Claiming the Right to Say No-30 Nov 09-EQUATIONS - Equitable ...

Claiming the Right to Say No
rules. The land is also sold to outsiders in order to set up huts and shacks
on the coastal area in order to cater to the needs of the tourist.
To set up a shack or hut on the coastal area, many government formalities
are carried out, like license to setup a shack or hut, license to sell liquor,
No Objection Certificates (N.O.C.) etc. In some cases they are obtained
illegally by paying huge sums of money. On the coastal area shacks and
huts are mostly owned and run by people from outside the state and even
foreigners. Renting price of a room and a hut varies according to facilities
available. Price also depends on the situation of the room or the huts.
There is an increase in price during the peak season. The cost of a hut or
room is between Rs.500-800 per day.
In the shack the waiters are paid between Rs.1500-2000 per month, and
sometimes their tips are higher than the actual salary. The kitchen staff
mostly comprises of non-Goans, and are paid according to their
experience and the type of work they perform. Their salary is between
Rs.5000-9000 per month. The menus’ in the shacks are prepared in
foreign languages for the convenience of the foreign tourists.
Due to tourism, price inflation occurs, which local people find very difficult
to adjust with. Some foreigners are stingy and so they bargain for
everything and whatever they purchase. Some local fishermen supplement
their income by taking tourists on dolphin trips, flea markets, etc. They
charge them around Rs.250 per head.
Local people mostly are involved in renting vehicles to the tourist for
Rs.150-250 per day. Some local people enhance their income by selling
fruits, vegetables, snacks, soft drinks, etc. Shack owners too patronize
these general stores, in order to buy fruits, vegetables and other
necessities.
‘Lamanies’ 1 earn their living by selling clothes, chains, bracelets, posters,
etc. Some of them are involved in this business for more than 10 years. In
1
Lamanies are people coming from neighbouring states and have their particular
way of living based on nomadic and gypsy traditions.
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