Jobs, jobs, jobs, where are the jobs, is the chant of many in Goa. But while the path to jobs is
either sought through the government (including in institutions like
Uiversities) or through quotas for Goans in the private sector, many which run
placement services, or companies which employ young professionals feel that
very few young Goans, are aiming for summer jobs, or getting trained on the job
to prepare them for a future career
Rajaram Sarang of Shubhan Consultancy
Services was categorical when he said that in Goa, young students seldom look
for work. He said “Parents in Goa are very protective and not keen on sending
their children out. They feel their money is enough to keep their children
happy”.
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It is very different in Mumbai and other
big cities where life is fast and people learn to adjust and adapt very fast.
The state of affairs in Goa is not something to crow about”. According to him
perhaps 5 % of the students could be working and this could be forced by their
poor financial situation at home. Muzawar of Sahil placements smiled when asked
if he had young college students coming over looking for work during the summer
vacations or for that matter full time jobs. He said most of the people in the
state had money and it was not part of their psyche to make their children work
while they were studying. One had to also understand that opportunities for
jobs were not plenty in Goa unlike in the big cities.
Working while studying would be considered normal in Mumbai but
here, eyebrows would be raised in what is still a very tightly knit society.
Harprit Singh of Goa Jobs Junction said the young take a much longer time to
leave the nest, as it were
Speaking to young people was a revelation. For someone like
Nicole Maciel who is a student as well as a local popular compere, said it was
sad that people like her were more the exception than the rule. Nicole said “I
know a lot of students around me who don’t work even when they have time to do
so. Even during the summer vacations, they will just sit around. I host and I
have been doing this for a while and I intend to take this further”. She said
another problem was people wanted huge salaries for jobs that just could not
pay so much. So, they will not work and prefer to stay at home. Parents, she
said were very protective and were not willing to get tough which did not help
matters.
Roshan Roy a student in Delhi and is a musician but visit Goa to
meet family and do shows said “Many of the students don’t know what they want
and don’t really know how to manage time. It is about managing time, something
which is alien to a lot of people here”.
On the flip side, Goa is likely to change in this aspect as the
connect with the rest of the country is also intense. Co working space like 91
Springboard has brought to Goa very young professionals, many straight out of
college to set up businesses or work in start ups. They then meet young Goans
either professionally or otherwise. It’s obvious that some of these influences
will rub off.
Alisha Fernandes who is now working and is an ex-student of
Xavier’s college who feels the pressure on the students these days is quite
intense with all the assignments given in college. Internships are now
compulsory in the professional courses and so students were gaining an idea as
to what one could expect in the professional world. It was happening and many
students were benefiting.
Nolan Lobo a student and photographer, videographer and designer
commented wisely “Perhaps the Goan student ought to ask what does he or she
really want to do”.
The
answer to this lies somewhere in between, opportunities Goa can provide and the
extra mile the Goan student is willing to walk
