Ralph de Sousa speaks about the post-Covid scenario along with focusing on other issues important to the State
We are in the middle of this century’s worst health emergency, which over the last 18 months or so, has devastated
businesses all across the world and has created one of the worst humanitarian crises. With the development and
deployment of vaccines and massive upgradation of healthcare facilities across the country, we have been able to control the resurgence of the pandemic to some extent and still, we are already staring at the third wave and are not sure how things will pan out.
Though it is the immediate concern of the Governments, business communities and industry organisations to ensure a quick recovery of the economy, I have no illusions that the road to restoring prepandemic activity levels will not be easy. In fact, I am convinced that hard times still lie ahead and that the effects of the pandemic will be long lasting.
We have many other issues like restarting of mining activity in the State, streamlining of our tourism industry, creation of world class infrastructure for the industry, improving connectivity for the growth of IT industry, creation of job opportunities for the state’s youth, prevention of environmental degradation etc.
For now, our collective goal must be to ensure good health and wellbeing of our fellow citizens. We have to concentrate on making sure that we have a strong economy that will provide jobs and business opportunities for all.
New businesses providing alternate opportunities of employment and income generation will have to be encouraged.
A conducive policy and a responsive administrative framework will have to be established in order to attract fresh
investments, which will help in creation of good employment opportunities and revenue generation in the State.
At this juncture it is important that the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry assumes its leadership role in bringing back on track the State economy and stand by the Government to provide succour to those who have been affected.
We know that unless each and every employee/worker is vaccinated, the ghost of corona will continue to haunt most
industrial/hospitality/construction/retail establishments, thus creating hurdles in the way of quick economic recovery.
Our aim must be to ensure that every industrial and service sector employee should be vaccinated at the earliest.
We have to work together with other industry associations, TTAG, GPMA etc to lobby with the State Government to
ensure regular supply and distribution of vaccines to industrial and service sector employees.
To be honest, we were not prepared for the onslaught of the second wave and when it came, our healthcare
infrastructure was found lacking, resulting in large number of casualties.
Now that we know a third wave is likely, we should endeavour to make our health infrastructure robust enough to
take care of any eventuality.
In addition to the hard infrastructure, we must also ensure that we have adequate number of healthcare and frontline workers to tackle any influx of patients and we must take good care of the healthcare and frontline workers.
Government did announce stimulus packages and other incentives to help the trade and industry to overcome the
impact of the lockdowns. However, the benefits have not reached everyone-the unorganised sector has been the worst sufferer and perhaps has received the least assistance. Traders, retailers, shop keepers and most small and medium businesses lack the financial capacity and liquidity to withstand shutdowns such as the prolonged lack of business last year. We have to identify such establishments and ensure that there is special package given to them.
Frankly, we need to continue our efforts to rationalise the levies imposed by local authorities. Despite our repeated
efforts all-local, state Government bodies, corporations, Municipalities and Panchayats are charging full fees/ charges to the establishments under their jurisdiction. No exemption or reduction is granted till date even during the
lockdown and curfew periods. We will continue to pursue this matter further with the Government
The writer is a senior travel and tourism entrepreneur and is President of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry Email: chairman@thedesouzagroup.com
