Thanks To COVID-19; Delhi Couple Settle Down In Goa

Bengaluru: Many people from across the country aspire to move to the country's capital to make a career, and business and gradually settle down. Contrary to this popular trend here is an instance of a Delhi-based couple migrating to Palolem Beach in South Goa to run a Cafe, Bar and Restaurant. Monica and Harvinder Singh are from New Delhi and have lived there for more than 15 years before shifting to Goa after the first wave of COVID-19.

COVID-19 restrictions derail normal life: They are a three-member family including their son. Monica is an Optometrist. Recalling the reasons for travelling down South, Monica says-"After the first wave of COVID-19 the situation changed adversely in Delhi. I had a clinic and optical shop but could not open it due to the restrictions. I was paying a huge rent for the same but in no position to function and likewise rent of the house was no less. Hence, it had become difficult to keep going as the savings dwindled and there was no revenue worth sustaining. Although permission was accorded to open the clinic later, by then we had already decided to shift somewhere else rather than staying in Delhi...

... Teachers are like parents in Goa! We had two to three options, Goa or somewhere in the hills. My husband is much more interested in the hills, more than liking Goa. So, we thought let's first visit before deciding on shifting. In this way, we came to Goa and our main concern was our only son's education. We felt very happy at the education scenario in Goa, unlike the competitive mode of Delhi. It was later I realized that the teachers in Goa were just like parents! They take care of the pupils just like their own children and this was also one of the main reasons why we decided to leave Delhi...

...No point to regret for coming to Goa: Looking back I find no points to regret for coming to Goa. Maybe, there is a scarcity of some things not being available here and for all such things you need to go a bit far off like places Madgaon. We are from villages and love being in a village. In Delhi, we had to force our son to go to school and it is the other way around here, wherein we need to stop him from going to school someday! The teachers here motivate the kids and that's why students get attracted to the schools and the most admiring characteristic of this place is that the teachers think the latter to be their kith and kin, which is a great feeling to experience...

...Unable to continue with the profession: After the initial visit and the subsequent trip to settle down here, I thought of resuming my profession but felt it was not possible as my profession requires location in a city with a huge population. Some people here were also not in good shape financially and suggested doing videos of their properties to get some business, which we were able to do. They were happy with the videos, which started fetching them some good business...

...Experience of maintaining 15 apartments: Later, it so happened that one of them offered to run the properties on their behalf. They approached me directly and I flatly refused for having no previous experience. Then they suggested taking it over and giving it a try as they were not able to run it due to the impact of COVID-19, for which I had to agree. It was a stay facility of small two-bedroom apartments and five small studios, later going up to 15 apartments. However, I was unable to maintain due to the lack of the required staff help. Where can I bring such huge numbers to run the apartments?...

...Food business and Resort: Thanks to this experience, I felt that I could manage the food business as well as the resort. Then came up with the offer to run a resort which I did for two years after which the lease ended, after wish I got this cafe to run...

...Less of business in South Goa: Business is not much in South Goa. But, you are living your life. If you want business, then better stay back in Delhi and don't come here. In case you want things to be done at your fingertips, then better live in metropolitan cities, please don't come here. Here, life is very slow and it may be difficult to adjust to the tardy pace and too difficult for all those who have not seen villages. In our case, it wasn't all that difficult as both myself and my husband are from the villages, but many of them experience a lot of difficulty. Some people keep complaining that this is a place for retired people...

...Am quite happy with the decision to shift: I am quite happy and there is nothing to regret, like I lost this or I lost that. And if you ask about the people here, they are more helpful than people in Delhi as the situation here is more like the villages. Families here have been residing here for a long time and it all depends on you. The place where we are living here is more like a family and we have no problem.

-Manohar Yadavatti