Since the FIFA World Cup is on in Qatar, it has almost become a home World Cup, not the least because of the massive rolling travelling contingent from, leaving for and returning from Qatar, almost daily since the World Cup started.
From their social media accounts, it is imperative that apart from the games, they are in awe of the way the country is run. The cleanliness, order, transport facilities, the way crowds are conducted, and the facilities for spectators are all spoken of. But the underlying sentiment that comes through is that there is a system that ensures that the rules of law and equality are for all and those who follow the system are benefited from it.
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This is because system-based governance follows the rule of law and not the rule of influencers. People don’t matter, the system does. Calls cannot be made to VIPs at any level to get them to break the law and bypass the system.
Importantly, there is no questioning defying set rules and laws because the deterrents and punishments act as cushions against any attempts to break the system. The template is clear. The police and the government deal with the public with extreme courtesy, politeness, and kindness. There is help at every corner.
There is absolutely no question of establishments in the nightlife and entertainment industry deviating from rules governing their business, from compliances to timings.
And, if anyone breaks traffic rules, drives drunk, or is caught with drugs, the perpetrator doesn’t even have the luxury of a long drawn-out investigation process and time through courts. Justice is swift.
And this is what Goans have watched and experienced on their visit to the World Cup where they have gone as football fans and will return as successful students of governance.
Therefore, when judging the country, the deciding factor can only be if the law of law and equality works and if there is a universal and equitable system of justice.
Back home, the common man has to thank two arms of the system that are still holding democracy together. First is the judiciary and the second is the responsible press.
Their role becomes important because of this. When the head of state takes important and strong calls to get rid of drugs or eradicate drunken driving, he is appreciated. But can governance be done only with words? Those running the system and the departments have a responsibility of executing the promises made. And that isn’t done.
It is the judiciary that orders taxi drivers to install digital meters and holds them in contempt for not doing so. It takes the efforts of the responsible press to start a journalistic campaign against loud music/noise pollution, disturbing the sanctity of people’s lives, and responsible members of the public and their public-spirited advocates; to ensure that there is an absolute clamp down on loud outdoor music. The Bombay High Court (Goa Bench) order of November 30 has unequivocally ordered that no establishment in Goa will play music outdoors after 10 pm.
The significance of this order is huge, but none is bigger than the fact that this will give peace and sound sleep to the elderly, and allow students to study, and the sick to heal. It will also allow normal peaceful day-to-day living in the coastal belt and at the same time allow responsible establishments to play music either up to 10 pm or even beyond, provided they are indoors with no chance of the music being heard outside.
Meanwhile, when it comes to a crusade against drunken driving, it is again the court that has ordered that the minor boy whose driving killed a woman, in Chicalim does not get bail, nor will he get a licence till 25 and the registration of the car is cancelled for a year.
While the extent of whether the punishment is commensurate with the crime is enough or not, may be discussed by society, with due respect to the court, but at least this is a way forward in putting some checks.
It does not speak well of a system, in any state, where it is universally believed that policemen and other officials pay bribes to secure specific “lucrative postings”, or junior-level policemen report to local MLAs and ministers and not to their department heads.
It does not speak well of a system where a big-time foreign drug dealer, when caught by the anti-narcotics cops, is enraged that he had paid protection money to the local cops at the police station and therefore had immunity against arrest and later participated in an identification parade of corrupt cops to point to the ones who were on his payroll.
Where is the rule of law?
And it does not speak well of a system where hordes and hordes of trance parties are openly held and announced on social media as “Homes” of psychedelic and techno music with parties starting after 10 pm and lasting through the night and well into the next day.
Ultimately people must have faith in the system. And at this point, the source of that faith is the Judiciary and a press that reports and carries the people’s sentiments and fights for those who need a voice.
But it is only when the hero is the system, to provide services and protection and the upkeep of law, that governance will have true value and the greatest respect.
