Goans dig deep to stay afloat

As lawmakers in mineral-rich Goa hotly debate the uncontrolled mining in the state’s rural landscape, residents of a village near Panaji have changed their occupation from farmers to truck owners or mine workers to survive and thrive in the new scenario.

Tucked in the hillocks, the village, Soliem in North Goa’s Sattari taluka, is home to 300-odd members of the `Gawade’ community. This population from the economically weaker section had tilled their lands since ages.

“The offers (from mining firms) were tempting so we could not resist them. Anyway, farming had become an unviable proportion for us,” Rama Gawade, in his 50s, said.

Soliem is amongst the many locales which have changed their profile from agro (mainly paddy) to mining economy. The village, surrounded by mines, is rich in iron ore, which is exported to several countries, including China.