MARGAO: Cautioning that Goans are being reduced to a minority in the State, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Churchill Alemao urged the government to make domicile compulsory for anybody seeking any employment in Goa to save the little Goenkarponn that is surviving and accused Nikhil Dessai of promoting Goa Miles for his personal benefit.
Briefing media persons before leaving for a pilgrimage to Lourdes, he said the present situation in Goa is alarming as there are very few Goans in the State. “When I entered politics in 1989 I had predicted that we may have to look out for Goans with a torch and that is what is happening today,” he said.
He said when he visited the MPT Hospital at Sada recently, he was shocked that 15 people whom he sought directions from did not know Konkani and spoke only in Hindi indicating that they were migrants. He admitted that all Indians can get a job in Goa and demanded that domicile of 15 years in the State has to be made compulsory.
“When I was the Tourism Minister 85 per cent of the staff in the starred hotels were Goans, today hardly 15 per cent Goans are working in the hotels in Goa,” he said, demanding that even for these jobs, domicile should be made compulsory.
However, he launched a scathing attack on the Goa Miles service for employing non-Goans as drivers and for seeking to usurp the business of sons of the soil. He gave the example of Colva where Goa Miles drivers are seeking to bully their way to seek business.
“At Colva around 15 Goa Miles vehicles were permitted inside the Colva Residency only because Nikhil Dessai asked the manager to do so,” alleged Churchill and claimed that Nikhil is getting a commission from the business done by Goa Miles.
He pointed out that as per the terms, Goa Miles vehicles are not allotted any stand or place where they can park. They are only supposed to pick and drop the customer, he alleged and claimed that in Colva, migrants employed by the Goa Miles as drivers park the vehicles anywhere.
Recalling that tourism was promoted in Goa to benefit locals and Goans gained by getting into the shack, restaurant and taxi business. However, he said Sudin Dhavalikar as Transport Minister worked against Goan interest by allowing tour operators and Goa Miles taxi service.
“Goan taxi drivers do not overcharge passengers as the hotel collects the fare from the customer and pays the taxi drivers as per the fixed rates. It is these free running taxi operators who are fleecing customers and giving Goans a bad name,” he said.
“If we do not provide employment for Goans and then do not allow them to continue with their business why should they not migrate to Western countries where they can earn more money,” asked Churchill and alleged that the lopsided government policies are making Goans seek foreign nationality.
He was backed up by Jose Afonso, president of South Goa Tourist Taxi Association, who disclosed that the Chief Minister had assured them to protect their interest and called them for a detailed discussion on Monday.
He said domicile was mandatory to get the badge of a tourist taxi driver and accused Sudin of removing the need for a badge thereby throwing the doors open to anybody and everybody to become a tourist taxi driver.
