JAY JOSHI
We live in a globalised world where people migrate overseas in pursuit of opportunities. From Delhi to Dubai to Denver, Indians-Goans included, leave families behind for education or better earnings, but they carry their homes in their hearts. The memory of Mankurad mangoes, homemade pickles, spices, and many other things available only at home stays with them and the family back home is flooded with requests to send a few ‘desi/Goan’ care-packages to nourish the homesick souls.
Unfortunately, sending such packages to faraway places in India as well as around the globe isn’t always easy. Sometimes when the courier costs are high, such packages are sent with family members or friends traveling to these destination. Here too, one does not come across such ‘angel couriers’ very often.
A couple of Goans are now making efforts to address that issue. Travel-Fetch Buddies International is a group that aims to become a sort of goodwill courier service that will help Goans and Indians around the globe receive a piece of home.
“If you want to send something to someone living away in India or abroad, you could check if any of the group-members is traveling there, and simply request them to carry your package,” informs Shraddha Assoldekar Shetye, admin and co-founder of the group which she founded with her husband Shantanu Shetye.
“My husband is a marine engineer and, thus, travels constantly. I used to frequently send stuff to friends and relatives overseas with him, and that is how we conceptualized the idea having such a group which could act as a network of goodwill couriers,” she adds. It is not a business venture; just an effort to do something good, avers Shraddha.
The group is still nascent in that it was created on February 28, 2019, but surprisingly has managed to reach 108 members within a span of just three days.
“To be honest, we are only adding friends, and they in turn recommended their friends. We also have admins of some big and influential Facebook groups, so that it should boost our growth further,” Assoldekar explains.
“The rules and guidelines are yet to be formed, but right now we just have a few pointers: We do not add unknown people to the group. Secondly, we have an open-bag rule, meaning the courier will have to open the bag and show what they are carrying,” she elaborates. “Additionally, the group can also help when it comes to delivering vital supplies such as medicines. Also, you could buy certain things on Amazon at cheaper prices in India and send them to the address of the person who is delivering them to your loved-ones abroad.”
All things said and done, there could be instances where a person could try to make money off this, but Shetye remains optimistic that such an issue will not arise. “I am not denying that we might come across such people at some point of time, but in that case, you could always find someone else to help you out. We do not take people into the group unless they are known to us or are recommended by group members,” she asserts.
