office directly. However the beelines for the agents continue as if they have the great mantra.

So what do these agents do? First up, they tell you to do all the documentation yourself. you need to go out there and get all the documents required on your own. The agents never do it for you. (If they do, they will charge you another hefty fee for that.) So notarising, collectors attestation and that of the home department is all your job dear. Before your documentation is ready they will send a letter to the Consulate in your name and address, seeking an appointment.This should keep you afloat for around a year or two.

Every time you call them enquiring about what has happened they reply that the process is on. To the more curious enquiry, their response will be that without the appointment from the Consulate they can do nothing for you. They cannot afford to ask the consulate for an appointment on your behalf. Honestly they have hundreds and thousands of cases and so even if they have some clout in the consulate, they wont be heard.

There is another interesting problem here. Since around 5 years ago, the Portuguese consulate has been asking Goans to furnish a document of the Portuguese era, the type of which is explained here. Without this document your Portuguese passport process is considered unworthy of even being considered.

However these "agents" claim that they can "manage" this document situation. I find that an alarming statement which is either a big lie or a fraud cooking in their mind. It seems to be a case of when we reach the river we will see how to cross it. But by the time you reach the river and without the means of crossing it( the Portuguese original document) you will already be a poor man. Couldn't you have been advised properly in advance? But no they won't, lest they lose your business. And if they resort to any forgery in organising that document in their overzealous methods, then you are the one who is bound to be in trouble.

Going back to the process,  you need to pray that the appointment letter comes from the consulate. When it comes, this "agent" will tell you to go to prepare your documents and check them , prepare some "power of attorney" in the name of his supposed lawyer in Portugal and then ask you to go to the consulate and present your papers. Once presented, you now have to go back to your routine of whatever you were doing before the thought of the Portuguese passport came to your mind. Because it is going to take whatever time the normal process takes. The agent has done his first job ( actually what has he done?) .

His guy, the lawyer in Portugal has hundreds of processes to look after. He cannot look at one of them, leave alone the thousands. If you try enquiring with your agent about the process status, he has to refer to a big encyclopedia of names and process numbers of people who have entrusted their passport processes to him and then  reply to you. The normal reply is " you will hear from Portugal soon". It is almost recorded on his lips, ready for delivery.

Next is the identification parade where you need to go and identify yourself in the consulate. Some have been lucky to get an appointment to do this in one year after presenting their papers through the agent. Some in 3 years through their agent. Others have had to wait longer with their agent. There is no order whatsoever followed by the Portuguese authorities. Sometimes I feel that their system is much like what our civil registrar offices here in Goa are doing. So what is the role of the agent here? Nil is the answer.

After the identification is complete, you need to wait for your "Assento do Nascimento" ( certificate of birth). When it comes after a year or two, your process of birth registration( which is the major hurdle) is complete.

The next thing is to do the Bilhete de Identidade ( identity card) and then register your marriage( for which you have to apply for another appointment) if you are married, for the sake of your children who then become eligible to claim Portuguese nationality. All this running will have to be done by yourself by going to the Portuguese consulate. Your agent will only sit and do some translation and typing for you in that much sought after "Portuguese" language.

For this "nothing done by the agent" job you will have to cough up anywhere between a lakh or two depending on the type of agent you landed with. Some have been lucky to escape with less and some have paid even 3-4 lakhs for this miserable piece of useless advice and typing skills. Everything else is done by you. Not the agent.The process went as normal.Nothing was actually done to expedite it. Yet you paid for nothing in reality.

Some of these agents are blacklisted in the consulate and your process going through their blessings could be doomed from the start.

It is very important to note that nowadays, in the last one year,  the process for the Portuguese passport is relatively quicker. It takes around a year or two for the entire process to complete which has previously taken over 7 - 8 years. And the agents have nothing to do with the new speed of the process. It is some expediency shown by the Portuguese authorities.

Having said all of the above, there do exist a couple of credible intermediaries who do expedite the process with the help of a genuine lawyer in Portugal who does follow up on the process status. But he or she often is too busy the moment the business increases and you process loins the normal queue.

So Do it yourself is the best answer to this simple exercise. In a bid to help fellow Goans to get some ideas in claiming your Portuguese passport without the role of an agent, I shall post the tentative procedure next time.