This gives rise to several questions
Is this behaviour acceptable for a person
who is trying to save a life? Is the department not capable enough to do their
own work? Or are the sentinels, according to some, ‘interfering in people’s
private lives’. While Café took to the streets to get people’s responses, it
needs to point out just this. When a member of the public is in the public
space, and driving a vehicle, he or she is governed by rules which need to be
followed, in order to continue to have the privilege to drive.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Café finds out…
Traffic Sentinel Scheme was launched
by Goa Traffic Police for empowering general public to participate in better
management of traffic on Goan roads. In this scheme, any person can report
traffic violation by capturing the photo/video of the defaulting vehicle and
send it through Whatsapp.
In the last few months, the traffic
sentinels have reported a number of cases where two wheeler riders have skipped
wearing their helmet.
The scheme states that predefined
reward points for different violations will be credited in the account of
Traffic Sentinel for each violation so reported. Once the Traffic Sentinel
accumulates 100 Points be will be given a 1000 Rs cash reward.
Locals
share their opinions on the particular subject
Sentinels are right, but the traffic
dept should do this job
‘It’s totally right what the
sentinels do, it’s a good initiative that they are at least trying to scare the
people off so that everyone wears the helmet and follows the traffic rules.
But, I still stand against it, because some nosy people are always bothered
about others and they just want a chance to complain. Another fact that annoys
me is that where is this money coming from? Our parents are paying taxes to pay
people to do the job of the officers. Why has the Traffic police department
started this scheme in the first place; they should do the job themselves.
Jane Pereira, Carambolim- Sales Associate
People are right in getting angry
‘People are absolutely right in
getting angry on being fined for not wearing helmets. There is a RTO app to
register offence they too receive complaints even though no reward is being
paid. Secondly there are many other inconveniences that need to be curtailed.
Junsa Mudra- Assistant Professor, Don
Bosco
College
This scheme has given people a tool
to spy on one another
Every scheme has its pros and cons.
Traffic sentinel started invading privacy of drivers and it even ended in
marital discord. This scheme has given people a tool to spy on one another. We
as Goans are very hospitable, we always give lifts to people, but apparently
there have been instances when the photograph of a man and another woman has
reached his home with the challan; it has led to marital discord.
Sentinels seem to intrude into
privacy of drivers and riders by clicking photographs thereby stirring anger.
The scheme was seen by sentinels as a mode to earn more and more money.
Trusha Panvelkar, Betim Verem-
Business
‘People
are revengeful, and attach sentinels, so is it worth the risk for them’
‘Well I
feel that the scheme is good, but people are revengeful and so they start
becoming violent when they see someone clicking their picture. There was an
incident in Mapusa where a car was overturned because the person in the car was
parked and clicked pictures.
Besides
why do they even want to risk their life when they already know people don’t
like anyone minding their personal business?’
Gary
Saunders, Ribandar – Surveillance Officer
‘It’s a smart initiative, that there’s a
system by which we can make our riders safe and also earn some bucks, then why
not?’
The traffic sentinel scheme is a
smart initiative. I have perceived that unless there’s a substantial forfeit,
people won’t change their habits. Also, it isn’t an easy task as criminals
escape all the time. If they see n officer in his uniform anyone would surely
escape, but if sentinel captures an image, no one will know. The traffic
sentinels seem to be hard working and are trying to protect people in some way,
they are risking it. So now that there’s a system by which we can make our
riders safe and also earn some bucks, then why not? It is for the benefit of
our nation.
Jane Do Rosario D’Souza, Navelim Goa-
Administrator
