MARGAO: Shack owners along the Salcete coastal belt have voiced their strong discontent with the recently-approved Shack Policy 2023-26, accusing the Tourism Department of introducing clauses that appear to be aimed at ousting traditional Goan shack owners from the business.
These shack owners, primarily from the Benaulim constituency, have planned a meeting with the Tourism Director in Panjim on Monday and are urging CM Pramod Sawant to promptly address the matter.
During a press conference on Saturday, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, along with shack owners and Cruz Cardozo, President of the Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS), demanded that the Cabinet suspend the shack policy temporarily and revise it within one week, addressing the necessary corrections.
The primary point of contention centres on an ‘age-limit’ clause, which restricts applicants to the age group of 18 to 60. Shack owners argue that this clause would render 575 applicants ineligible, the majority of whom are from North Goa.
“Most of the shack owners are over the age of 60. This is a self-employment business, and our families’ livelihoods depend on it. We request the tourism minister to remove this clause, as it would result in permanent displacement for us,” said one of the shack owners. “Nowhere in the world is there an age limit for operating a business. Those who are above 60 are still very active, and they have been running the business through their families,” added another shack owner. Cardozo criticised the Tourism Department for not informing shack owners about these clauses during their meetings, despite assurances from Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte that the Policy would only be finalised after consulting all stakeholders. He highlighted another clause that allows only one member of a family to apply. This, he argued, would disadvantage children of veteran shack owners, who would be considered newcomers. Viegas pointed out that excluding traditional Goan shack owners not only goes against the interests of the public but also erases the identity of shacks that have been initiated and operated by locals for generations.
Additionally, the shack owners criticised the lack of uniformity among various authorities involved in the shack licensing process and called for a single meeting with all relevant departments to streamline the procedures required for obtaining and operating a shack.