I read with interest your report on the Goan workforce clause for the new Mumbai-based pharma company coming up in Verna. Goa has been witnessing continuous citizen protests against large construction projects, both residential and commercial — like Bhutani, Abhinandan Lodha, IIT, Unity Mall etc. Most have been targeted for their environmental impact and lack of local benefit. Amid this, yet another commercial project is making an entry into Verna. What I find remarkable is the government’s strategy of marketing this project from the very start with an “80% job reservation for Goans” clause. This appears to be a clever move to achieve three things at once: Prevent citizen unrest by placating local sentiment with the promise of jobs; procure smooth permissions for tree felling and environmental clearance and create an opportunity for politicians to act as gatekeepers, doling out references and becoming lords for locals seeking these jobs. While job creation for Goans is welcome, one must ask: Is this clause a genuine commitment to local employment or merely a PR tool to push through projects that would otherwise face strong resistance?
ALWYN FERNANDES, Benaulim
