SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
How many types of tourism?
World-over holiday destinations are famous or otherwise for the kinds of ‘temptations’ that these offer to discerning tourists. The attractions could be shopping, places of worships, food, culture, natural beauty (beaches, mountains, hill stations, etc), medical treatments, gambling, spas and other forms of enticements.
Goa has always been known for its beaches, temples, churches, a laid back attitude of the people (that is what tourists think! They do not know that we have our own concerns and worries), and less expensive liquors. In the last few years casinos have been a great draw to draw the tourists and empty their pockets! Matka or pot luck has existed for eons and would be tough to be eradicated.
Now due to the ongoing pandemic, tourism has taken a big hit and casinos are closed. Fortunately for gambling industry the ongoing Indian Premier League is a blessing for touts and gamblers. These people in the guise of tourists have made Goa their temporary abode and stay in resorts, hotels and residential/gated complexes and go about their operation without fear of the authorities.
Every day we read that a few persons are arrested and cash, mobiles and laptops all worth just a few thousands or couple of lakhs of rupees have been seized. In a few days these persons walk out on bail and back to their business as usual. This type of ‘betting tourism’ seems to be new to Goa and perhaps has blessings from powerful people who are ensconced, either in Goa or elsewhere.
Such illegal activities may be the tip of the proverbial iceberg and need to be nipped in the bud as Goa is getting a bad name in the tourism sector. Anyone want to bet if the authorities would take any remedial actions?
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Falling industry, rising unemployment
While industrial production is looking up in other States post Covid lockdown it is a matter of grave concern that the reverse is the case in Goa.Various industry bodies viz the GSIA, CII, VIA have red flagged the issues of endemic corruption and bureaucratic red tape in the past, also poor infrastructure, worsening 'ease of doing business', exorbitant cess and license fees imposed on the sector are doing nothing to bolster productivity or consumer offtake.
With industries shuttered during the pandemic, many workers have been laid off and new recruits with varied skill sets have had their appointments terminated. Despite having an employable adult population of 8 lakhs with 88% literacy rate, almost one lakh individuals have registered themselves with the state employment exchange, ie. almost 12% of eligible Goans are sans jobs. A beginning to address this grave issue has been made by setting up a 'Model Career Centre' (MCC) which shall function under the aegis of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).
Hopefully the govt wouldn't allow the MCC to become another means of political patronage and largesse distribution. As government jobs are few and aspirants many, the state should encourage entrepreneurship by providing qualified personnel access to cheap capital, management advice, peer handholding and mentorship from industry Titans. On an average one small enterprise generates 40 jobs downstream and these give rise to more, it's like a domino effect in reverse.
'Think small' would definitely pay richer dividends than 'Think big' in the context of a land and resource scarce state like Goa. Unemployment has to be tackled on a war footing by the government, else it would lead to social unrest and crime...the clock is ticking.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Of unemployment and joblessness
In a shocking incident a 16-year-old male student, a student of Class X in a government school ended his life at Pal-Sattari. It is understood that the student was allegedly disturbed over the fact that his mobile phone, given by his father, had developed a problem and that his parents had expressed financial difficulty in repairing it. It is also understood that the boy’s father works as a bus driver but is presently jobless due to the pandemic.
This summarises the financial difficulties people are facing having lost their jobs or are unemployed due to the pandemic. It is pertinent to note that though unemployment is a synonym of joblessness there is a difference between the two. While joblessness is a state of being jobless after having lost a job, unemployment is a state of having no job.
Due to the pandemic the state is facing the dual problem of unemployment and joblessness. It is understood that there are over a lakh individuals registered with the state employment exchange. However, these numbers of the unemployed does not include those who have lost their livelihood due to the pandemic including those who have come back from other countries or the ship after having lost their jobs.
The only way out for these people is to be self-employed by starting their own business.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Bifurcate Verna police station
This has reference to the news item ‘Site inspection held at Sancoale for construction of two projects’ (Herald, Oct 14). These two projects were indeed important for Sancoale. However, I have to differ on the idea of closing the Verna police station and transferring it to Zuarinagar. The present jurisdiction of Verna Police is very large which extends from Utorda, Cansaulim, Velsao, Nagoa, Verna, Cortalim, Sancoale and lastly Zuarinagar.
In fact the Verna police station needs bifurcation into two police stations, one at Verna where it is and the other at Zuarinagar. And certainly not closing down at Verna. Which is very impractical. As I mentioned the jurisdiction of Verna is very large and it needs to be equally bifurcated into two.
I hope a proper study will be made of this issue taking the feedback from the past Officers who have worked at Verna.
Anthony F. Fernandes, Arossim
