The following article appeared in today's Nawhind Times. I am reproducing it in goa-kranti.blogspot.com. It may interest our Goans abroad.
A.Veronica Fernandes.
Goem Apoita: overseas Goans pitch in to build Goa
SHOAIB SHAIKH | NT
PANAJI
As a pilot project for acting upon the recently approved ‘Mhozo Gaum – Majem Goem’ scheme, the NRI commission will take up a healthcare centre project at Colva funded by the Colva United Centre in Kuwait.
The scheme aims for contributions from the Goans settled abroad and other parts of the country.
Giving details of the Colva project, NRI affairs director Ulhas Kamat recalled for ‘The Navhind Times’ that in 2012 Alexander Menino Fernandes hailing from Colva but now living in Kuwait along with Colva United Centre in Kuwait had approached the commission for a healthcare centre project at Colva with a contribution of around Rs 35 lakh.
“The commission will take forward the project as the first project under this new scheme,” he said.
Kamat said once the scheme is notified the commission would forward the proposal to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation to prepare an estimate plan for the modern healthcare centre as requested by the funders and subsequently the project would be taken up for execution.
Under the ‘Mhozo Gaum – Majem Goem’ scheme, NRGs will be able to contribute to the development of their villages and native places through the government agencies.
The scheme provides an opportunity to sons of the soil to get back to their roots by funding projects of public interest, which could help improve the living conditions in any panchayat or municipal area or government and government aided institutions.
NRI Affairs commissioner Dr Wilfred Mesquita said the department expects contributions from expatriates living in the Persian Gulf and other countries for Goa’s development.
Many Goans living abroad had expressed their desire to contribute and fund small and large projects but have been unable to do so, as we had not provided them with right opportunity. Now they will be able to fulfil their wishes, Dr Mesquita said.
Through the Mhozo Gaum – Majem Goem scheme contributions can be made either wholly or partly for development of infrastructure in a specific location or specific project at any location. The donations for any project can be financed by either an individual or jointly by donors. The funding of the project can be on two components – onetime construction cost or recurring operational cost over a fixed period of time. In July 2012, the NRI cell had mooted the scheme on the lines of a similar scheme by the Punjab government – ‘Mera Pind’.
But the state scheme did not take off due to technical problems.
When the commission had requested proposals in 2012 from local governing bodies, 23 village panchayats, including 10 from Quepem, six from Bicholim and one each from Sanguem, Ponda, Dharbandora, Tiswadi, Mormugao, Salcete and Canacona, had responded to the request. An NRI employed in the United Arab Emirates Felipe Oliveira earlier this year had expressed his desire to contribute to the development of Naroa in Tiswadi taluka.
While the ownership of the project will be with the government, the project could be named after the person of the choice of the contributor: it could be parents, relatives or any other person in whose name the individual or group wish the project be named.
“This will also develop a sense of belongingness towards the project for the person donating,” Dr Mesquita said.
A high-level committee headed by the NRI affairs commissioner will consider the proposals, and if found feasible, will forward the same to the nodal agency GSIDC, which will execute the project.
The NRI cell will execute a memorandum of understanding with the contributor, the executing agency and the end user – the panchayat or municipal area or government or government aided institution.
If any shortfall arises during the implementation of the project, the NRI cell will contribute from its budget to the maximum of 10 per cent of the total cost of the project.
A separate bank account will be opened by the NRI cell to receive contributions from the donors.
The project financed under the scheme will be audited through reputed and recognised companies of chartered accountants.
A monthly progress report of the project will be posted on the NRI commission’s website.
PANAJI
As a pilot project for acting upon the recently approved ‘Mhozo Gaum – Majem Goem’ scheme, the NRI commission will take up a healthcare centre project at Colva funded by the Colva United Centre in Kuwait.
The scheme aims for contributions from the Goans settled abroad and other parts of the country.
Giving details of the Colva project, NRI affairs director Ulhas Kamat recalled for ‘The Navhind Times’ that in 2012 Alexander Menino Fernandes hailing from Colva but now living in Kuwait along with Colva United Centre in Kuwait had approached the commission for a healthcare centre project at Colva with a contribution of around Rs 35 lakh.
“The commission will take forward the project as the first project under this new scheme,” he said.
Kamat said once the scheme is notified the commission would forward the proposal to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation to prepare an estimate plan for the modern healthcare centre as requested by the funders and subsequently the project would be taken up for execution.
Under the ‘Mhozo Gaum – Majem Goem’ scheme, NRGs will be able to contribute to the development of their villages and native places through the government agencies.
The scheme provides an opportunity to sons of the soil to get back to their roots by funding projects of public interest, which could help improve the living conditions in any panchayat or municipal area or government and government aided institutions.
NRI Affairs commissioner Dr Wilfred Mesquita said the department expects contributions from expatriates living in the Persian Gulf and other countries for Goa’s development.
Many Goans living abroad had expressed their desire to contribute and fund small and large projects but have been unable to do so, as we had not provided them with right opportunity. Now they will be able to fulfil their wishes, Dr Mesquita said.
Through the Mhozo Gaum – Majem Goem scheme contributions can be made either wholly or partly for development of infrastructure in a specific location or specific project at any location. The donations for any project can be financed by either an individual or jointly by donors. The funding of the project can be on two components – onetime construction cost or recurring operational cost over a fixed period of time. In July 2012, the NRI cell had mooted the scheme on the lines of a similar scheme by the Punjab government – ‘Mera Pind’.
But the state scheme did not take off due to technical problems.
When the commission had requested proposals in 2012 from local governing bodies, 23 village panchayats, including 10 from Quepem, six from Bicholim and one each from Sanguem, Ponda, Dharbandora, Tiswadi, Mormugao, Salcete and Canacona, had responded to the request. An NRI employed in the United Arab Emirates Felipe Oliveira earlier this year had expressed his desire to contribute to the development of Naroa in Tiswadi taluka.
While the ownership of the project will be with the government, the project could be named after the person of the choice of the contributor: it could be parents, relatives or any other person in whose name the individual or group wish the project be named.
“This will also develop a sense of belongingness towards the project for the person donating,” Dr Mesquita said.
A high-level committee headed by the NRI affairs commissioner will consider the proposals, and if found feasible, will forward the same to the nodal agency GSIDC, which will execute the project.
The NRI cell will execute a memorandum of understanding with the contributor, the executing agency and the end user – the panchayat or municipal area or government or government aided institution.
If any shortfall arises during the implementation of the project, the NRI cell will contribute from its budget to the maximum of 10 per cent of the total cost of the project.
A separate bank account will be opened by the NRI cell to receive contributions from the donors.
The project financed under the scheme will be audited through reputed and recognised companies of chartered accountants.
A monthly progress report of the project will be posted on the NRI commission’s website.