There are several issues that the Goans would like the government to mark as priority and solve as soon as possible, be it garbage disposal, pollution control, uncontrolled construction, threat to ecosystem, lack of basic infrastructure for the massive flow of tourists etc. However, the real challenge remains how the government will effectively control the unabated migrant influx, which now equals the population of Goa and related issues that threaten the very identity of Goans.
Migrants, who are locally termed as ‘outsiders,’ have already taken over the business of the State from hands of locals. To make matters worse, they have not only taken over the main stream trades from Goans but have also made their presence felt strongly in traditional businesses like bakery, fishing etc.
The outsiders have already taken over the traditional businesses of selling of breads, fish, vegetables etc and are not only seen in the cities and coastal belts, which were initially operated by the Goans, but now are also engaged in agricultural activities in the villages after working for several year as labourers in the fields and farms of Goans.
The majority of the business at the entire coast of Goa is now being handled by outsiders, right from selling of tender coconut to the operating restaurants, shacks, tea shops and even the taxis.
The Sarpanch of Anjuna Caisua village panchayat Patrick Savio Almeida was quick to point that “over 70 per cent of the businesses on Goa’s coast is run by the outsiders and you cannot deny any permission for trade if everything is transparent.
The taxi union too acknowledged that almost 30 per cent of taxis were being operated by migrants and same per cent of drivers are also present in Goa’s lucrative taxi business.
“You cannot call a driver or taxi operator outsider because they all have election card, tourist taxi permit and taxi in their name. They are now competing with the Goan taxi operators,” he lamented.
The issue of outsiders taking over businesses in Goa has become a serious topic of many a discussion and has also featured in several debates at various platforms, including on the floor of the State Legislatives Assembly. Foreigners too are now involved in operating restaurants, cafes, guest houses, crèche, juice centres, money exchange and what have you! And this can be seen specially in the northern-most coastal belt of Morjim, Ashwem, and Arambol.
Goa for Goans was the battle cry of the leaders and foot soldiers who opposed merger of Goa with neighbouring State Maharashtra and championed the cause of separate Goa. The promise was to save Goan land for Goans and also to preserve of its unique identity and culture.
The cases booked by police against prostitution rackets are mainly operated by the outsiders and as per Goa police records the accused are either from Karnataka, MP, UP, Haryan, Delhi and other states.
It is pertinent to note that a maximum number of cases relating to drugs and prostitution are booked by the Calangute police station for the past six months, as it is a tourism hub for the tourists that arrive in the State.
Police Inspector of Calangute police station, Jivba Dalvi said, “It is a challengeable job but police are trying to completely stop these activities in view of better tourism and retaining Goa’s identity for clean tourism.”
