Help me understand and Compile the RPI (Rice Price Index0 Over forty years ago, as a teenager, I travelled through Coffee, Tea and Tobacco Plantations in Kenya, the aroma still lives with me. Long school holidays were spent in the Paddy Fields of Calangute, Goa tilling the land with “Hirpola” our water buffalo and growing vegetable crops. I recall taking part in the first sponsored walk organised by the Kenya National Freedom from Hunger before having to suddenly leave the country along with others due to the Africanisation of the Employment of our Parents, that’s another story, that initiated the migration and settlement of fellow East African Goans to different parts of the world.
While looking for a job in the City of London (1974), I came across a grand building called Plantation House, that gave me pause for thought as it was from here that the price of sugar, rice, coffee, tea was governed across the world, even though Great Britain did not grow any of these commodities (there is a little Britain in France hence the name Great Britain). The Price of Oil was governed by the Rotterdam Spot Market. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and RPI (Retail Price Index) is governed by all of us regulated by Government. Covid 19 brought disruption to everyday life as the virus travelled around the world crossing National boundaries visa free. In Goa, migrant workers were caught out without food and money due to no employment and suddenly realised they were better off in their own state rather than mass suicides from Mandovi Bridge. Recently, I have come to realise that the Goa State Government bends over backwards to look after its citizens like arranging for the basics of life like food on the table and fuel to cook it with. This is in the form of Benefit the “not talked much about” Ration Card which every citizen is entitled regardless of income. My understanding is that there are three types of Ration Cards, Below Poverty Line, Above Poverty Line and Another One, Colour Coded, and depending on your income one of these is given to each adult in the home. On all cards you are entitled to purchase your everyday essentials for life at at subsidised rate set by the Goa State Government. The rate for each Ration Colour Card is different. Essential supplies include rice, wheat, sugar, cooking oil, cooking gas, and vegetables such as onions,(no need to ne tearful) carrots, bhendis, etc. For detailed information of these cards, click on links below: https://www.indiafilings.com/learn/goa-ration-card/ http://goacivilsupplies.gov.in/ The Goa Government has or will be in the process of introducing fingerprinting and should go a long way to prevent abuse of this valuable Ration card circulating specially by those who have chosen to leave Goa and not returned their Ration Card to the Government. This will be a good move and prevent Ration cards left behind by Goan people to stop rice being purchased at a subsided price of INR 8.00 a Kilo and sold to hard working migrants at INR 18.00 a kilo still cheaper than the shop price, nourishing the Black economy. This is a good opportunity to remind our fellow Goykars in the United Kingdom about a Public statement made recently by the Goan Association UK on a Zoom Webinar and the O Heraldo that the organisation had handed out six thousand food parcels to needy Goykars in the United Kingdom. Such level of activity and volunteer effort should have attracted mention on the Queens Birthday honours list which gave praise to other groups and individuals involved in helping needy in the United Kingdom ; this was not the case. From a personal point of view, and I know of a lot of Goykars in the United Kingdom, I know of no one who has received any of these food parcels or has written publically of receiving assistance with food. Lawndon kars Goans do not waste food and if you need assistance, contact phone numbers on website GOAUK.COM are available - you do not need to be a member,have a Ration Card Passport or Visa holder. What next free mango Solam energy ? Can I request Readers around the world to assist me construct a Rice Price Index on how much a Kilo for broken and good quality rice is feel free to whats app me (+44 07970668879) with place country and price of Rice per Kilo . Please share and email me directly melvynfernan...@virginmebis.com mailto:melvynfernan...@virginmebis.com . Whether you can sing Solo or from the choir one must applaud the achievement to Reconnect with Goa please share Video (3hrs) organised by Alliance of Global Goans. Enjoy Click Here (cut and paste on your browser if link does not open https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0o2XLNMgHk Just a reminder that World Goa day is 19/20 August with GST Goan Standard Timing and Technology celebrations took place in October 2020. Perhaps Christmas will be held in March 2021 also the Anniversary of Covid 19 another reason to Celebrate. Melvyn Fernandes Thornton Heath Surrey 29 October 2020
