Goa’s employment scenario has never been very encouraging even during the Portuguese regime. Goa’s merger into India only made matters worse. Developmental works needed skilled and large work force which Goa could not provide and had to be imported. Cheaper labour also became available. Impotent Governments failed to provide adequate protection to Goans in employment, with companies, hotels and even Konkan Railway employing staff from outside.
Goa’s unemployed stood, sometime back, at 1.2 lakh – around 8% of Goa’s population. This surely does not reflect the correct picture, as thousands of unemployed are not registered with Employment Exchange. The rate of unemployment in Goa is also much higher than the national average and is still higher in case of women.
Having never been very hard working or enterprising and shunning certain types of work, especially menial and skilled, we Goans, share part of the blame for the present pathetic scenario of unemployment. Some types of work performed by migrants could be done by Goans with more ease and larger profits. But often even our own business is entrusted to outsiders, ignoring the risk of losing it altogether.
We are also averse to taking up jobs which we feel are below our dignity. These truths about us need to be candidly acknowledged. Perhaps the fault lies in some of us having looked down upon such jobs in the past. Attempts made recently to cultivate our fields are praiseworthy and hopefully will be continued. Our concept of dignity of labour is far different from abroad, where any type of job is respected and people are never judged by their profession or occupation. Our flawed line of thinking needs to undergo a drastic change, before it is too late.
When self-employment and/or any type of work needs to be encouraged amongst us, the recent arrest by the Fatorda Police of Maclon Fernandes selling fruits, from his car, parked in a private property abutting a road was strange and hence hogged the limelight. Goa Police have never been known to strictly enforce any law, even when interests or the lives of the people are at risk. Further, the guy was a Goan and was being hounded in the constituency where Goenkarponn is regularly highlighted, of course, solely to cover a betrayal. The genesis of the case is that another fruit-seller from SGPDA market confronted the young man objecting to the sale as it was affecting his business, though over 500 yards away. Later, he got some vehicles to be parked in the area to prevent the new fruit seller from stationing his vehicle. This was apparently done with the help of another guy, in the vicinity, having an ever expanding illegal shop in a road widening area which, is reportedly supported by politicians and servile bureaucrats.
Few days later, obviously under pressure, the man was booked, vehicle seized, which according to the Police caused obstruction as other vehicles would stop on the road to buy the fruits. The mobile too was confiscated perhaps to stop him from contacting anyone. So much for our democracy…
When Margao is a city of illegalities, where footpaths are occupied, shops do not have trade licences, sanitation fees are claimed but garbage not collected from many shops and houses, illegal constructions or extensions spring up overnight, gaddas run by outsiders roam throughout the crowded city, parking spaces are converted, two-wheelers are lifted while cars in prohibited areas are overlooked, markets run by migrants are allowed to flourish behind Holy Spirit Church, more and more illegal handcarts crowd our bus stands and roads, etc, why should this poor man be singled out, strangely by the police while trying to fill his belly by selling his produce, that too using a private property? The PI of Fatorda and those who swear by Goenkarponn owe an explanation for this extra-zealousness.
Citizens have had occasions, in the past, to protest and stop the eviction of poor local women coming to the city to sell their produce on footpaths, open spaces or road widening areas. It may be argued that illegalities should not be permitted and I agree, but then selective targeting and that too against Goans should not be tolerated.
Goans have already been witnessing second class treatment meted out to them by bureaucrats, public servants and even people’s representatives in respect of election, ration cards and other services or amenities. The reason for this, in my view is simple. The migrants are vote-banks. Further, bribes are paid by them with more ease and without publicity, whereas in case of Goans, exposure is likely.
A Goan narrated recently that he had to fall at the feet of some politician to install a horticulture handcart, to add to his meagre income. How sad is it that Goans need to pay bribes or beg of politicians to fill their stomach, when they needed to be encouraged into such ventures? Why shouldn’t people get their work done without favours or bribes? Is this what is called “ease in doing business”?
Fellow Goans, our complacency or “mhaka kiteak poddlam” attitude has led us to this distressful situation. Let us wake up before we are totally marginalised or eliminated by these selfish, corrupt and greedy politicians. Their only aim is to grab power and accumulate illegal wealth to win elections. We need sincere legislators who will put Goans first, not traitors anymore.
Let this Government understand that discrimination against Goans will not be tolerated henceforth. And we shall defend, if need be as in Maclon’s case, small, innocuous and need based illegalities committed by Goans so long as the Government does not curb and overlooks illegalities committed by migrants. Let us chase politicians and bureaucrats before they can chase us.
(The author is a retired banker)
