NGOs in Goa take poll plunge

“We will be contesting in all the 40 constituencies fielding credible candidates,” said Yatish Naik,Convenor,Pilerne Citizens Forum (PCF).

He said all this while genuine social workers used to distance themselves from “dirty game” of politics but now they to make a difference by becoming part of the polity. “We have decided to get into politics to clean it,” Naik said,adding having representatives in the Assembly would help in getting various issues solved in a democratic method.

Candidates will be fielded on a well defined and pro- people manifesto,he maintained.

The coastal state,which has a vibrant NGO movement,has in the recent past witnessed several street protests on issues ranging from Regional Plan 2021 (labelled as a ‘draconian’ piece of land use plan) to iron ore mining.

PCF Chairman Prakash Bandekar said the election provides a chance to the people to save Goa,a politically volatile state,from the clutches of corruption.

Naik said there are nearly 160 groups,active from village to state level,who will be backing these candidates.

While NGOs wield considerable influence in the tourist state’s rural belt,it remains to be seen whether this support translates into votes for their candidates.