Post dated 24th May 2020
We have heard of stories in the past when trains or planes were delayed waiting for some Minister or VIP to board
But yesterday, one train waited for 30 minutes for group of 10 labourers who could not reach the station in time!
We are getting to hear and experience a number of such stories which are very touching
Another group of labourers, who were to leave 2 days later, actually gave away their money for travel expenses to some labourers who were leaving the same day, even though they were not known to them
We, of course, reimbursed the money to them, but this selfless helping each other is so contrary to the belief we have about the labourers
Though I appreciate the anxiety behind the reason for being judgemental, what we are doing is only providing the migrant workers a means of reaching home.
We are neither providing them a career at the cost of locals, nor relief in their luxuries
And this is not done at the cost of anyone, but merely facilitation of a service what the Government is providing
Come to think of it, when I was working on my project for Goan school children in answering competitive exams, there was very less support and more ridicule
So I guess, there is no satisfaction in whatever I do for others, but then, I am not doing it for others opinions but for my own sake
My actions might help no one or they might've help someone, but for that someone who might need that help, it might make a whale of a difference
I read stories of how middle class people have lost their jobs in the private sector and how they are facing depression
And I read of how everyone is helping migrant laborers but not helping the middle class
Here, no one seems to realize that what help is done for the needy labourers is in subsistence for a week, and not providing them subsistence for their life time
The help we are providing for the labourers is merely to get them home; we are not even sure if they might starve at home
Like everyone else, we have also been affected by the lockdown, but we are reaching out to people who are in a slightly lesser fortunate way and helping them is within our means
If a middle class family is reeling under unemployment, and has EMIs to pay, it is beyond our means to provide them assistance because our lifestyle is much below theirs
So I don't request others for assistance but not to ridicule those who are working in the field for the less fortunate; for me personally, whatever others say makes no difference
But for a few, they get affected by the criticism.
I have been doing several other things for Goa and Goans, but mostly it is done alone and I don't write about it mainly because I want and expect no support
Apart from the work I planned for Goan children to prepare for competitive exams, I have also done a series of talks and lectures on how to minimize loss of agricultural crops from wild animal damage in Sattari and Canacona taluka villages for Goand
Goans
One of my lectures on above topic has been covered in Times of India newspaper in the past
I had given write up on a few more of my works for Goans which has been covered in national magazine Outlook in this group
Only problem is I don't judge whether I am doing it for Goans or migrants, I am doing it for humanity and for wildlife
Many are supporting my endeavors and many are indifferent, but the few who are being judgmental sometimes are not doing the right thing
Criticism has to be constructive
Instead of saying "you are doing wrong, do it this way", it should be, "you are doing it wrong, let me show how it is done - let us do it this way together "
Otherwise, it is better to join the group of indifferent people and allow us to do as we do
But yesterday, one train waited for 30 minutes for group of 10 labourers who could not reach the station in time!
We are getting to hear and experience a number of such stories which are very touching
Another group of labourers, who were to leave 2 days later, actually gave away their money for travel expenses to some labourers who were leaving the same day, even though they were not known to them
We, of course, reimbursed the money to them, but this selfless helping each other is so contrary to the belief we have about the labourers
Though I appreciate the anxiety behind the reason for being judgemental, what we are doing is only providing the migrant workers a means of reaching home.
We are neither providing them a career at the cost of locals, nor relief in their luxuries
And this is not done at the cost of anyone, but merely facilitation of a service what the Government is providing
Come to think of it, when I was working on my project for Goan school children in answering competitive exams, there was very less support and more ridicule
So I guess, there is no satisfaction in whatever I do for others, but then, I am not doing it for others opinions but for my own sake
My actions might help no one or they might've help someone, but for that someone who might need that help, it might make a whale of a difference
I read stories of how middle class people have lost their jobs in the private sector and how they are facing depression
And I read of how everyone is helping migrant laborers but not helping the middle class
Here, no one seems to realize that what help is done for the needy labourers is in subsistence for a week, and not providing them subsistence for their life time
The help we are providing for the labourers is merely to get them home; we are not even sure if they might starve at home
Like everyone else, we have also been affected by the lockdown, but we are reaching out to people who are in a slightly lesser fortunate way and helping them is within our means
If a middle class family is reeling under unemployment, and has EMIs to pay, it is beyond our means to provide them assistance because our lifestyle is much below theirs
So I don't request others for assistance but not to ridicule those who are working in the field for the less fortunate; for me personally, whatever others say makes no difference
But for a few, they get affected by the criticism.
I have been doing several other things for Goa and Goans, but mostly it is done alone and I don't write about it mainly because I want and expect no support
Apart from the work I planned for Goan children to prepare for competitive exams, I have also done a series of talks and lectures on how to minimize loss of agricultural crops from wild animal damage in Sattari and Canacona taluka villages for Goand
Goans
One of my lectures on above topic has been covered in Times of India newspaper in the past
I had given write up on a few more of my works for Goans which has been covered in national magazine Outlook in this group
Only problem is I don't judge whether I am doing it for Goans or migrants, I am doing it for humanity and for wildlife
Many are supporting my endeavors and many are indifferent, but the few who are being judgmental sometimes are not doing the right thing
Criticism has to be constructive
Instead of saying "you are doing wrong, do it this way", it should be, "you are doing it wrong, let me show how it is done - let us do it this way together "
Otherwise, it is better to join the group of indifferent people and allow us to do as we do
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