CURTORIM as a Model Village Curtorim village has long standing legacy of rich natural and cultural heritage and represent some of the traditional knowledge of Goa through agricultural practices. The Village is very rich in Flora and Fauna Diversity. Curtorim is known as the “granary of Salcete” and is famous for nurturing numerous water bodies like lakes, springs, backwater and, Khazan land along river zuari at northern side and Amongst the beautiful and affable Curtorkars, are mighty churches, chapels, crosses, Temples and beautiful houses that tell stories Like no other. The landscape is dotted with vast agricultural Land, the beauty of which is enhanced in the monsoons. The village roads are adorned with tall and shady coconut trees mixed in with a wide variety of vegetation. Along with the picturesque Scenery, is a vibe of calm and tranquillity, away from the hustle and bustle of the roaring towns and cities. It’s true authentic Goa! PROFILE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL MODEL VILLAGE, CURTORIM GENESIS OF CURTORIM VILLAGE: One of the beautiful model village in Goa State with all amenities having 58 vaddes represented by 11 ward members of V.P. Curtorim bounded by Macazana/Guirdolim on east , Margao (Part)/Raia on west , River Zuari on North and Sao Jose de Areal /SCR line (Part) on South (See detailed Village Action Plan Map) on www.Curtorim panchayat.com Earlier Known as Codtary/Coddatary or Kardaly, Village Population is composite of at least three races: Proto-Australoids, Dravidians and Aryans chief among its inhabitants are Gaudas, Kunbis, Velips and the Mhars. They created Village agriculture and Village Association Gaunpons or Communidades, Language Konkani is Indo-European or Indo Aryan represented principally by Sanskrit. The Ancestors of the Village Curtorim were Hindus; they were converted to Christianity by the Portuguese rulers. Poi family was the first one converted and got the surname Da Costa. Luis Manuel da Costa, a descendants of Hari Poi was the first Regedor and Shri. Carminho Menenzes was the last Regedor of Curtorim Village under Portuguese rule before a Panchayat Raj Act of Goa Government after Liberation. St. Alex Church built in 1597 (Rebuilt in 1647) with Public Money and it is the first village to do so. Before the Christianization of Curtorim Village, locals venerated Ravalnath and 10 other deities. Curtorim Village has long standing legacy of rich natural and cultural heritage, represents some of the Traditional knowledge of Goa through agricultural practices (Granary of Salcete) Very rich flora and fauna diversity having six big lakes, 18 springs, 9 mountains, paddy fields, 6 Khazans, 2 Churches, 5 chapels, 4 temples, heritage houses etc. Curtorim was the centre of Maritime trade from very ancient times. We all know that on 18th Dec, 1961 early morning started the process of ending the Portuguese rule in Goa and before sunset of 19th December, every portuguese soldier was captured by the members of Indian armed forces and every Portuguese flag was brought down and Indian Tri-colour was hoisted up in its place by the “so called Freedom Fighters” Before this date the civil administration of every village was in the hands of single person called “Regêdor” who was functioning from his residence. After 19th December 1961, Goa became Union Territory under the Military Governor Major General K.P. Candeth (19-12-1961 to 06-06-1962) and Shri. T.Shivshankar made Lt. Governor of Goa on 07.06.1962 to 01.09.1963. A New system was put in place by which the Civil administration of the Villages was to be conduted by body of 5 or more elected persons who formed the Village Panchayat according to its area . The first Panchayat election was held on 24.10.1962 under Lt. Governor Mr. T. Shivshankar and first legislative Assembly /Parlaiment was held on 19.12.1963 under Lt. Governor Mr. M.R. Sachdeva (02.09.1963 to 08.12.1964). (See List of Sarpanchas / Dy. Sarpancha, M.L.A/.M.Ps/ Zp’s enclosed along with Curtorim jurisdiction map on website www.curtorimpanchayat.com ) As regard for the first Panchayat election, there were several individual from Curtorim in their own individual capacity and not as any block or Group. The election process was completed peacefully and the following members were elected accordingly. For Village Panchayat of Curtorim 1) Mr. Jose Simeao Fernandes Dr. Camilo Severino Rodrigues was the First Sarpanch 2)Mr. Caetano Moniz 3) Mr. Rosario Rebello 4) Dr. Camilo Severino Rodrigues Dr. Pascoalito De Mello was first 5) Dr. Pascoalito De Mello Deputy Sarpanch 6 )Prof. Louis Jose Dennis 7) Mr. Jose Azavedo 8) Mr. Joao Fernandes 9) Miss Lina Borges For Assembly – Curtorim Constituency Mr. Enio Pimenta - First MLA For Parliament – Mormugao Constituency Mr. Mukund Shinkre – First M.P. For the first time in history of Village Administration professional were elected and all round planned development was proposed and implemented and with the help of our first MLA Shri. Enio Pimenta who spearheaded the fight to retain Goa’s distinct identity in the historic opinion poll held on 16.01.1967 was instrumental in setting up the Health Centre and electrification of Curtorim Village , Curtorim Service Co-operative Society and Curtorim Educational & Welfare foundation with the help of then prominent Curtorcars Eng. Mario da Costa, Prof. L.J. Dennis, Mr. Robert da silva and many others. Curtorim Village is one such village which has most of the facilities for instance, it has very good network of roads but lack maintenance. We have three high schools, Govt Primary & Pre-Primary schools, Madrasa, Anganwadis, and Higher Secondary School etc. There is a Primary Health Centre which is complemented by a Nursing Home and private doctors. There are six banks some of which with ATM facilities. There is a Post Office, Electricity section Office, a Telephone exchange, Two churches, 5 Chapels, 4 Temples to take case of religious aspects of our villagers. We have a market which caters to sale of fish and vegetables, meats, groceries, medicines, bakeries, consumers Co-op Society, fair price shop etc, veterinary department branch to take care of the animals as Curtorim is basically agricultural village. Our ancestors were comfortable living in their houses surrounded by attractive fields, gardens, mountains, springs, lakes, paddy fields, khazans and rivers. They very rarely left their field uncultivated; hence there was a sufficient food grain for the family (Granary of Salcete). Today the fields and other cultivable lands are left barren or are producing new breed of crops (construction). Almost all speak eloquently about our history. There were no record to substantiate and is in the process of being diluted. On 30th May, 1987 Goa was granted full fledged statehood under Chief Minister PratapSingh Rane and Governor Dr. Gopal Singh and with this the process of decentralization administration started. The state has geographical area of 3702 sqkms divided in two district and eleven talukas (Now 12 Talukas) . There are two Zilla Panchayat, North Goa and South Goa with 190 Panchayat (Now 191). This decentralization has resulted in higher efficiency in the administration. FOR MORE DETAILS REFER TO BIBILIGRAPHY 1) Sources of History of Kadambas of Goa – Inscriptions By S.G Kadam 2) Kudatari Copper Plate on 10th January, 2008 (Navhind times) Article by Rohit Phalgaoncar 3) Socio-Cultural History of Goa from Bhojas to Vijaynagara by Dr. V.R. Mitragrotti (Institute Menezes Braganza Panaji, Goa ) 4) Grant of Kadamba King Viravar Mahadeva Saka 071 (1049 A.D) Newsletter PP 49 to 64 Volume 1 No. 1 Panaji 1977.by V.T. Gune 5) Pre-Portugusesa de Goa by P. Pisurlekar Page 613. 6) Voice of Village: A Historical Study of Curtorim. A Dissertation submitted to Goa University by Ms. Velia Sophia Mascarenhas from Curtorim under the guidance of Dr.Nagendra Rao Department of History Goa University April, 2016. 7) Souvenir’s brought out by the fourth Centinary Celebration Committee (400 years) of St. Alex Church, Curtorim and 10 yeas celebrations of Shri. Shantadurga Chamundeswari Mahamaya Devasthan Curtorim. 8) A Case study of Curtorim Village on Overseas migration of Goan Catholics by D’Costa M.A (2005) M.A Geography Smt. Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts and Science, Margao, Goa. 9) A living symbol of rich heritage and cultural religious co-existence by Shirodkar S.V. (1994) Curtorim. 10) Synopsis of Goan History by Filip Neri Xavier ( 1804-1872) 11) Refer Village Voice – Goa Today, May 1989. Contribution to Village development in making a Model Village from late Enio Pimenta Ex- MLA late Caetano Moniz (Ex-Sarpanch) late Sebastiao Fernandes (EX- Sarpanch) , Shri. Francisco Sardinha Ex MLA, Ex- M.P. and Ex- Chief Minister, Dr. Ernesto Rodrigues, Shri. Reginaldo Lourenco (MLA) Late Father Vasco D’Souza and Late Fr. Sebastiao Moniz and many more specially farmers. Interviews and co-operation from 1) Shri.Rafael Viegas, Unjirim, Curtorim, Goa 2) Shri. Antonio Fernandes (Bandkar) Cumborda,. 3) Sir Salema, Maina Curtorim, Goa 4) Shri. S.V. Shirodkar, Bandol Curtorim, Goa 5) Smt. Maria Pimenta e da Costa, Pequeno Rumbordem. 6) Smt. Alzira Gomes, Pandicol . 7) Shri. Mariano Viegas, Batora. 8) Smt. Celina Amaral de Cotta, Batora 9) Shri. Joao Fernandes- (Packlo) First Panchayat body Member, Virabhat 10) Shri. Gromiko Fernandes, Sinaibhag 11) Curtorim Union – Community base organization. GEOMORPHOLOGY OF CURTORIM VILLAGE (ALDEA DE CURTORIM) The land mass of the village can be classified into three regions 1. High lands consisting mainly of lateritic soil, which is mainly utilized in growing various types of vegetables, the terraced gardens are mostly converted into Morod land which is used mainly to grow paddy as a khariff crop( with the help of the rain water) 2. Mid lands consisting mainly of land irrigated by the water stored in the various ponds as the Rabi Crop.