>Message: 11
>Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 19:13:16 -0800 (PST)
>From: Jose Colaco <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: [Goanet]re: preference and denial
>I would ask from those who know.
>Is there one Goan who was given preference over
>"locals" in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata but also in
>Kuwait, London and New York ?
>The question is NOT why Goans are NOT given preference
>as nuch as why Goans are being denied opportunities.
--__--__--
While Eddie's point stretches the argument to one extreme, this seems to be
taking it to the other! The feeling of being *discriminated against* is a
strategy well used to justify many an aggressive behaviour.
It all depends what you mean by "given a preference".
How does a Julio Ribeiro become the police chief of
*Punjab*, and an AL Dias the Governor of West Bengal,
and an Eduardo Faleiro or Ramakant Khalap or Sripad
Naik get the chance to hold sometimes-important
portfolios despite representing such a tiny segment of
India? There are a few hundred thousand Goans
living and earning a livelihood in Mumbai, in jobs
which the locals could have perfectly well done.
Many live in Kerala too, others along the Karnataka
coastline. Or, is it our case that Goans migrating
are extremely meritorious, while others coming into
Goa are crooks and racketeers only?
This is a complex issue, and can't be just wished away, or fitted into our
own preconceived biases.
Some queries: (i) On what basis are we saying that "Goans are being denied
opportunities"? (ii) Is it a case of being kept out of the race unfairly, or
simply lacking the tools to compete? (iii) Is the Konkan Railway case
(cybercafes) symptomatic of the general trend, or is it just one of the
different trends visible, assuming it was not lost by fair competition? (iv)
Assuming corruption is involved, are we assuming that Goans are immune from
it? Or, what are the reasons we see them as loosing out due to? (v) When we
talk of "Goans ... being denied opportunities", do we refer to *all* Goans
or only those of *our* community/caste? (vi) Are we willing to concede that
the bitterness and differences Goans have *among themselves* is at the root
cause of many a problem we place on the doorstep of The Other?
To my mind, the biggest problems in Goa are being unable to compete, not
having the right information at the right time, too much infighting among
various segments of the population stemming often from bitterness of the
past, and the tendency for each to see the issue from a perspective
convenient to him or her rather than appreciate that there are many
perspectives involved. FN
--
Frederick Noronha : http://fredericknoronha.blogware.com
Freelance Journalist : Ph 0091.832.2409490 Cell 0 9822 122436
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