Lianne Rodricks
As a citizen listed on the electoral rolls and an NRI who has responded to calls for remittances whenever the Government of India has made that clarion call, I was disappointed when I was told by the Custom Officer at Dabolim Airport and the Reserve Bank (Patto Branch) that I have to travel to Mumbai and stand in a serpentine queue to exchange my defunct notes. The entire process is allegedly tinged with uncertainty and I have no guarantee that making a trip to Mumbai would be fruitful.
The cost of the trip will exceed the notes I have declared and have to exchange and any suggestion to “write off the amount” is a slap in the face to those of us who have worked our fingers to the bone to earn this money. The uncertainty makes it an un-viable option. Does one give up valuable holiday time to sweat in a queue in Mumbai?
It is no secret that among the States in India, Goa has one of the largest and definitely the most enviable ratios of overseas workers/NRI’s who toil aboard Cruise Liners, Airlines, or brave the heat of the Desert climes of the Gulf to make a hard earned and well deserved living. We have kept the Foreign Exchange coffers of the State filled to the brim, yet, neither the CM nor the State has considered demanding “exchange-worthy” status for its Branch of the Reserve Bank? The fact that they don’t have a Cash Counter is petty excuse for a Government who thought it fitting that you give up the Defence Portfolio, just to cling to Power in our miniscule State.
Was Goa not good enough to be included in the 6 centres that are accepting notes declared by NRI’s? With an election in the offing, it may be time to remind the BJP that Goa can flex its FOREX muscle and for once, they need to do something in return for NRI’s. Goans were never behind the so-called “black money” syndicates as most of us have been in the Service Industry. I would go so far as to claim that the NRG (Non-resident Goan) psyche is geared to working an 8 hour shift and saving up for the Family back home and for ones’ retirement. Why then do we have to ‘let-go” monies that we have worked exceedingly hard for, yet the Government wants us to throw away as travelling to Mumbai will mean spending more than one has to exchange.
Despite pre-election promises, I have yet to see any improvement to the lot of NRG’s. Whereas a simple two step process (fill out the forms at the RBI, but exchange the Notes at the State Bank Cash Counter could be just what the doctor ordered to ensure that the process is smooth and would be a two pronged check-back to boot) could simplify matters for those of us affected.
Something’s gotta give……..and I have yet to see any semblance of the “Acche din” I was promised by our Prime Minister!
