Annual remittances in Goa amount to Rs 700-cr: Study

The coastal state of Goa recieves Rs 700-crores annually in the form of remittances, which attributes to 6.3 per cent of the State Domestic Product (SDP), a study has revealed. 

"Remittances (from emigrants) to Goa estimated at Rs 700 crores have a significant effect on the state's economy. They are equivalent to 6.3 per cent of SDP or 33 per cent of the revenue receipt or 6 per cent of the government expenditure of Goa," a study by Kerala-based Centre for Developmental Studies, said. 

Goa has 56 per cent of its emigrants living in the Gulf region, 13 per cent in Europe, 11 per cent in South and South East Asia and 10 per cent are in North America, the study coducted on behalf of Goa's department of Non Resident Indian Affairs said. 

It also states that seven per cent of Goans emigrants are working aboard ships, which is unique to this tiny state.  "In Goa, 12 per cent households had an emigrant currently living abroad and another four per cent households had a return emigrant who was abroad," the survey titled 'Goa Migration Survey' which was conducted amongst 6000 households in 2008, said. 

Interestingly, the coastal taluka of Salcette accounts for 50 per cent of emigrants' households while of the total emigrants, 74 percent are Christians.

The study has indicated that Goans invest large sums of money on education of their children and on health. 

"Migrant households expend largely on educating their children in private unaided and self financing educational institutions and by visiting the private and super speciality hospitals in Goa," it reads. 

The survey shows that the average level of savings and investment of the migrant households are higher than that of non-migrants.   The study, which was released today by  Goa's NRI commissioner Eduardo Faleiro, also concentrated on the elderly population who are left back after the youngsters leave abroad. 

"Amongst social problems faced by women left behind, loneliness occupies the number one position, both among young women below 30 years and above 30 years," the survey reads. 

"Secondly, the burden of added responsibilities at home in the absence of husbands; one out of 10 women also felt that bringing up children alone was difficult," it adds. 

Also, while emigrants bring in remittances and the women and elderly left behind are economically well off and enjoy better quality of life, they are socially isolated, lonely and burdened with additional responsibilities.