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The Rape of Goa - A photo documentary
by
Rajan P. Parrikar
Venue: Menezes Braganza Art Gallery, Panjim, May 21-24, 2008
http://www.parrikar.org/misc/doc-notice.pdf
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I have been reading in Goanet about the danger of migrants in Goa. Here,
much as I would contribute towards conserving our own identity, we need to
ask ourselves some pertinent questions:
1) Are we absolutely self-sufficient as a state.
2) Can we manage without migrant workers from Karnataka, UP etc. for
different types of skilled labour related work like roof tile setting,
masonry, carpentry, etc..
3) Due to the high efflux of Goans to foreign countries to earn their
living, are there any good laborers left in our State.
My personal opinion, due to work done in my two Portuguese style houses in
Goa recently, by three independent Goan groups of workers is an emphatic NO.
The work done was slipshod, very careless and had to be repeated at
tremendous monetary loss. This is not only my complaint, but has also been
an experience of other friends of mine. There are antique furniture dealers
I know who refuse to hire local carpenters only because of their lazy
lackadaisical attitude. Local workers report to their workplace late in the
morning, want a siesta from 1 to 4 p.m. and at 6 p.m. they have packed off
and left. This worked in the good old days when labour was cheap. Times
have changed, wages have increased tremendously and everyone expects to get
the most out of the money they are paying.Also Goan workers charge more than
migrant workers.
Bernice Pereira
Mumbai
