India is an overpopulated country with overburdened cities. The wealthy in cities like New Delhi would like to provide their families with a cleaner environment especially clean air. They also seek a safer society where their women folk will not be subjected to harassment. When wealthy migrants including foreigners and returning Goan retirees settle in Goa they expect a functioning society that includes household help like maids, cooks and gardeners in addition to tradesmen like electricians, carpenters and plumbers who have a disciplined work ethic and respect the value of time. Just as migrant workmen fill the affordable service labour segment in the UK we see that it is migrant labour that delivers the tradespeople demands of Goa just as it does of Kerala. There are a couple of reasons why workers emigrate. 1. There is no dignity of labour in India so the typical high school graduate would find it demeaning to take up a menial skilled or unskilled trade in India but be completely at ease doing manual work in the Gulf or the UK. An empregado (clerk) job is the preference in Goa and Kerala as in other parts of India. In a Goan village a doctor I know was not be able to find a nanny to care for her infant at home unless the nanny was given a medical nurses uniform -else her marriage prospects would be harmed. 2. The educational system in Goa is not geared to produce skilled tradespeople because the school graduates do not see it as a respectable profession. 3. Another critical factor is the ability to save and remit US$ 200 monthly to their families if they work abroad and earn US$ 600 to US$ 1000 while an unskilled worker employed within Goa or Kerala would earn US$ 200 or $ 250 and save nothing. There is a need to create a new narrative for Goa that first and foremost preserves her unique heritage and cultural environment within India. As I overheard someone say - When Indians seeks that uniquely susegado Lusophone experience and do not want to bother with a visa there is no option but to travel to Goa.Only a continued willingness and zeal among the political class and the people of Goa can preserve and protect its patrimony. Neither the Indian Government nor the Goa government has ever taken seriously the possibility of Goa being an educational and technology hub to rival Bangalore or Pune. This is the opportunity that by-passed Goa because of the "resource curse" that caused an excessive dependence on mining. 1. Maintain the Environment and 2. Create the Opportunity
This needs to be the twin pronged needed to save the idea of Amchem Sobeet Goa
