It’s a very frightening situation. Crimes like murders, rapes and assaults are on the rise in this tiny state of Goa. The impression that Goa is the most secure state of India is fast vanishing. Today Goa is not behind other states in the country which are known for law & order problems. Goans are witness to all types of crimes in all fields of life. Besides murders, rapes, assaults, etc., use of drugs, alcoholism, prostitution, etc is on the rise. We are not at all backward in the art of corruption too. Goa where are you heading?
I remember my childhood days. Portuguese used to rule Goa at that time. I am referring to the social atmosphere in Goa prior to its Liberation. There was no fear in the minds of the people. People used to live a very secure life. There were no street lights but people could move freely and fearlessly on the roads during the night. Girls and women were completely secure during that time. As there was no electricity, the houses did not have fans or ACs. I remember, in the months of April and May, the hottest months in Goa, we used to keep all doors and windows open and sleep during the nights. Boys and men in the houses used to sleep in the open balconies and verandah. Can we think of such a situation in the so called modern Goa of ours?
Today’s law & order situation in Goa has undergone a drastic change. All roads are brightened with modern and expensive street lights yet crimes are on the rise. Women and girls are the soft targets. New palatial houses are constructed in Goa but no house is complete without fixing metallic grills to windows and doors. Today our houses are converted into jails. If we think over these happenings, we realize how insecure we are in our own houses.
What is the reason for such an insecure and terrified situation in Goa? Is the Government alone responsible for this social mess? I am afraid not! Each and every member of Goan society is responsible for what is happening in the state of Goa. Let’s see how:
a) It is the family values that build the character and the personality of our children. Unfortunately the family values are on the path of extinction. Examples of broken families and divorces are on the rise. There is no respect to parents and elders in the families. The chord of relationship between the parents and children is getting weaker day by day. Thus children of today have become the victims of all sorts of vices in the society.
b) Education is an indicator of the development of any society. Goa is almost 85% literate. We do not lack in any educational institution including higher education. Today’s education has produced persons of high excellence in all fields of life but unfortunately it has completely failed to produce scholars with human qualities.
c) The modern cinema, journalism and today’s print and electronic media have all contributed their bit in increasing crimes in the society. There are numerous examples of youth committing crimes due to influence of print and electronic media.
d) Unemployment and poverty is yet another serious factor that drives the person towards committing crimes.
e) All religions teach love and brotherhood. All religions believe in unity and non-violence. Unfortunately in today’s Goa there are fanatics who spread hatred and violence much against the teaching of their own religion. Regrettably religion is used to divide people.
f) The perception of man’s value has been changed in the so called modern Goa. We do not respect a person for his human qualities but we adore a person due to his status which is determined by the wealth that he possesses and the power that he wields. Such people today have become ‘role models’ for our younger generation.
g) Vices like alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution, corruption, etc have helped in corrupting the minds of the people particularly the youth in the society.
Goa is in the 54th year of its Liberation. It means we have an experience of at least 53 years in the democratic process that governs our state. Goa being a tiny state could have been administered in a better way. Ours could have been an ideal state in promoting democratic values in our governance. But no! Such a thing has not happened. On the contrary the evil forces have raised their ugly heads practically in all areas thereby creating a serious law and order problem in Goa. I regret to state that such an insecure situation has arisen due to the failure of our political leadership. Besides political leadership the greed and selfishness of the voters have also contribute to this state of affairs in the state of Goa.
There are adequate laws in Goa to curb these crimes. But the existence of laws, however stringent they may be, cannot guarantee the elimination of crime from the society. Laws can be effective only if the people believe in them. Hence the urgent need is to change the mind-set of Goans today. This change can be brought only through family values. And to achieve this goal, first and foremost, we will have to strengthen the institution of family through love, understanding, mutual respect and sacrifice. The family and the family alone can be one of the most important factors for fulfilling our dream of ‘serene, safe and secure Goa’.
(Tomazinho Cardozo is a former Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly)
