PANAJI
Despite being a small State, Goa features among the first six States with maximum unemployment rate in India. Goa’s unemployment rate was recorded at a whopping 13.4 % in May this year, as against the national average of 7.12% as per the data published by Centre for Monitoring of Indian Economy (CMIE) for May 2022.
Raising concern about the rising unemployment rate in Goa, The Mining Engineers’ Association of India (MEAI) Goa Chapter appealed to the government at the Centre and State, to allow resumption of mining activities. The association has appealed Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to immediate resumption of mining and address the unemployment crisis and revenue deficit in the State.
Citing the very high rate of unemployment in the state, the Goa chapter of MEAI claimed that in the absence of industrial activity, mining professionals are facing an unprecedented job crisis. The association said that due to the stoppage of mining operations and massive slowdown in the other industrial sectors in Goa, as per the CMIE report its unemployment rate was higher than that of several bigger States, such as Chhattisgarh (0.7 %), Gujarat (2.1 %), Madhya Pradesh (1.6 %), Odisha (2.6 %), Uttar Pradesh (3.1 %), Uttarakhand (2.9 %), and Maharashtra (4.1%) during May 22.
As per the report of MoSPIIn 2020-21, the state had the third highest unemployment rate after Nagaland and Lakshadweep. At least 10.5% of population was unemployed, much above the national unemployment rate of 4.2%. Despite of being such a mineral rich State and tourism hub of India, Goa is in such miserable crisis in terms of employment opportunities. There is dire need for government to act on the long pending issue of Goa mining resumption due to which almost 3,00,000 livelihoods are already disturbed.
“Goa’s economic revival is extremely vital without any further delays, and we urge government to relook at the ever-worsening employability scenario leading to the various repercussions such as rising cases of addictions, domestic violence, stress, illiteracy etc,” appealed Joseph Coelho, chairman, MEAI Goa Chapter.
The State’s growth is almost stagnated with massive debt burden of over Rs 23000 crore, employment rate is at an all-time low, and major industrial activities have come to a standstill. Despite having ample potential, the youth, especially mining professionals, are facing an unprecedented crisis. It is loss of State revenue. The professional mining academic courses in the State are on the verge of shutting down such as mining engineering degree courses and mining diploma courses.
In February 2018, the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases in Goa, bringing the local iron ore industry to a standstill. The decision affected the livelihoods of over three lakh mining dependents in the State. In the last four years, several industry bodies, mining dependent organisations, and other stakeholders have appealed to the government to find a way to resume mining in the State.
