I am not sure if there was any practice of 'indentured or adopted' servants in
Goa. What I know is that (a) some children from large families (say from Karwar
and Sadashivghad areas) would be quasi-adopted by Goan families. In return for
board, lodge (and in many cases, schooling) these children would join the other
members of the household in performing the household chores.
Like in a normal Gaussian distribution, their treatment was dependant upon the
household they lucked in or out into.
Whatever that may be, I know of only very few cases in which they were truly
adopted by the family. My understanding is that they were the perpetual
'interns' when it came to work: Earliest to Rise, Last to Rest.
The tradition of Bonded Labour still exists esp in North and Central India.
The age under which childhood labour is prohibited by Law in India is 14 years.
There are additional age barriers wrt employment in dangerous industry.
I had the opportunity to see (first hand) the various eateries (Udipis, Goan
'cafe's) in post 1966 Goa which had numerous children (could not be more than 9
or 10 years of age) sleeping on the floors of the restaurant after they were
shut for business.
While I gave up patronising those eateries ( some hole in the wall) after
seeing that, I often wonder what would have happened to those kids (some with
8-12 siblings), had it not been for these eateries and those who took in as
'poskems'?
That reality, despite all the Chak Chak, may be the reason why it has been very
difficult to enforce the under 14 yrs labour-prohibition; let's not forget
Some of these exploited kids support families 'back home'.just like many of
the exploited Gulf-Goans.
The status quo at the moment: while the rich get richer, the REST are getting
relatively and effectively impoverished watching the wealthy blow their funds
on large and multiple (some, 10 storey) dwellings and parties which boast of
free flowing alcohol and vulgar feasts of food.
And we call it democracy!
jc
On Aug 18, 2013, at 5:12 AM, Vivian A. DSouza socorro...@yahoo.com wrote:
It was interesting reading about this topic. Since I was not born nor lived
in Goa, I did not experience or see this terrible practice.. I now spend
most of the year in Goa and have not seen anybody having indentured servants
or adopted servants. I gather that this may have been the practice in the
distant past. No longer. People are far more enlightened and there are more
opportunities for people to get gainful employment. I truly hope that this
despicable practice no longer exists in Goa.
I have seen youngsters, perhaps pre-teens working in chai-wallah type
restaurants. I was under the impression that nobody can hire anyone below
the age of 17. But I am told that child labor is very prevalent in India,
despite the authorities attempts to stamp out the practice.
