If you need to fix a plumbing problem, replace electrical wiring , get furniture made and more, your friendly neighborhood handy man will not be a Goan, but a ‘bhaile’ from Jharkhand, UP or even Karnataka. That’s because Goans find these jobs menial
“Ramdin, mera cupboard polish kardo”, says 82 years old Maria in a remote Salcette village, as the 40 somethingRamdin from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh nods in agreement. Hindi and other Indianlanguages ring in the countryside as Konkani speaking Pedro and Marathispeaking Govind increasingly become a rarity, among the workforce ofcarpenters, plumbers and electricians. Interestingly, while Goans grumble aboutthe migrants swamping the countryside, the grim reality is that there is adearth of local skilled labour. The reason, Goan youth are still reluctant toventure into jobs like carpentry, electrician and welding as they head forbetter paying jobs abroad.
“Our boys from Poinguinim,Canacona, Galgibag do not venture into traditional trades like carpentry,coconut plucking, plumbing or electricians as they feel ashamed to do anymanual work. Our boys only want to work on ships or move to the gulf. Whilemigrants are taking these jobs because of the money involved in such jobs,”stated All Goa Toddy Tappers Association President, Gaspar Afonso.
“Even furniture and carvingrestoration of antique furniture’s is now done by these migrants. Our childrendon’t find carpentry an exciting business and are unwilling to spend hours in aworkshop like we did," said Joaquim Furtado, President All Goa CarpentersAssociation.
Patrick Gonsalves who owns atraditional bakery for over five decades in Margao asserts, “ No Goan wants towork for my bakery complaining of the flour dust and claiming that the job isdifficult to do. I am forced to sub-lease my bakery to a group of boys fromMangalore.”
But there are many who have beendoing business in and with Goa and stake their claim of being locals. MrBishwas Shaikh of Nandini Carpentry Works, Dicarpale states, "I amoriginally from Dharwad, Karnataka but I have been making and selling beds andcupboards for the last 25 years in Goa. We started carpentry and have beenfrequenting the Margao fair selling our furniture with my father since 1991. Weare all registered with the Carpentry Association of Goa.
Quite clearly there are no“insiders” available to be the support staff of fellow insiders. They arelooked down upon, scorned and often ridiculed. But you need them to come home,because no Goan does.
