Date: 20th October, 2024
Goa, once known for its laid-back charm and stunning beaches, is now grappling with rising unemployment, corruption, and a real estate boom fueled by ‘black money’. The state is becoming a playground for the rich, while locals, especially the youth, are left with few opportunities. Gone are the days when government jobs were available on merit—post-2021, recruitment has become a corrupt, money-driven process, and the promises made during the 2022 elections have turned out to be empty.
Young Goans, particularly those between 20-25, are being forced into real estate out of desperation and temptation of fast money. Instead of building meaningful careers, they’re stuck selling properties to wealthy outsiders, becoming brokers and agents in a system rigged against them. What was once a profession for a few has now become the last option for many. This isn’t ambition—it’s survival in a broken system where government jobs are sold to the highest bidder and merit means nothing.
Behind this real estate surge is a darker reality—Goa has become a hub for black money parking. Properties are being bought with unaccounted cash, often underreported in value, driving up prices and pushing locals out of the housing market. As real estate grows, so does the corruption, and Goa’s youth are either forced to participate in this broken system or leave the state to find better opportunities elsewhere.
While the rich park their black money and politicians line their pockets, Goan youths are left with no future in their own land. Goa is being sold off to the highest bidder, and the government has done little to protect its people. Our jobs are vanishing, our land is slipping away, and our future is being taken over by highest bidder.
Today, we see a growing number of Goan youth spending their weekends on cricket grounds, and nights are filled with cultural competitions. Politicians are pushing sports tournaments and cultural events like never before—whether it’s cricket post-monsoon, football during monsoon, or donations for festivals like Ganesh, Narkasur, and Christmas. It’s clear that these activities are being used as distractions to keep the youth occupied, while the real issues of unemployment and corruption go ignored. Our politicians are well-versed in keeping Goan youth in a “loop” of constant engagement with sports and festivals. All thanks to the BJP government, which has mastered the art of keeping Goan youth distracted while the real issues are swept under the rug.
By now, many Goan youths who entered the real estate business in mid-2023 must have realized the harsh truth—they identify properties and connect with sellers, but “Delhikars” bypass them and close deals directly with the owners. Despite their efforts, these young brokers are often left empty-handed, exploited for their local knowledge but excluded from the profits. This ongoing “loop” highlights how Goa’s youth are being sidelined and used in a system where they hold no real power. It’s not a market at all—it’s a “Bazaar” Only the politically connected or those with the right ‘backdoor deals’ can succeed here. So, in case you are wondering, it’s not about merit—it’s really just about how well you can shake hands and how deep your pockets go.
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2023-2024, Goa’s unemployment rate has reached 8.7%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 4.1%. Even more concerning is the unemployment rate for youth aged 15-29, which stands at an alarming 19.1%.
Following intervention from the Central BJP Leadership, it was initially agreed that recruitment in Goa would be handled by each department directly, rather than through the Goa Staff Selection Commission (SSC). However, amidst confusion among cabinet ministers, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today clarified that recruitment for Group-C posts will be carried out through the Goa Staff Selection Commission (SSC).
Mr. Ashish Parab, a proud youth from Sattari Keri, became the first Goan to clear the UGC NET exam in International Relations and World Politics. Everyone celebrated his achievement, and so did I. When I asked him, ‘What’s next?’ he innocently replied that he’s preparing for SSC CGL & GPSC exams, and even looking for vacancies in colleges for Political Science. I wished him the best, but it got me thinking – what should we tell our Goan youth brothers and sisters? That the jobs are not with Baba of Sattari or Babush of Panjim, but rather with the highest bidder, where merit is just a footnote in the game of politics and power!