CANACONA: Canacona was considered to be the most economically backward about three decades ago, but due to sheer hard work of the locals the taluka shed this tag and till the COVID-19 struck the world, the locals enjoyed a decent lifestyle.
The taluka having about 10,000 households today boasts of at least one vehicle per household, while some have more than one. The three weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown has affected the economy of the taluka on so many levels such that people say that it has gone back by at least 30 years.
Those who are in their fifties and above recollect the hardships when there was no much business except for agriculture and the cash flow was almost at a standstill.
Forget about the economy, locals recollect how they used to keep their house doors open during the entire day and how the entire family slept outside to beat the heat in summer.
Such was the situation then that visiting the police station was considered a taboo.
Today the lone police station catering to a 55,000 strong population has not registered any crime except for a few lockdown violations since the last three weeks.
This is exactly the same situation that Canacona was 30 years ago, the elderly recollect.
The exotic beaches of Polem, Galgibaga, talpona, Rajbagh, Patnem, Palolem, Agonda and Khola stand deserted exactly the way they where three decades ago, people recollect.
The only change now is that there are shacks and restaurants and shops dotting the coastline but the business is dead and gone.
With economic well being in the taluka post nineties, the taluka which had a few branches of nationalised bank then, now boasts of minimum one branch of almost all the major banks; some even have branches in the coastal villages, too.
The roads in Canacona which were overcrowded and overflowing with all types of vehicles till three weeks ago are today deserted. However, the occasional vehicle to pass now is either of police on duty or someone rushing to get medicine or a farmer to sell his produce or a vehicle carrying essential commodities.
With majority of the locals held up inside their residences, the happiness coefficient is very low as of now. Somehow people are seen managing amongst the uncertainty of when this lockdown will be removed and they can get back to their normal routine.
“The immediate concern for us is to remain in the house to beat the Coronavirus which has become a household name. Once the lockdown is removed, the actual long term worries will start,” a retired seaman Anil Bhagat said.
“Till that time we are trying hard to keep our spirits high,” Bhagat said.
“Whether the COVID-19 pandemic which struck the world at the fag end of 2019 will take us 30 years back or is it part of another S curve which will shoot up again bringing more joy, happiness and fat bank balances is a huge question mark to the locals of Canacona who are unique in their own ways,” Bhagat added.
