A Hindi film dialogue goes something like this “Aadmi ko jeene keliye kya chahiye sirf Roti Kapda aur Makaan”. To a certain extent the same is true. To live a comfortable life, we require only the above three necessities. But a larger problem arises when a person is left with no honest means to earn livelihood. This reality is staring thousands of Goans in the face who are highly educated but don’t have any viable job opportunities in the State.
Goans by their very nature are law abiding and honest citizens who love their families and Xit Koddi. The ratio of Goans graduating from colleges is much higher vis-a-vis other states. But do our youth find employment locally which is appropriate to their qualifications?
Presently there are no major industries in the Goa other than few pharmaceutical units. Tourism, due to its seasonal nature, has its own limitations in generating steady employment. While many consider agriculture as a viable alternative, the fact remains land holdings in Goa are marginal and the yield is far too low to sustain.
It has been noticed that several Goans surrender their Indian passports to obtain a Portuguese passport. The reason is none other than lack of jobs. The problem has become even more acute with the stoppage of mining industry. With no solution in sight, the Goan youth have been left with no recourse but to leave their homes. The social impact of this brain drain will be even more profound. Who will take care of elderly parents when their children busy in a faraway land trying to eke out a living? There has been a steady rise in the rise of crimes against Senior Citizen in the State of Goa.
Presently, the government is in a denial mode with most saying that brain drain is not a reality or is a dystopian concept which is farfetched but the reality is staring us all straight in the face with increasing joblessness creating a social quagmire which everyone is finding difficult to tackle.
Goa is increasingly becoming a spot where the rich and famous from all over the country are buying properties at exorbitant prices, the same shall lead to a situation wherein Goenkars will be left with no lands to call their own and Goenkarponn may be lost forever.
