A
troubled economy
Sandesh Prabhudesai
7 May 2003
It is a million dollar question to debate upon whether Goa's
politicians have ruined the local economy or the limited local
resources have compelled the selfish politicians to break
all the records in India, as far as defections, morality and
corruption is concerned. To speak about politics, is it necessary
to speak aloud? Politicians are respected, but out of fear
and not because they are felt dear. We have had 14 chief ministers
in 13 years since 1990; @0.93 CM per annum! One of them lasted
for only four days. The only criteria left to judge them is
which one is less corrupt and more 'friendly'.
Crisis is the second name for Goan economy. The one-time
backbone called mining is presently counting its days as underground
stocks are getting exhausted. Tourism is still waiting for
seasonal sustainability, while tourists are being attracted
by more professionally run and decent destinations. The annual
interest on state loans this year is Rs 300.93 crore, against
the total debt amounting to Rs 1784.80 crore. In spite of
chief minister Manohar Parrikar working brilliantly on the
revenue generation front, he has no option other than pleading
with the centre for a one-time grant of Rs 100 crore.
As per the latest Economic Survey 2002-03 released by the
Government of Goa, there are 6679 small scale industries registered
permanently in the state with an investment of Rs 298.33 crore,
providing employment to 45,635. However (and this 'however'
is important), states the report, the number of SSIs actually
functioning, the sick units and the causes of sickness are
not known. In case of medium and large industries, 337 units
have been cleared, but only 148 are functioning. Where have
the remaining 189 disappeared?
The scene in agriculture is really pathetic. As per the latest
census report, 60 per cent workforce was engaged in cultivation
in 1960-61, which has reduced to 9.7 per cent in 2001. Agriculture's
16.5 per cent contribution to the State Domestic Product has
declined to a mere 8 per cent. Within a decade since 1991,
the number of cultivators have reduced from 68,663 to 50,663
(down 26.2 per cent) and agricultural labourers have reduced
by 19 per cent. Traditional rice production has reduced by
15,600 tonnes within a year from 1,42,123 tonnes last year,
a massive reduction of almost 11 per cent. A substantial decline
has also been witnessed in agro products like ragi, pulses,
groundnut, mango and other fruits. The only silver lining
in this cloud of gloom is the rise seen in sugarcane, cashewnut,
arecanut and banana.
No Goan can live without fish (excuse me, vegetarians!) while
thousands live on fishing along the coastal belt. But the
fish catch, in the last six years, has reduced from 94,547
tonnes to 71,247 tonnes - a steep decline of almost 25 per
cent. "Non-observance of ban period and overexploitation
has been the major cause for declining fish production in
the last few years," states the Economic Survey. Similar
is the case with several other traditional occupations like
poultry, dairy, piggery and others.
This is perhaps the reason why Mr Kidar Nath Sahani, Governor
of Goa, has raised concern over the deteriorating situation
by astutely analysing the socio-economic scenario in the state
within four months of his arrival here. His observation that
youngsters are shying away from casual jobs is being disputed
by many, but there is no denying the fact that the preference
of today's youth is for urban jobs, first in the government,
otherwise in the banks, then private firms and then factories.
The trend to seek employment than running a business and also
towards urbanisation since no attractive opportunities are
made available in the villages. This has obviously upset the
whole socio-economic balance of Goa.
Influx
Indicators
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