Media Release

Vasco-da-Gama, Dec 14: Noted Konkani poet and the president of Goan Poets’ Forum Yusuf A Sheikh has applauded the gesture of Goa Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza to felicitatate senior citizens on occasion of  ‘Swabhiman Divas’ for their laudable contribution in different spheres in the making of Goa.

A tribute paid to the age and wisdom was unique in the history of Goa since 50 years of liberation and the Government should emulate the example, said Sheikh.

Year after year honouring the same coterie of persons under different pretext by different State agencies like Goa Kala Akademi, Goa Konkani Akademi and Department of Art & Culture and also by the National Sahitya Akademi was not enough, he added.
 
Sheikh appreciated the guidance  rendered by Bharati Chavhan and Surendra Sirst and  said that the recognition of service of over 40 senior citizens by the local unit of NCP has given a boost to the morale of all those who dedicated their lives to the social cause in Goa.

He then pointed out that if inspired further, a society that value merit and good ‘sanvskara’ would emerge. He appealed to the Goa chief minister to dissolve immediately the juries attached to all government agencies in the state and constitute fresh committees so as to ward off the existing  evil of conferring state honours on their own people turn by turn.