Lack of industry is forcing young Goans to leave their own houses to look for jobs outside the state. Very interesting but this has been a continuous phenomenon right from the portuguese days. Soon after Portuguese arrived in goa, a large number of people migrated to neighbouring areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka and even upto Kerala. Goans by nature have been enterprising. Going and settling in portugal was a dream for many people even after some years of liberation. Many Goans found jobs in countries like Mosambic, Brazil, S. africa etc. Gulf countries welcomed goans with red carpet in recent years. Practically every third house has a person either working on a ship or in a gulf country. All these migrants always looked forward to coming back after making some money. Their parents were here and other family members could take care of them.
Now in last 15 years with edvent of engineering education in Goa we are producing atleast 2500 IT enabled and IT related professionals say BE, BCA, MCA, diploma holders, hardware and software engineers. But then there is no use of these qualifications for jobs in Goa. Except for one or two in Verna industrial estate absolutely no IT related vacancies can be found in Goa. This is the case with every other engineering field.
While it is admirable that several Goans have succeeded outside the state, it is unfortunate and shameful that the govt did not make such jobs available within the state. It is the duty of a young professional to make himself proficient in his field to be able to succeed in industry. However, providing the right industrial atmosphere to the state is the job of the government. We have heard promises after promises of putting Goa on the industrial map.
With a big fan fare UPA chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi had laid a foundation stone for the first IT park in Goa. This would have been Goa's golden opportunity in creating a professional environment in the state and would have given an excellent avenue for graduates from all fields, not necessarily IT. Today, leave aside the IT park, even the board is missing. Our government unfortunately does not seem to have any intensions of going ahead with it.
The period between 2001 and 2004 saw some effort being put into encouraging relevant industries in the state. The govt also envisaged some revolutionary schemes like the Krishi Ghar, Deen Dayal Rozgar Yojana, Self employment allowance etc. These were ideal schemes for youth who would have otherwise found the job of a driver or sweeper in the Gulf. Quick clearances were given to pharma companies like Lupin. IT giants like Wipro and Patni were given a red carpet welcome into the state.
The turn of events following a change in govt stopped this trend and all plans of companies to set up shop in Goa fizzled out. Had the trend continued, Goa would have been the host to serious industry which pays respectable salaries and also defines the future of the country. We would have been part of a scientific revolution and youth trained in Goa would have been driving it. Instead, we have found ourselves turning into a 'Bazaru' state only famous for Casinos.
The moment your son or daughter is in 12th standard please start thinking in which part of the world he or she would be in. And then if he is an IT related graduate be prepared to give him a send off because Goa is not a place for him.
Over the years right from the days of Mr. Ashank Desai of Mastek, engineers have been leaving Goa. That time it was 60 per year and now appx 2500 per year. Now consider this. Over the years, the birth rate in Goa has been steady at around 25,000 per year. So with this kind of exodus imagine what will happen to the demography of Goa.
Now the families are small. Children are already leaving Goa in search of jobs. Their parents have or will soon become old and will need to be with their children for old age care and will leave Goa. Unfortunately the only option left would be to sell off the ancestral properties. And Goa will only remain in dreams or merely a holiday destination unless things REALLY CHANGE.
Now in last 15 years with edvent of engineering education in Goa we are producing atleast 2500 IT enabled and IT related professionals say BE, BCA, MCA, diploma holders, hardware and software engineers. But then there is no use of these qualifications for jobs in Goa. Except for one or two in Verna industrial estate absolutely no IT related vacancies can be found in Goa. This is the case with every other engineering field.
While it is admirable that several Goans have succeeded outside the state, it is unfortunate and shameful that the govt did not make such jobs available within the state. It is the duty of a young professional to make himself proficient in his field to be able to succeed in industry. However, providing the right industrial atmosphere to the state is the job of the government. We have heard promises after promises of putting Goa on the industrial map.
With a big fan fare UPA chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi had laid a foundation stone for the first IT park in Goa. This would have been Goa's golden opportunity in creating a professional environment in the state and would have given an excellent avenue for graduates from all fields, not necessarily IT. Today, leave aside the IT park, even the board is missing. Our government unfortunately does not seem to have any intensions of going ahead with it.
The period between 2001 and 2004 saw some effort being put into encouraging relevant industries in the state. The govt also envisaged some revolutionary schemes like the Krishi Ghar, Deen Dayal Rozgar Yojana, Self employment allowance etc. These were ideal schemes for youth who would have otherwise found the job of a driver or sweeper in the Gulf. Quick clearances were given to pharma companies like Lupin. IT giants like Wipro and Patni were given a red carpet welcome into the state.
The turn of events following a change in govt stopped this trend and all plans of companies to set up shop in Goa fizzled out. Had the trend continued, Goa would have been the host to serious industry which pays respectable salaries and also defines the future of the country. We would have been part of a scientific revolution and youth trained in Goa would have been driving it. Instead, we have found ourselves turning into a 'Bazaru' state only famous for Casinos.
The moment your son or daughter is in 12th standard please start thinking in which part of the world he or she would be in. And then if he is an IT related graduate be prepared to give him a send off because Goa is not a place for him.
Over the years right from the days of Mr. Ashank Desai of Mastek, engineers have been leaving Goa. That time it was 60 per year and now appx 2500 per year. Now consider this. Over the years, the birth rate in Goa has been steady at around 25,000 per year. So with this kind of exodus imagine what will happen to the demography of Goa.
Now the families are small. Children are already leaving Goa in search of jobs. Their parents have or will soon become old and will need to be with their children for old age care and will leave Goa. Unfortunately the only option left would be to sell off the ancestral properties. And Goa will only remain in dreams or merely a holiday destination unless things REALLY CHANGE.
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