Ship beckons these dream merchants
Minoo Fernandes
Some of the most affluent families in Goa today are the ones whose earning
members work onboard ships. This desire for a decent living nudges many Goan
youngsters to look for greener pastures outside India. They are determined
to find a niche there unmindful of money they have to pay to get that
position.
The Navhind Times spoke to some of these youngsters, who are presently
working onboard ships and those dreaming to make it, and sought their
opinion as to why they feel that working onboard ships is good for them.
"Every youngster has a dream to fulfill and since money is the biggest
factor in accomplishing these dreams, the opportunities one gets in the
shipping line are good," stated Mr Maxy Carvalho from Colva.
"Though I am unemployed I am preparing myself by doing as many courses as
possible," he added.
"Crossing the seven seas was a sin in the earlier days but not any longer
now," said Mr Yayesh Naik and Mr Naresh Naik, both brothers from Utorda who
are now well settled with their separate bungalows and cars.
"This would not have certainly been possible had we continued working in the
hotels where we were employed some years back," they added.
Mr Luciano Cardozo from Benaulim, who is also employed onboard an American
cruise liner, said that it is just not possible to have a decent living by
working here in Goa as the salaries were meager. He felt that if one has to
succeed and reach the stars a job in an overseas shipping line was the way
to go.
Another youngster from Velim, who identified himself as Mr Merwin Almeida,
felt that one of the factors that contributes for adjudging Goa as one of
the most progressive states in the country is because of foreign currency
that 'shippies' bring in. This valuable foreign currency has made Goa rich,
he felt.
"The rapid economic growth that Goa has made is mainly because our
youngsters are now gainfully employed onboard the ship where salaries are
quite high," said Mr Augustinho Fernandes from Varca.
"People are impressed by the beautiful bungalows and huge houses that Goans
own and this could not have been possible without the existence of shipping
companies, " said Mr Jacinto Coutinho from Assolna.
Today youngsters who are used to having an easy life at the cost of their
parents are not prepared to work for small salaries in Goa and prefer to be
unemployed than taking up jobs in the state for meager salaries, said Mr
Newton Cota from Betalbatim, adding that even graduates prefer to work
onboard the ships because the salaries are high.
Majority of the youngsters felt that if one has to have high standard of
living then the only way that one can achieve this is by finding employment
onboard a ship.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=012838
