Amita Kanekar: “Migrant Labourers and Goa’s Political Economy”

Organized by the Dept. of Political Science, Goa University. The abstract states, “Discussion aimed to reflect on the issues of Migrant labourers in Goa and how they can be contextualised in Goa’s Political Economy. It also deliberated on how the Goan industry as well as government is dealing with the crisis caused due to Coronavirus with regards to Migrant labourers and what will be the way forward. Prof. Rahul Tripathi, HoD of Dept of Political Science, Goa University chaired this open webinar discussion. Blaise Costabir – Chairman CII Goa Council and Amita Kanekar – Architectural Historian & Novelist joined as Lead Discussants.”

The Ruby-red Blood on our Hands

By AMITA KANEKAR

 

Development for whom? This is a question being asked by many in Goa today as the Government’s ambitious projects—whether of real estate or tourism or infrastructure – are increasingly revealed as destructive of both the natural environment as well as the lives of Goans. But this development has a third victim as well, one that is rarely focused on in Goa thanks to our bias against the poorest of Goa’s ‘bhaile’. This is those who actually do the real physical work of development, viz. the construction labourers. Within the exploitative and profiteering model of development that is followed in Goa, as in the rest of India, which is oriented towards the benefit of only land-owners, investors, and corporates, these workers are simply cannon fodder.

 

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Tejas Express: Public Property and Civic Duties

By DALE LUIS MENEZES

 

The high-speed, high-tech Tejas Express, plying between Bombay and Goa, was launched a couple of weeks ago. The launch of this train was much hyped because it offered state-of-the-art facilities to the passengers. The Tejas Express boasts of automatic doors, infotainment screens, vacuum bio-toilets, touch-free taps in the toilets, and much more. While the train’s maiden voyage was expected to be a triumphant heralding of a new era in rail transportation, the news that filtered in afterwards suggested otherwise.

 

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