Close to 30 people mostly very young, surrender their Indian passports daily after they get their Portuguese ones. This is a wake-up call to our government. A Government which promises development that never comes. For the last two and half years we have been hearing scores of time-bound promises never to be fulfilled. Promises of ‘plastic-free Goa’ within 30 days; problem-free electricity supply within 3 months; half a dozen new bridges within two years, satisfactory solution of MoI within a short time, promises of Lok Adalat to uproot the corruption in our system, Special Status for Goa, etc, etc. Now, just before the Panjim by-elections, a new promise by the defence minister and ex-MLA from Panjim “to set up a helicopter assembly line unit in the State”.
Every time there are new elections, mouth-watering promises appear in the firmament of Goa to disappear before the ink disappears from the nail of the voters. A fast development is promised before the elections, instead after the elections, there are disturbing signs which make many young people feel that they are second class citizens in their own country.
Even, as an exception, if there are ‘mega investments they are for, by, and of people from outside’. In the meantime the young people, in increasing numbers, continue to leave ‘the land they call home in search of opportunities in education and work’. This is a challenge to the government.
In order to face this challenge and respond to this alarming situation we need ‘a muffler man who coughs’, a man who sincerely feels and is with the youth of Goa.
It is also a wake-up call for the Church of Goa. The majority, if not most, of those who trade their Indian Passport for a Portuguese one, are Christians or coming from Christian families. If the Church of Goa has a vision for the future it should respond to this disturbing trend in whatever way it can. What is the use of having huge structures and mega religious events and plans for new ones if there are no Goan Christians to cater for? What are the future priests going to do if there are no flock in the parishes? And what is going to be the future of our mother tongue, Konkani in the liturgy?
Finally, it is a wake-up call for all Goans. The exodus of so many young people from Goa poses a problem to all Goans, regardless of their faith. What type of values do we instill in the minds and hearts of our children? How much do we make them love our beautiful land? Our cherished mother tongue? Do we pride ourselves and make our children feel proud of our own Indian passport?
These are some of the questions the parents, the teachers, the priests and all Goans have to ask themselves if we want to save Goa for future generations.
