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----------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service & circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Ph:2252660 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ People's Pulse: Taking up traditional occupations ----------------------------------------------------------------------- by Pio Esteves
The employment scenario in Goa is bleak, thanks to poor opportunities available to the youth and it has simply aggravated because of their unwillingness to take up traditional occupations existing in the state. Are they really unwilling to take to traditional occupation? What has been the reason.
To assess the popular mood among people The Navhind Times interacted with some intellectuals and people involved in traditional occupations and sought their views. Mr Santan Viegas, who has ventured into the business of catering laments that there is a perception among Goan youth that taking up traditional occupations is below their dignity. "They won't mind idling their time and resorting to thefts and other bad habits. The youth expects the government to provide them jobs, but they fail to avail of the numerous facilities available to them through various government schemes," adds Mr Veigas.
Mr Tensing Rodrigues says that traditional occupations should not be treated
as a dumping ground for the unemployed as there is tremendous potential
in this field. "Our concept of employment needs to be revamped. It is no
longer the sole responsibility of the government to provide employment.
If I have a stomach to fill, as an adult, it is primarily my responsibility to fill it.
And to fill it I need to offer something to the community for which the community
will be willing to pay," Mr Rodrigues said.
He further says that any traditional occupation should be commercially
viable. If not, the community will have to subsidise it continuously,
and sooner or later it will be dumped. There is no dearth of traditional
occupations if viewed from this angle. Traditional occupations were never static;
they evolved through ages; and we need to carry on this evolution.
Mr Domingos Sequiera, involved in the pottery business says that he took up
this business from his grandfather and feels contented continuing the traditional
occupation comfortably. "Earlier there were 70-80 people involved in this task.
Today only 10 are devoted to it. And if the younger generation, especially
the unemployed youth, do not learn this art, then there is fear of its immediate
natural extinction," admits Mr Sequiera.
Mr A de Melo, feels that with Goa boasting of one of the highest literacy rates
in the country, Goan youth do not look beyond white-collar jobs. "They think
that traditional occupations are degrading but do not hesitate to do
menial labour in the Gulf or on cruise-liners. Traditional occupation
is the only answer to the rising unemployment in Goa and contrary
to popular opinion, it has got a vast cope," opines Mr de Melo.
Ms Susan Texeira states that unemployed youth must be encouraged to take up occupations, both traditional and modern if they are profitable. She further suggests that in Goa with many unemployed and people reluctant to enter the field of traditional occupations, the government needs to make such occupations more attractive through subsidies and by making use of new and better implements, make traditional occupations less difficult and less dangerous.
According to Dr Bicaji Ghanekar, hard work leads to success and our unemployed youth should take up the traditional occupations if existing in the family and then try to expand it. "If that is not done, there is every possibility for our youth to remain idle and enjoy at the cost of their parents and ultimately end up miserably in life," adds Dr Ghanekar. ------------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 22/03/03 page 6 -------------------------------------------------------
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