The First Priority

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has taken various initiatives during the almost four months of his government ruling in Goa. Most of his initiatives have been good. Some could have been delayed. I am not evaluating the performance yet, but only wish to point out that much more attention should be given  to the first priority of any state government: law and order.

The union government of India has four important priorities which are distributed among the four most high profile ministries: home, finance, defense and external affairs.  When it comes to the states, home ministry is very important as maintenance of law and order is the prime duty of the state. That is why the home ministry is traditionally held by the chief minister, at least in Goa. The only exception was during the tenure of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, when Ravi Naik was the home minister. And we all know how undesirable it was as it made Kamat so much less effective. The record of the home department, that has the police under it, was very poor to say the least.  Perhaps some of the mess still continues, and will require much attention from the current CM, who holds the home portfolio.

The UK advisory to their tourists visiting India mentions Goa, along with Delhi and Rajasthan, as a place where they should be on guard.  Thefts, sexual assaults and stray dogs have been highlighted as reasons for being cautious in Goa.  Now our government and the tourist industry may attribute ulterior motives and vested interests for this travel advisory. They may put up a brave front and even go in denial mode. These are the usual responses on expected lines. But it is important that our establishments accept the unsavory truth, and do something immediate and effective to correct the faults and improve the situation. I know the CM has many dreams for Goa. He has the goodwill of the people of Goa and four years eight months more to turn his dreams into reality. But improvement of the law and order situation has to be put on a fast track now, without any delay.

The travel advisory apart, the situation is quite bad for the citizens and residents of Goa. The crime rate is high as compared to the past decades. Public assets like telecommunication cable wires and even the humble tube lights are being robbed overnight. This has been happening in some places for quite some time. Burglaries have become so commonplace that there is hardly any surprise when one learns about them. Sexual assaults are ever on the increase. Criminal assaults and murders are reported almost every day.

We have become so familiar with the news of criminal behavior in our newspapers and television that we are no longer shocked by the same. But when something happens in our own locality or within our friend’s circle, then we are indeed shocked and find it difficult to come to terms with reality. That’s what happened to me when I read the news on 26^th June about the criminal assault on my friend Rajiv from Margao. I have known Rajiv for over thirty years ever since we were colleagues. He is characterized by simple living, non-interference and non-violence. I could never have imagined that he would be the victim of such aggression for the sake of a gold chain. He lives alone in his house in the heart of Margao. He does not possess any fancy gadgets or things that attract thieves. That is why he could keep the doors of his house open till late evening, even till 11 pm or later. Born and bred in Margao, he had perhaps never ever thought that he could be the object of aggression in his own home, in his own town. Thanks to the intervention of a professional driver, his life was saved in spite of the deep wounds on his neck, and one of the accused nabbed before boarding the train at the KR  station at Margao.

This incident and so many more in recent times have made us realize how far we have moved from a peaceful and safe Goa to an insecure place of living. The very next day after the attack on Rajiv, there was another case of assault on a businessman inside his office. This happened in Navelim. Earlier a middle aged lady from Baina, Vasco had been found murdered in her own house. What happened in Velim is even more shocking, the grandmother being killed by her own grandchild just for the sake of money.

All these cases make us sit and think: where are we heading?

There are many causes no doubt. All of us need to reflect, study and analyze the changing patterns of our individual and collective behavior. And all of us need to do something at a deeper level to bring about change. But first the government must act urgently by taking hard and harsh measures to halt the rising tide of crime.

Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 01.07.2012