Goans seek Portuguese gateway We must not pretend to ignore our past forays outside our mother land .Most of our ancestors crossed Indian and Goan borders to eke out a decentliving, It was a compulsion not a pleasure of depravation of human life, Those who worked as seaman/ sailors, lost family contact for over a year, except through postal mail that took ages , often reaching after the event .Their contributions added to the well being of loved ones at home and also improve the economic conditions of state back at home. Nobody considered this migration as anti National or viewed it with blinkered glasses. It was un avoidable painful experience because our economy did not absorb them . Hence through their sufferings all benefited. Even to day our qualified and educated youth as engineers, captains, chefs etc find sea careers still attractive and rewarding. The foreign exchange earned by them is considerable, but Govt does not consider it on the same lines as exporters to grant them benefits and concessions in tax for the break/ unemployed period in service or even appropriate baggage allowance commensurate with foreign exchange in flows .They enjoy no retirement facilities as most employees do and often live in penury once out of service. Sailors pension of late is a welcome gesture that ensures dignified life
There was then sizeable exodus to African continent and from there to U.K when regimes drove them out. These migrations and immigrations were necessitated by circumstances of un employment and were not pleasure trips to unknown future. That some succeeded under trying circumstances, speaks volumes of their resilience, determination, hard work and persistence. Their contributions certainly added to the welfare of Goa and Indian Govt Then another opportunity opened in Gulf that took many Goan migrants to be exposed to the harsh conditions and acclimatization of environment. Their earnings once again have largely benefited the economy back, raisng reserves at home, without perceived benefits accruing to them. Our migrants are exploited and ignored. Opportunities dried up in gulf, due to poor condition and exploitations of labour. ,Our mission abroad had very little monitoring of their lot or offering assistance For some time now the flow is towards USA and Canada, where once again our citizens prosper by sheer dint of hard work and normally assimilate with new culture, but still maintain their cultural identity without creating conflicts and disharmony After liberation Goa was invaded by business people from all over India with their capital and experience and even today it is considered as Meca for business activities .Our expansion of EDUCATION system has absorbed many with Govt subsidies mandating Goan workforce, but not with successful and expected outcomes .The usual argument for denying opportunities being lack of skill and experience work force With liberation of Goa since 1961, it is still a far fetched situation being able to absorb the work force entering the employment market regularly. Besides it is an open secret, that the Govt jobs command a steep fee for entry that Goans cannot cough up in a ever growing corrupt environment, . Hence many youth educated and semi educated have realisied that Portuguese passport entitlement is the key to greener pastures. Many immigrants have secured a future for themselves and their families in European Union at least for the moment. The BJP Govt, is baselessly spreading a bogey that Catholics in particular are immigrating to European countries, and which is being interpreted as anti national sentiment Every now and then rumours are rife about holding dual citizenship.One has not appreciated about their stressful living conditions, discrimination etc at their new surroundings out of sheer compulsions, Once again they pour their hard earned resources back in Goa, fuelling our economy, If the Govt could absorb them gainfully , why would they risk uncertain future and often inhuman living conditions .?The Portuguese passport costs are prohibitive and take long time to secure. The least the Govt of Goa could do is to work out dual citizenship system instead of hanging a sword of defranchising those, who immigrate for self employment, Further such migration , immigration creates vacuum to inflow of labour from Karnataka, Bihar, Rajasthan, Orissa and other permanent settlers from rest of India, changing demographic picture. There is wrong perception perpetuated that immigration is anti national and not economic activity, thereby looking on such persons as second class, unwanted citizens in their own land. Some Nations like China, Japan even pay to and fro ticket of their citizens moving out for gainful employment and thus encouraging these outward movements Goa Govt needs to work ou a sa tisfactory solution that understands the needs and benefits of outward imigration and makes it easy Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
