SANTOSH NAIK
PONDA
While the vendors have been agitating against the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) regarding the hiked Sopo tax for over four months, not many customers have realized that the battle pertaining to Goa’s traditional taxation system for market traders is being fought by a large community of non-Goan vendors.
Except for a few local vendors, most of 400-odd vendors in Ponda market are those hailing from outside Goa and they are now a dominant force in the stalls that deal in vegetables, fruits, readymade garments, flowers, mobile phone shops and sweets.
The few existing Goan vendors had admitted that the younger generation have shunned the occupation of their parents. Left with no option, many Goan traders have now rented out their shops to the non-Goan traders.
The number of Goan traders in Ponda market has been steadily declining since the past two decades and now, only a few elderly Goan vendors are left to sell their wares in the market.
“Many locals are in possession of places in the market area, but most shops are rented out to outside vendors,” remarked Ponda-based businessman Viraj Sapre.
“Our youth prefer to stand in queues outside the offices of the MLAs and ministers to get white-collared jobs. They feel inferior or shy to be associated in these stalls due to increasing modernisation. This mentality should be changed and the only solution is to bring locals back into the market,” opined Sapre.
“In general, the youth feel shy to sit in the market after getting their degrees. Some work in industrial estates for a low salary. Had they been in this business, they could have earned much more than what they currently earn in offices.”
“To change this mindset, ministers, MLAs, panchayat members and councillors should encourage local youth to get involved in business in the local market. The government should also provide loans to the local youth to pursue horticulture, floriculture, etc,” Sapre said.
A youth from Kirlapal-Bethora felt that the ‘sussegad’ mentality should be changed. “Outsiders are ready to do hard work, but the locals at hesitant. The youth should be given incentives to encourage them to pursue business activities in the Ponda market,” the youth said.
When contacted, Kishore Mamlekar, leader of the Ponda vendors, admitted that Goans are largely satisfied and are not into heavy business activities.
“Goan youth prefer to look for high profile and salaried jobs, including government jobs. Even if they don’t get these jobs, they are not inclined to pursue self-employment avenues.”
“Goans prefer to work in private organisations at lower wages. If we look at the non-Goans, many of them earn good income and even invite their relatives to do business here,” said Mamlekar.
Sandesh Naik of Marcaim, a small-scale business entrepreneur, opined that the rural youth lack the financial support to get into business.
“Even if they opt for business, shyness kills the business mind. They need training and a change in mentality. The government should reserve or provide spaces for Goans in the market to do business. Goans are different in nature compared to people of other states and therefore, they need special attention, special treatment, preference and reservation in markets, in case of business activities,” said Naik.
