MARGAO
The whole country and the world at large paid glowing tributes to Ratan Tata, Emeritus Chairman, Tata Sons after his demise on Wednesday.
Cross section of society, including industrialists, the political class, citizens et al remembered Ratan for building the Tata empire and his philanthropic work in the country.
Small tourism stakeholders eking a living on tourist taxis and water sports in coastal Benaulim, which is playing host to the Taj Exotica starred resort, too remembered Ratan Tata for creating the employment opportunities for the local youth, including local fishermen.
In fact, tourist taxi operators and water sports operators expressed their profound gratitude to Ratan Tata for the employment opportunities generated by Taj Exotica when the starred resort was commissioned around two decades and half ago.
Benaulim-based fisherman Pele Fernandes was candid in admitting that what he is today is purely because of Ratan Tata. Tourist taxi operator Roque Fernandes too echoed similar sentiments, saying that Ratan Tata had paved the way for the local youth of Benaulim to become self-employed in the tourist taxi trade.
Recalling his encounter with Ratan Tata, Pele said, “The Taj Exotica was taking shape at the Benaulim coast over two decades ago. We fishermen were on the beach indulging in fishing with the traditional herbol method. We did not get any catch, but we came across a person, who was sitting on the beach, reading a book. That man was none other than Ratan Tata.”
Pele added: “Ratan Tata had given fishermen like me the hope and a future how the hotel, which was later named as Taj Exotica will bring about a turnaround at Benaulim. Because of the starred resort, his prophetic words have come true for me. What I am today is because of Ratan Tata. After the starred resort started its operations, some of the fishermen like me ventured into water sports. With God’s grace, we eke a living on the water sports activity, besides our traditional fishing occupation.”
Tourist taxi owner Roque Fernandes still recalls how he was selected by the then general manager of Tax Exotica to pick up the first paid customer of the hotel from the Dabolim airport when the resort was commissioned two decades and half ago.
Paying tributes to Ratan Tata, Roque pointed out that Taj Exotica could have very well deployed Tata’s fleet of high-end light vehicles and appoint drivers at the hotel. But, thanks to Ratan Tata, Taj Exotica gave the tourist taxi transport business to the local youth, which made them self-employed. “When the Taj group was executing the resort project in Benaulim, the management had promised that local youth would be provided with jobs and other business activities such as tourist taxi business. They honoured the promise and many unemployed youth like me had ventured into the tourist taxi trade. Tata could have easily deployed their Tata brand of vehicles at the hotel, but they left the business for the local youth,” he added.
