-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service
& circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network
(GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Ph:2252660
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
Traditional Livelihoods
---------------------------------
A uniform policy and its effective implementation are quintessential
ingredients
of good governance. The divergent emphases of the Chief Minister and his
Tourism Minister on Thursday, however, on protecting the traditional
mode of occupation gives a rather different picture. While Mr Manohar
Parrikar promised to bring in comprehensive traditional occupation-based-
employment policy with emphasis on protecting the interests of the locals,
Mr Mickky Pacheco on the same day and in the same assembly house
was non-committal about protecting the interests of the ramponkars
(traditional fishermen). Mr Pacheco said fishing activity was carried
on all over the state and that he could not stop water sports activity
all over as it was a major source for revenue from the tourists.
We would not disagree with the Tourism Minister that water sports,
though a comparatively new enterprise, can be a major attraction
for the tourists. There is no dispute again on the point that tourism
provides a lot of Goans business, jobs and income. But has water sports
been tested on the criteria of local self-employment and employment?
The danger that lies in the first place in promoting enterprises like water
sports
is that it will go into the hands of bigger players. Water sports requires
investments of Rs 5 to 10 crore and more. Are there Goans willing to make
this kind of investments? The answer is no.
The second, and the more important question is what the Chief Minister
laid emphasis on in the assembly on Thursday: the protection and
promotion of traditional employment. The justification for encouraging
water sports cannot be made entirely on the criterion of tourism promotion.
The criterion of how much it helps or damages traditional livelihoods has
also to be taken into account. Motor boats used in water sports churn out
the sea water all over the bay and as a result it scares the fish and
it becomes very difficult for fishermen to catch fish. The fishermen's nets
are destroyed by the motor boats; their equipment get damaged.
Traditional fishermen's families at Nerul who went through a harrowing
experience due to promotion of water sports have finally won their battle
with the Parrikar government putting a stop to water sports off the Coco
beach.
But it is a pity that they had to fight hard to force the government to take
the decision. Had they not fought, nothing would have happened. Powerful
forces
in the government were backing an enterprise that was causing untold
miseries to fishermen. These forces did not heed the complaint from
the fishermen who wrote to the concerned departments and even provided
proof that the water sports operation did not have a valid licence.
It was after a sustained protest that the government agreed to provide
a small space in the corner of the beach to the operators. But no action
followed.
The fishermen reported other illegal activities on the beach. No action was
taken.
There is obviously a need to go beyond the rhetoric of protecting and
promoting
traditional livelihoods. The government has not done any homework on this
issue.
The rhetoric should be followed by the devising of a uniform policy on the
issue.
Some of the Tourism Minister's observations in the assembly were contrary
to the ground reality. He clubs all the beaches together when there is no
such case.
Barring a few beaches, water sports are not introduced in Goa. Of the 15
popular beaches in South Goa, water sports were started in Colva but they
were stopped. Mr Pacheco's assertion, therefore, that it has been a major
of attraction does not stand on a factual ground. It is intriguing why the
minister is so enthusiastic to patronise water sports, a comparatively new
venture
and still to prove its resource earning potential, in such a big way even
at the risk
of throwing the fishermen out of their livelihood.
Tourism in Goa is too dependent on God's gifts that is, there is very
little value
addition by us. We have been in the name of promoting tourism industry only
stealing from Nature's bounties. Other western and eastern beach destinations
with whom Goa has to compete have been developed over the years to provide
a wide range of entertainment to tourists. In that sense, the concern of
the tourism
ministry of the state to add attractions deserves full support and sympathy.
But at the same time it cannot be done at the cost of the people for whose
welfare
ultimately everything is done by government. It is unwise to promote
tourism by
adding to unemployment and by reducing income.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Editorial in The Navhind Times 15/02/03 page 10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
=======================================
GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE
Documentation + Education + Solidarity
11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507
Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
website: www.goadesc.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy
=======================================
_______________________________________________
Goanet mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://goacom.com/mailman/listinfo/goanet
