GOACAN launches 2nd phase of its Voters Awareness Drive

Panaji, May 18 (UNI) Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN), a voluntary organisation, today launched the second phase of its Voters Awareness Drive by organising a citizen's outreach programme here.

In view of the June 2 Assembly elections, GOACAN is mobilising citizens through various village-based civic and consumer forums to prepare for voters consultation meetings so that voters can present issues to the elected MLAs at the local level before every session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

Its aim is to focus on the importance of the 74th Constitutional amendment--the need for devolution of powers to the municipal bodies, a new enactment that replaces the Goa Municipal Act 1968 and the importance of the voter in making democracy work effectively at the grassroots level.

Consumer Forum volunteers carrying placards, banners and colourful flags distributed information slips to the voters with an appeal to organise and not just agonise themselves to make democracy work with peoples participation that saves Goa for the future generations.

The 40-day Voters Awareness Drive--Gramsabha Zagrut Za--began on April 21, with a focus on the village Panchayat elections. It will continue till May 30, the Goa Statehood Day, according to GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins.

To avoid a ''top down'' planning approach as seen in the controversial Regional Plan 2011, GOACAN is highlighting the importance of the powers, authority and responsibilities of municipalities in resource mapping, local level plans for land use, employment generation with a focus on local skills and traditional occupations, preparation of annual and five-year town development plans and proper functioning of the District Planning Committees.

GOACAN has mooted the idea of an Environment Protection Committee and a Tourism&Heritage Management Committee at the municipal level, taking into account the industrial estates, mega factories, the growing mining industry, its natural and built-up heritage and special conditions of Goa's tourism trade.

UNI