Campaigners from Goa talk about the issues wrecking this former Portuguese colony -- from mining to real estate to racketeering over land and plain politial corruption right at the village level itself...

This audio recording starts with the voice in English of the CNN-IBN hard-hitting programme on the impact of mining on interior Goa, an issue long, long neglected by the media across the nation (and in Goa too). Eg: 150-large mines operating withing 10 kms of a wildlife sanctuary.

Next, the programme shifts over mainly to Konkani. Domnic of Saligao talks of the situation in Goa, and castigates fellow villagers for not being vigilant over the situation. "In our village, a builders' lobby has been foistered. This is of no benefit to our village whatsoever," he says. He talks about political corruption and sell-outs at the grassroots and the frailities of the supposedly "democratic" planning system.

This audio is in spoken Konkani, with some different variants of it being employed. Others who spoke at the Pilerne Citizens' Forum president Prakash Bandodkar (on panchayat corruption, urban planning dubious decisions), George from Loutolim, Edwin from Verem (who mentioned three successes by the villagers), advocate Yatish Naik, among others. Fr Bismark Dias (not recorded) was to speak later. "We are not leaders. We are not politicians. If you can hear our issues, that's enough," Naik put it.

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