In Defence of Ambelim's Anthony D'silva

“D’Silva: The one-man Ambelim army” was the title of the article that featured on front page of Goa’s leading English daily – Gomantak Times on May 01, 2009. The article on Anthony D’silva highlighted role he played in bringing about awareness on the regional plan and helping in formulating of the village regional plan 2021 for his village and getting VP3 status.

It is precisely this publicity that created some more hardships to Anthony that has suffered umpteen numbers of them in the past including physical assault on his body twice – once by Police in 2002 at Margao Police Station and the second time at the hands of Goons in 2007 in Cuncolim.

The publicity in the newspaper created problems for the village sarpanch. He then launched offensive against Anthony. First convened village comittee for Regional Plan 2021. The legal standing of that so called regional plan 2021 committee itself was in doubt,as the regional plan was submitted long before.Then he got his position clarified in the press. Simunltaneously called special Gram Sabha on May 17 2009 to discuss newspaper report on Anthony D’silva on May 1, 2009. "The meeting was called in a hasty manner,bringing to the notice of the public just less than 24 hours." Anthony obeserved

At this Gram Sabha of May 17 2009 one of he resolutions taken reads as follows “Gram Sabha Members unanimously proposed and resolved that henceforth Mr. Anthony D’silva should not be appointed/nominated on committee relating to the Panchayat work in future.” Mr. Anthony D’silva himself was not invited for this Gram Sabha even though the matter was relating to him. He however got the copies of the minutes of the Gram Sabha through RTI application and was shocked to read the resolution on him. Clearly this was Political Vendetta_ Political muscle flexing as power equations were threatened.

Anthony raised a question “Why punish me without trial: without even a copy of notice to attend the so called Special Gram Sabha meeting? Why personal attack in the Panchayat in my absence?”

Legally, according to Anthony the Special Gram Sabha does not hold ground as according the existing Panchayat laws – The Goa Panchayati Raj Act 1994 one tenth of member of Gram Sabha has to make request for such a meeting. “Sarpanch shall, upon a reacquisition in writing by not less than one-tenth of number of members call an extraordinary meetings of the Gram Sabha, within thirty days from the receipt of such requisition.” Reads Section (3) (5) of the The Goa Panchayati Raj Act 1994.

There are only 4 gram sabhas specified in a year ,and 4 special gram sabhas with dates mentioned as 26th January, 15th August, 2nd October and 19th December. Other then these gram sabhas are titled as extraordinary gram sabhas, so as per the act the sarpanch could have taken a extraordinary gram sabha,but this category of gram sabhas needs atleast 10 percent of the total gram sabha members to requisition in writting requesting for the same. Of course in realty this special Gram Sabha to decree on Anthony D'silva_ not even a single gram sabha member nor single panch asked for. The required procedures were not followed at all.

Ambelim village that is in close proximity of Assolna in Salcette has the population of approximately 3000 people and nearly 40% of whom are tribals. There is no School nor Hospital in Ambelim Panchayat jurisdictions. Situation of housing and even sanitation is very acute. I personally witnessed this situation in one locality of the village known as “Pedda” that was flooded few years ago when the Sal river over flew. Anthony D’silva once even remarked that if these village problems are not taken care of then future terrorists will come from Ambelim.

Some tribal families however has made fortune through their ventures in Gulf Countries, Shipping overseas and fishing trawlers but their percentage is very small and majority of the tribal communities here – Gawdas and Kunbis continue to live in very poor and hostile conditions that are being further nurtured by existing political leadership.

Ambelim that way is no short of educated and rich but are all migrated out of Ambelim to Margao, and other parts of world. They however have failed to plough their knowledge and wealth back into the village. This, Anthony feels is a major tragedy. “If only they had had to think that Ambelim must be treated more than their holiday destinations periodically but something much more than that_ the change can come about.” Anthony laments.

Anthony has been leaving in this village after returning from Bombay for nearly a decade now and has immediately launched number of initiatives in the village at his own personal expenses towards creating political awareness in the village. Originally from ambelim itself, Anthony has brief innings in the Gulf - before settling in Bombay - for livelihood reasons like so many thousands of People from Goa do. One of the interesting things he started was the newspaper Kiosk in his village. Ambelim village has very unusual and geographically unfriendly topography. Settlements are spread out all over the places. Anthony would regularly buy newspapers in the morning and spread them in kiosks at different places in the village. Spaces for the kiosks were made available by the villagers themselves. So he promoted habit of reading newspapers daily amongst the People of Ambelim. Perhaps this is the reason that newspaper story on him made such a huge impact of the local Panchayat.

All the newspapers would be welcome in his village except those involed in the sale of Goan land on mass scale . Anthony campaigned against www.magicbricks.com of Times Group and other sites because they were involved actively in sale of Goa’s land though internet and through Goa land sale fairs in Delhi.

Anthony also initiated signature campaign against Sale of Goa’s land to foreigners. With megaphone in his hand he toured village to village to spread the message of the cause that he chose to campaign as it was dear to his heart.

Then he has been very vocal participant in number of protest meetings against ‘Mega projects’ of real estate as well as protests against mining.

In health sector he helped and took care of many to the extent of even travelling out of the state of Goa and number of times to accompany the sick.

He organised awareness camps on ill effects of smoking, alcohol and drugs, hiv/aids, blood grouping, blood donations etc. and has provided advice relating to health and sickness

He also organised carrier guidiance and counselling for less fortunate student and X students. Besides helped lot of children in guiding them to get admissions in schools,colleges and even in vocational and professional colleges etc

He has been publicly debatting issues on social issues like HIV/AIDS, rampant sale of goan land,special status to Goa, agricultureal activities, mosquitoes control programes, etc.

"I have brought agricultural programmes to the people of my village of Ambelim" Anthony quips.

He has been appreciated for his work by his alma matar school Monte de Guirim for the first time in the history of the school for the social works being done in Goa.

Anthony’s political analysis about his constituency is very sharp and precise. And precisely that has ruffled up many powerful people in power. On 23rd May 2002 he was picked up few days before the General Assembly elections in Goa_ taken to Margao police Station and beaten up on his legs 11 pm in the night. The reason: He was campaigning against BJP and screening the documentary film on communalism “He Ram”. He was released during mid night after large number of people began assembling outside the Police Station in Margao and Politicians feared sympathy wave against them.

Then in 2007 on 8th April Anthony was assaulted by five goons belonging to an influential politician from South Goa while he was on a visit to one of the sick persons at NUSI hospital in Cuncolim, Salcete. Anthony was brutally beaten up – kicked on his stomach that forced excreta out of his body and simultaneously caused vomiting of blood. Goons while beating up Anthony D’silva shouted “this fellow is always against Philip Neri Rodrigues. Now we will teach you a lesson.”

Doctor at NUSI hospital who examined him on the spot – Dr. Rahul Velip - certified that Anthony has suffered grievous hurt from the assault and admitted him to the hospital. He was treated for some days and then discharged on 10th April 2007 from the NUSI hospital. Next day of his release another Doctor of the hospital Dr. Prahlad Savaoikar changed the certificate of Dr. Velip and issued new certificate to the police that the hurt sustained by Anthony D’silva was ‘minor and simple’ and Dr. Rahul Velip had committed mistake in giving the certificate that it was ‘grievous hurt’. The entire episode of attack on Anthony sounds very shady with political vendetta at its best. Isn’t it?

The controversial gram Sabha of Ambelim Panchayat has brought in Anthony D’Silva and the service he renders to the community in sharp public focus. The activities with all its diversity have a uniformity of purpose – political awareness of the community. Anthony uses both his knowledge as well as his courage at the service of the community with great risks to his life and family. He is one of the few active citizens in Goa today who can be compared to the valiant people in the Goa’s freedom struggle. He deserves recognition and salutations of all people with a determination for defence of freedom, community empowerment and political change at their core. I stand in defence of Anthony D’Silva and salute him for all that he stands for as it is only best for the future of Goa and India, and for humanity's yearnings for liberation.

Sebastian Rodrigues