KATHERINE MANUEL
In the recent past, Goa has witnessed a rise in peaceful civilian protests and marches in solidarity for various causes. Ranging from environmental to socio-political issues, this change proves that Goans are not merely passive observers but active participants in the fight to keep the integrity of our state intact.
According to latest statistics from 2025, Goa’s population is estimated to be nearly 16 lakh of which, 25% of the populace lies within the 18-29 age bracket. It is this 25% that is bravely and fiercely jumping into the political scene and attempting to take back the land and the culture that is slowly being robbed from them. A common misconception is that most young people are uninterested in politics -- more bothered with education and jobs or moving out of the country to seek advantageous prospects. However, there is a generous portion of the youth who are actively concerned with the never-ending list of problems that Goa seems to be grappling with.
For those who have been born, brought up and have lived most of their lives in Goa, it is easy to note the depletion in quality on the environmental, economical and socio-political front. Witnessing this depletion was the final straw for Shohail Furtado, a young and enthusiastic activist from Varca, best known for his short-form videos across social media platforms.
“I began to see the fields where I played football being filled; our village began to experience water shortages, electric power cuts and garbage issues. These issues were non-existent in the past, and suddenly began to appear,” he says. The conservation of Goan culture, ecology and history is one of the top priorities that has the youth working hard to be heard.
Mansi S. Kumbharjuvekar, the Editor in Chief of the Goan Vichar, a media platform that talks about all things Goa, shares why youth speaking up is necessary “Families that have lived in Goa for generations and understand it deeply must have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting Goa. Young Goans complain about the direction Goa is taking, but making a change requires engagement with the systems that shape them,” she states.
For other young people, they believe that everything is political and in a sense, we are all roped into it one way or another, “The reason why I decided to be vocal about the issues in Goa is really simple: everything down to a single drop of water is political. Your rights? Political. Your infrastructure? Political. Your safety? Political. Everything is in the hands of the government and it affects each one of us,” believes Arnav Poulekar, a student activist who raises his voice for Goa even while managing his education.
The issues that these young Goans look at are wide-ranging “Currently in Goa, one of the most pressing issues is definitely the storm around section 39A of the TCP Act, others are smart meters, the rent-a-car menace, illegal brothels and constant road diggings, often on newly constructed roads” says Poulekar.
Furtado on the other hand, focuses on the larger picture, “Our main focus should be the destruction and loss of land; our land ties us to our culture and the rapid loss of this land results in the dilution of our rich culture,” he says. Besides this, Furtado is also concerned about the lack of employment opportunities within Goa, even as colleges and higher educational institutes are churning out graduates and post-graduates every year.
Kumbharjuvekar brings up the issue of Goan identity and the lack of accountability saying, “Goa’s challenges are interconnected- environmental issues, governance failures and weakening of community participation all stem from decisions being taken without enough accountability to the locals.” She says that Goa is not merely a destination or a commodity that can be bought or sold on a whim; it is a living society with its own history, traditions, languages and ways of life that deserve protection and development rather than alienating native communities from their own homeland. Young people’s engagement in public issues is a social responsibility and an informed citizenry is essential to a healthy democracy.
Having young people involve themselves in the affairs of the state has a positive impact on their own futures. Furtado shares, “I believe that if we as young people do not step in right now, we are going to inherit a broken Goa. I want to make sure that the Goa the future has, is the Goa that I have.” A new generation brings new ideas and a fresher perspective “The older generations cannot do much without our help; throwing money at issues does not fix anything. As youth, we need to take the reins and care for Goa now because ultimately, it is our futures that are at risk” says Furtado.
The future of Goa lies within the hands of the youth and a collective awakening is the need of the hour if the preservation of Goa and what it means to be Goan is desired. Kumbharjuvekar and Furtado agree that youth have power, and contribution to the political scene does not always mean becoming a politician. It means doing what you can with the skills and resources available to you, while also being prepared for criticism. Poulekar agrees with this too. “Stay up to date with what is happening, have conversations with people and hold your own opinions, ” he suggests. Participation is also crucial; youth need to start getting involved by attending gram sabhas, meetings called by organisations, attending protests and speaking to locals. The time to rebuild our Goa is now and the ones capable enough to do it are the youth.
