The Goan sentiment that an expert is someone from out town is slowly shedding its overgrown plumage – what with our Goan girls and boys shining inside and outside of India in the entrepreneurial and digital space.
The honourable Prime Minister’s clarion call of ‘vocal for local’ is indeed the need of the hour and has the potential to work magic for the micro economy of every State and region.
The economic slowdown and disaster due to the covid -19 pandemic has brought many small businesses to their knees. Small mom and pop shops that needed your custom to run their household, put a decent meal on the table and children through schools, have been staring at uncertainty about their livelihoods.
Goa has a huge microcosm of small businesses and cottage industries. With lack of formal structures that actually help them flourish, the fortunes of these entrepreneurs have been by and large run on the drive and steam generated by their own self. And with lack of social or economic safeguards, this is a path that many don’t wish for their children to pursue. Many of the small entrepreneurs are into trading goods of modest worth. A significant number of micro businesses are into manufacturing of engineering parts or repairing machineries for industries. Some others are into service oriented occupations like travel agencies, beauty salons, bake shops and desk top publishing / print shops. All these self starters have had to bear the brunt of the pandemic.
The ‘vocal for local’ siren is a very powerful tool to churn the local economy. By promoting and buying local – even hyperlocal, the funds will build a sense of relevance and bolster confidence among people pursuing entrepreneurship or self employment. Cottage industry is another aspect of the State’s economy that has been allowed to wither away and not gain its deserved spot on the table. Many travellers when in Goa, look for original Goan clayware… but the lack of availability at popular spots or the monopoly of selling them through Stateowned emporia has made the economies of scale unviable for the practitioners of traditional Goan craft and handicraft. Even those eking out a living from farm and animal produce find their meagre earnings at weekly markets, many of which are not functioning even a quarter of their worth of pre-COVID days. For Goan economy to thrive, it is essential that the micro entrepreneurs of the state, survive. We can make a beginning by buying from our local vendors – across your price band. I’m sure the market has enough players to compete in a healthy manner with their goods and services across the State. The caveat, however, is not to engage in this out of charity or goodwill. Do this in the spirit of boosting the local economy. Encourage where your vendor deserves, dish our constructive criticism when there is scope for improvement.
Expect the best and put your views across regarding the same – this will also improve the delivery and quality benchmarks of your vendors. Many a time we see a business closed and just nod our head wistfully on the entrepreneurial failure. Instead, it is time that NGOs who purpose is to support businesses, should come up to handhold entrepreneurs in their moments of need. We look at other aspects of life like substance abuse, mental health, animal rescue as our responsibility to society. Maybe it is time that some right thinking individuals with entrepreneurship as their passion come forward to curate and create a community of hyperlocal entrepreneur-focussed NGO in a simple and uncomplicated format… so that ‘vocal for local’ becomes a reality.
Who knows, you may someday create a model for the nation to follow
