ANTI DEVELOPMENT, ANTI PROGRESS We are lamenting that Goans are seeking Portuguese passports for migration for greener shores, That is being used to portray anti National streak .Most of our young professionally educated youth seek shelter in faraway Pune, Banagalore, Hyderabad, not to talk about those leaving out of India in drones The opportunities in gulf have dried up. Earlier our ancestors made Africa , Portuguese colonies their destinations. There is little hope in our own backyard for even qualified youngsters as the secrets of corrupt masters are safe with outsiders, being a win -win situation .We have driven out Nylon 66 and replaced with more polluting Meta strips project. Sesa Goa (Vedanta has shifted to Mumbai) There may be more in waiting to leave . There are massive and sustained movements against Mopa airport, Regional plan creating confusion in clash of ideologies. There is a hue and cry over residential building projects, golf club, hotels in all most all parts of Goa . This of course leads to invasion of hordes of migrants from Karanataka, Bihar, Rajasthan and other bordering states. Goans are loath to take up jobs except white collar openings, The result is that essential services of masons , carpenters, tailors, bakers, electricians , plumbers, pluckers being in demand badly pinching our pockets. The expanding hotel industry has openings at the lowest rung of the ladder in spite of mushrooming hotel Institutes. There is no land for even an ITI and National Institutes in Goa which cannot be blamed for environmental degradation .NGO`s and other motivated groups seeking recognition, self-interests and attention are sprouting up in every nook and corner of Goa, The argument of environment protection has been stretched too far, The disastrous consequences of ban on mining and its impact on economy is very evident .Now Marinas are a new target of uprising .Should be stop all development in our state by the over concerns of environmentalists , who have an axe to grind? How do we provide for gainful employment of our educated youth? Do we encourage outward migration and inward migration by our lopsided views and priorities? Express clearly our preferences and be reasonable as to what will meet our needs in the next century, Looks like our leaders, planners are pandering to these groups for short political gains, instead of taking firm decisions The present Govt of BJP is stirring emotions and passions with political agenda and is no different to its predecessors
Nelson Lopes Chinchinim