MARGAO: The South Goa Comunidade Forum (SGCF) has condemned the government's decision to notify the amended Code of Comunidade. It may be recalled that these amendments had received widespread opposition from Comunidades across Goa.
“The South Goa Comunidades Forum reiterates its condemnation and objection to the amendments to the Code of Comunidades that have been recently notified. The amendments were passed by the Assembly without
any diligence or discussion regarding their impact on the comunidades of Goa, and without consultation with the stakeholders, i.e., the comunidade gaunkars.
The Code of Comunidades provides a forum for such consultation in the form of a convention convened under Art 652 of the Code. However, this was arbitrarily bypassed by the government,” said Adv Savio Correia, SGCF Secretary.
“The amendment to the amendment tabled by an MLA was not even discussed in the House and seeks to introduce a ridiculous provision to entitle children of shareholders to allotment of comunidade land without auction. The government should note that His Excellency the Governor sat on the controversial amendment for over two-and-a-halfmonths - as opposed to a couple of weeks to assent the other bills passed in the last session - implying his own concerns with the amendments,” added Correia.
“The South Goa Comunidades Forum calls on the government to withhold the amendments to the Code of Comunidades and consult with the stakeholders before implementing them,” Correia concluded.
It is to be noted that the state government notified the controversial Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070 dated 15-4-1961 (Amendment) Act, 2023, after it was assented to by the Governor on June 16, 2023.
The Act, as a bill, was passed by the state legislative assembly on March 31, 2023, amidst protest from opposition benches.
Among the provisions that have been heavily opposed are those that allow the government to acquire comunidade land for public projects with the prior consent of the respective comunidades.
The Act grants powers to the government to suspend a comunidade and appoint government officials to take charge of the affairs of a comunidade if the governing committee works against the interests of the people. It also aims to streamline the process of electing members of the managing committee of the comunidades.
Furthermore, the Act aims to facilitate the development of land by private agencies and regulate the process of granting land by comunidades.