Dilemma of Migration

I was motivated to write this piece after reading a news item on Herald dated Nov 22 “Migrants commit most murders in S.Goa”. News like this cause great fear, apprehension and insecurity among local population, hence they curse migrants. 

It's universally accepted that migration is an undeniable reality. Migration has been happening from times immemorial. It has been happening across states, countries and even continents. Migration takes place for many reasons, for some being employment, culture, education, religion and for others for better and safer living conditions. Jews are famous for their migration across the globe and have grown extremely prosperous and powerful in USA and Western Europe, in spite of terrible suffering they were subjected to by Nazis during World Wars. Indians have been migrating within the country and to other countries for centuries for various reasons. 

Now coming to Goa, Goans too have been migrating even before its liberation in 1961, to different cities of India such as Bombay, Pune, Belgaum, Mangalore, Bengaluru and so on. Besides, hundreds of Goans went to different parts of Africa, Gulf, Europe and Americas. And this phenomenon still continues unabated. 

However, after liberation the migration scenario has greatly changed. Indians from all walks of life started coming to Goa, initially for employment sake and for starting and running businesses. Later due to increased activity of construction of big housing projects, building of Interstate roads and highways, bridges, setting up of industrial estates and other large scale activities, the demand for labour class, semi-skilled and skilled workers grew by leaps and bounds. 

As time passed due to lack of suitable employment opportunities, Goans in large numbers sought employment in the Gulf countries, as seamen on foreign ships and of late in the UK, USA, Australia, Canada and other countries. This created a kind of labour vacuum which was filled with demand for more migrants. As a result of new found prosperity, many Goans who remained behind, gradually gave up their traditional trades and professions including cultivation of agricultural fields. However, it's a known fact that migration has its own drawbacks. Even though it's a “necessary evil” the local population always detests the presence of migrants.

In Goa unfortunately nothing much is being done by the authorities to enforce measures to control and regulate their presence. It's true that migrants in some places constitute a substantial vote bank and at the time of election they are provided haphazardly some basic amenities often illegally. 

The issues related to migration are complex and need serious efforts from the part of government, NGOs and social media to manage the adverse impact it causes on language, culture and public relations between locals and migrants, so that a safe, fair and balanced way of life is assured for both the communities and create opportunity to build new relationships of trust and mutual respect.