We are excited at the word development because it promises jobs, progress and opportunities for those seeking prosperity. Politicians present a rosy picture announcing the launch of a project in their constituencies and seek the blessings of the locals in the completion of the project. They are seen speak at public functions: Ami zaito development kela. Roste keleat, buildingam bandleat, street lights galeat, etc. What they fail to tell the public is the roads have become potholed and rain washed, street lights don’t come on and while there are heavy downpours in the monsoon our water taps run dry and water is supplied by tankers. These are old stories told in new avatar displaying their lack of intelligence to speak. But the gullible Goans fail to question to know what is development in the real sense of the term. The common understanding is constructing buildings and roads, overlooking the destruction of hills and converting fertile cultivable land into settlement zones. Ultimately for whose benefits is the development. The answer by now is well known to those who have experienced the fallouts of the projects in their village and are now protesting against the same.
Goa is on the war path of destruction under the garb of development: Widening of the existing roads, usurping agricultural land from the helpless owners thus depriving them of their livelihood and straining the environment with pollution. Yet, those in authority turn a blind eye and ears to the cries of the affected poor people. Imagine the strain on the resources of the locality where complexes are put up to house hundreds of people and the govt cannot ensure steady power and water supplies, garbage disposal and fail to maintain clean and hygienic surrounding.
In this election year, it is interesting to note politicians speak of providing employment to the jobless. The Chief Minister of Goa has clarified in the House that the industry has created 16k jobs for the locals (Herald July 27). It is interesting, though, the locals have not benefited as they are not qualified for the jobs and the other alternative for the employers is to look elsewhere for the expertise recruitment. Further, he puts it very tacitly not taking the blame on his government: Under constitution of India anyone can work and earn anywhere, and he cannot ban recruitment of outsiders. It is therefore very obvious if the employers cannot find specialized manpower among the locals, then Mr Chief Minister why these industries are required in Goa. Interestingly, Goans have gone elsewhere leaving the State and are doing fine, but here our government for the last fifty years since liberation is still in the process of generating jobs to banish unemployment.
