Goa Statehood Day: Geography, History, Tourism, Swayampurna Goa

“Best wishes on Goa Statehood Day! Goa, an exquisite blend of serenity and vibrancy, continues to inspire with its unique culture and enduring spirit. I pray for the well-being and prosperity of Goans and hope they continue to strengthen India’s development trajectory.”

~ Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Goa, situated on the west coast of India, is a tourist destination for all seasons. It is a treasure trove of culture, music, dances, and art forms that can be enjoyed during local festivals and celebrations. Goa represents harmonious coexistence among people following different faiths and exemplifies the spirit of “Sarva Dharma Sarva Bhava” or equal respect for all religions.

Geography:

Goa has rich flora and fauna because it lies very close to the North Western Ghats rainforests, one of the rare biodiversity hotspots of the world.

Spread over an area of 3702 sq. km, and a maximum altitude of 1022 meters from the sea level, Goa has a tropical climate with a maximum rainfall of 130 to 140 inches between June and September. 1 Goa’s seven major rivers are the Zuari, Mandovi, Terekhol, Chapora, Galgibag, Kumbarjua Canal, Talpona, and Sal. The Zuari and the Mandovi are the most important rivers. As per the “India State of Forests Report (ISFR), 2021”, the forest cover in Goa is 2,244.21 sq. km which is 60.62% of the State’s geographical area.

History:

Goa was liberated on December 19, 1961, along with overland pockets of Daman & Diu from 451 years of Portuguese Colonial Rule, marking the culmination of the efforts of scores of freedom fighters some of whom even laid down their lives in the struggle for freedom. It was initially administered as a Union Territory and later became the 25th State of the Indian Union when it was conferred Statehood on May 30, 1987.

Administrative:

The State of Goa has a 40-member Legislative Assembly which is located on the Porvorim hillock overlooking the picturesque capital city of Panaji. Goa also sends 03 elected representatives to the Lok Sabha of the Union Parliament. For administrative purposes, the State has been divided into two districts: North Goa and South Goa with headquarters at Panaji and Margao respectively, with six Talukas representing each district. The Official language is Konkani in Devanagari script. However, the use of English, Hindi, and Marathi is also allowed.

Demography:

As per the 2011 Census, the population of Goa is 14,58,545 of which male and female are 739,140 and 719,405 respectively. It is observed that from the 1961 Census till the 2011 Census the density has increased by 141.7%.

The estimated population of Goa for the year 2023 is 15,75,000 out of which males are estimated to be 7.93 lakhs (50.4%) and females are 7.81 lakh (49.6%) as per the report on population projection for India and States 2011-2036, published by the National Commission on Population. The overall estimated growth in population from 2011 to 2021 is 6.89% and the estimated growth up to 2023 is 7.98%. As per the population census estimation, 75.86% of the projected population of Goa is reported to be urban population for the year 2023.

Literacy Rate:

As per the 2011 Census, the literacy rate of the State stands at 88.70% which is above the average rate of the country and is among the top five states/UTs. Of the total population, 11,65,487 persons are literate of which 6,15,823 are males and 5,49,664 are females.

Tourism:

Goa, a tiny emerald on the west coast of India, with its natural scenic beauty, abundant greenery, attractive beaches, historical temples, and churches, colourful feasts and festivals, and above all warm and hospitable people with a rich cultural milieu, has today emerged as an ideal tourist destination worldwide.

The International Charter Support Scheme 2021 is provided to encourage more international chartered flights in the State. The scheme also provides financial assistance to the members of the Scheduled Tribe community for skill development and to improve the tourism infrastructure in their areas has been formulated to undertake tourism-related activities for the benefit and overall development of the tribal community in the State of Goa.

Goa Bazaar: Empowering The Rural Livelihood

Goa State Rural Livelihood Mission is a Govt of Goa initiative; established to promote sustainable livelihood in rural areas. This initiative is in sync with Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Vishwas – the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The Mission empowers rural women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with capacity building, credit linkage, and market support.

Swayampurna Goa: Way Forward For The State

Swayampurna Goa, conceptualized by the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, is the flagship program of the Government of Goa. It is a government-led community-level action plan to make every Goan village and city self-reliant. The program was initiated as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which it became apparent that Goa was largely dependent on the neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka for basic food items like vegetables, fruits, eggs, chicken, meat, rice, and also skilled manpower from all over India to run the industries and manufacturing facilities.

Inspired by the call of Aatmanirbhar Bharat given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Goa CM, Dr. Pramod Sawant resolved to change the dependence of Goa on neighbouring states and thus import substitution through local production of food, other products and strengthen different stakeholders. The idea is to encourage the people of Goa to become self-reliant by empowering them with the maximum benefits of the State and Central Government Schemes.

The core objectives of the programme are to encourage the people in reviving the economy and give a boost to agriculture and farming of rice, fish, and dairy products, promote the use of modern technology, combine the efforts of the people at the ground level into self-help groups and farmer to meet the needs of the people and also the demands of the hospitality & tourism industry. In this scheme, benefits of all the state and central government schemes are to be brought to the doorsteps of people. As a part of the Swayampurna Goa initiative, government officers, teachers, and students will reach out to every village panchayat. This would be done to ensure that every village becomes self-reliant by harnessing the available resources within the area.

Famous Quotes:

• Goa isn’t just about tourism and happy faces. ~ Ali Fazal
• The foundation of every state is the education of its youth. ~ Diogenes
• If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. ~ Thomas Jefferson
• We are all gifted, but we have to discover the gift, uncover the gift, nurture and develop the gift and use it for the Glory of God and for the liberation struggle of our people. ~ Louis Farrakhan

Interesting Facts:

• Around 20% of the land in Goa falls into the beautiful Western Ghats of India.
• Covering an area of 1,429 square miles, Goa is bigger than Devon.
• The Portuguese ruled this state for 450 years.
• Goa is one of India’s wealthiest states because of the booming tourist industry.
• Asia’s only naval museum is located in Bogmalo and comprises thirteen decommissioned aircraft.
• Goa celebrates independence twice, from the Portuguese reign along with the country’s independence as well.
• Goa is home to one of the largest waterfalls, Dudhsagar Falls or the Sea of Milk, as it is called.
• The first printing press in the country was set up in Goa by the Portuguese.
• The first medical school of the Country, or of Asia was established in Panjim, Goa.
• Goa is the second home for Olive Ridley turtles after Orissa.

Wishes & Messages:

• Greetings to all on Goa Statehood Day. Keep this day in mind with great pride, and thank those who helped us achieve freedom and liberation.
• Let’s remember those who gave their lives so that Goa may be freed on the occasion of statehood day. Cheers and Chills!
• Liberation is something that every nation and every soul yearns for. I would like to send my best wishes on this Goa Statehood Day.
• Without taking into account everyone responsible, Goa Statehood Day festivities fall short. On Goa Statehood Day, best wishes.
• Nothing is more desired than being freed from colonial rule. Please accept my best wishes on this special occasion of Goa Statehood Day.
• Goa Statehood Day will continue to serve as a reminder of the importance of freedom for everyone, regardless of country or individual. Greetings on Goa Statehood Day!