Cortalim zilla panchayat member Antonio Vas has said that agriculture and fishing are two important occupations of the people in Goa and it needs to be protected by the government. Cortalim zilla panchayat member Vas was speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of third All Goa Fishing Contest, organised by Cortalim Villagers Sports and Social Welfare Association (CVSSWA) at Manxer-Cortalim recently. The function was attended by Cortalim Quelossim village panchayat sarpanch Hilario Figueiredo, Joseph Barretto, Milagres Rodrigues, John Pereira, Wilfred D’Souza and the committee members of the CVSSWA. Speaking further, Vas disclosed that agriculture and fishing are the two main occupations of the people in the state and due to which the government should launch various schemes and provide subsidies in purchasing various equipment for the benefit of the fishermen and farmers. He said that around 80 per cent of the people residing in Cortalim constituency are dependent on fishing and farming activities. Eighty per cent people including fishermen and farmers are earning their livelihood by catching fish and cultivating fields and due to which there is a need for providing them subsidies and other needed equipment at reasonable rates by the government, said Vas. He strongly opposed projects like marinas and relocation of offshore casinos in river Zuari claiming it would affect livelihood of the fishermen. He even raised concern over unsolved issue of the farmers in Sancoale where they have been deprived of cultivation of fields lying in khazan land for the last several years.
www.navhindtimes.in 2011