“Goenchi Mati”, a movement to protect environment started in year 2014. The movement since has been advocating a set of reforms to mining – based on twin principles of custodianship of the environment and intergenerational equity – to tackle colossal damage caused by rampant corruption and human greed.
Recently after Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s announcement about restarting iron ore mining, the Goenchi Mati Movement asks all political parties and Goans to support its Manifesto for fair mining.”
Here is the Goenchi Mati Manifesto
The manifesto revolves around the Goenchi Mati Principles, which are:
We, the people of Goa, own the mineral in common. The state government is merely a trustee of natural resources for the people and especially future generations (Public Trust Doctrine).
As we have inherited the minerals, we are simply custodians and must pass them on to future generations (Intergenerational Equity).
Therefore, if we mine and we sell our mineral resources, we must ensure zero loss, ie. capture of the full economic rent (sale price minus cost of extraction, cost including reasonable profit for miner). Any loss is a loss to all of us and our future generations.
All receipts from minerals must be saved in the Goenchi Mati Permanent Fund. Similar proposals are already implemented all over the globe. Like the minerals, the Permanent Fund will also be part of the commons. The Supreme Court has ordered the creation of a Permanent Fund for Goan iron ore and already Rs. 94 crores is deposited.
Any real income (after inflation) from the Goenchi Mati Permanent Fund must only be distributed to all as a right of ownership, a Citizen’s Dividend. This is like the comunidade zonn, but paid to everyone.
The implementation of these principles will be done in a transparent participatory process with the people of Goa.
Follow this link to Support The Goenchi Mati Movement
