PANJIM: Photographers and videographers have suffered greatly during this COVID-19 lockdown with no large events or weddingtaking place and hence their earnings have been limited or in many cases have come to a complete standstill. To top it all, they have to pay up their loan instalments to the bank which gave loans to buy equipments.
Oscar das Chagas e Silva, President of United Goan Photographers and Videographers Association (UGPVA) is worried about their plight. “Since no wedding or events are taking place now and it is more likely that it will not happen till December this year, we will not have any income. Most of us are only dependent on this profession. We have rented studios, equipments on loan etc and it is becoming very difficult for us to survive,” said Silva.
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UGPVA has nearly 110 members in the State and all are from Goa. All the members are voicing out that if the State government is helping out migrant labourers and taxi drivers, then why can’t the government help Goans? “I wrote to the Chief Minister on April 22 pleading before him to help us too. I have also met Minister Michael Lobo to help us get an appointment with the CM,” added Silva.
Adriano Chiquito Barretto, Advisor to UGPVA is also feeling helpless. “For us this lockdown has become a disaster. We are not able to do anything. This season like April-May is gone and we do not see good future ahead,” asked Barretto.
He lamented that the govt does not provide them with any facility or give them jobs even after they are registered with the employment exchange. “At present, we are just sitting idle and doing nothing. How do I repay my loans which I had taken to buy a camera? We too have to take care of our family without any help from any one. The hotels are non-functional and tourism is not likely to happen till last December, till then what do we do?” Barretto quipped
Treasurer and founder member of UGPVA, Orlando Dias from Navelim added, “Our season of earning is gone and in monsoon we do not have any assignments. If we do not get any business till December then you can imagine that we will go without earning for one full year. We are self-employed and we do not get any help from the government or anyone. We have to get new equipment and keep ourselves updated with market demand, which costs money. If we do not have business, how do pay our loans which we took for these equipments?” asked Dias.
Executive Member of UGPVA, Cipriano Fernandes said, “We totally depend on events and wedding and nothing happened this season and it’s not likely to happen till December in Goa. Our livelihood is shut. If the govt can help the labourers from outside state, why can’t they help us Goans?”
