Influx
Indicators
Sandesh Prabhudesai
7 May 2003
The influx of outsiders into Goa is obvious. Census records
indicate a 132.73 per cent decadal growth of urbanisation
in 1971, from 87,329 in 1960 to 2,03,243 in 1971, an unprecedented
rise of 1,15,914. Most interesting is that the rural population
of Goa within this decade did not decline but actually rose
by 17.75 per cent.
It is clear that the first decade of the post-liberation
era, there was an open ticket for outsiders to come to Goa,
when there was no major economic activity other than mining
and a few major industries like the Zuari Industries and the
MRF. No Goan had also given up their traditional occupation.
The only major recruitment centre was the Government of Goa.
The decline in the growth of Goa's rural population was visible
only after the 1981 census. It fell by 15.73 per cent (6,84,964)
and then by 0.74 per cent (6,90,041) in 1991. It was down
by 2.16 per cent (6,75,129) in 2001. Compared to this, the
growth of urban Goa has never fallen below 39 per cent till
2001; a clear indication of the continuing influx of outsiders.
The decline in rural population from 1960 to 2001 is hardly
1,72,461, while the growth in urban population during the
same period is 5,81,540. Where did the extra 4,09,079 come
from, when birth control methods are followed more vigorously
in the towns rather than the villages?
On the employment front, presuming that the educated unemployed
youth started registering themselves judiciously since 1981,
it was hardly 30,296 shown on the live register. The 2002
figure indicates 1,03,604 jobless, though the actual number
of jobless could be much more.
On the other hand, the total number of workers, as per the
census report, was 3,32,463 in 1981, which has risen to 5,22,565
in 2001, a rise of 1,09,829 in 20 years.
Interestingly, Goa has the highest number of unemployed in
the country. As per the NSS report of 1999-00, the rural unemployment
here is 37 per 1000, against the national average of 7 per
1000. Similarly, the average urban unemployment is 72 per
1000, against the national average of only 18 per 1000.
Matriculates (33,664) top the list of the unemployed, followed
by higher secondary level youth (29,199). Together, both comprise
over 60 per cent of the total unemployed. Comparatively, diploma
holders, graduates and post-graduates do not cross 20 per
cent. The rest are all non-matriculates, ITI certificate holders
or simply drop outs. The drop out rate before Std X is equally
disturbing, not coming down below 42 per cent for many years.
It is a real challenge to find a livelihood for them.
A study made by the local branch of the Government of India's
tourism department regarding the manpower in the local tourism
industry could be an eye opener in this regard. Just take
the example of the state's 16,000 small and big vegetarian
and non-vegetarian restaurants, each of which employs 15 persons
on an average. According to the restaurant owners' association,
states the tourism office, 90 per cent of them are non-Goans.
The total number works out to be 2,40,000, out of which 2,16,000
are not Goans!
There are pockets like the housing and road construction
industry, mechanised fishing, sand extraction and vegetable
vending, each of which employs thousands of people, and in
which employment is almost monopolised by non-locals. There
are many other fields like this, all of which sustain and
nurture the massive influx into the state, which must be stopped
or at least slowed down, if the thousands of local unemployed
youth are to get the opportunity of a decent livelihood.
Why do so few Goans work in these sectors? Are they shying
away; do they have a lack of potential or orientation, or
have they simply been shut out after just over a decade of
keeping away?
BJP's Recruitment Plan
(as per Election Manifesto, 1999)
Department: Number
Education (Existing): 4,500
Education (Computerisation): 1,200
Police/Fire Force (Standard): 1,500
Police/Fire Force (Home Guards): 1,000
Health (including GMC/Dental/IPHB): 1,000
Electricity: 1,000
PWD/Irrigation: 1,500
Other Departments: 6,300
TOTAL :18,000
A
troubled Economy
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