07 Jul 2020  |   03:29am IST

When the virus of suspicion starts with cars with outside Goa number plates

Instances of “outsiders” residing in Goa being questioned as to their movements by vigilante groups in villages stating that they are bringing COVID into the state. Shockingly even those have been living here and own vehicles with outstation registration number have faced the brunt of local scorn and opposition, even though they are local residents.
When the virus of suspicion starts with cars with outside Goa number plates

Ajit John

An Aldona based couple who have been living in the village for years and a part of the local community and involved in its affairs had to rush to Mumbai to check on the wife’s ailing father. They completed all  COVID related travel protocols while going and coming back, getting themselves duly tested and receiving negative reports. When they got back home to their village, they faced constant hostility from neighbours as well as the elected panch of the area, who even forced their domestic help from coming home. The couple are not Goans but have invested their current lives in the village where their young sons are growing up.

“Goans versus outsiders is a massive issue”, says a well own figure from the entertainment industry. “It’s a general fear psychosis and each one of us at some level or the other fears the virus and it is obvious that when it has to enter from somewhere people are likely to be upset with whoever seems likely to bring it to them”, she said, underlining that “any manifestation of such frustration needs to be handled with an iron fist but not be generalized”

However, such incidents are on the rise. Reports now regularly appear of a handful of Goans forming so-called vigilante groups stopping “outsiders” and wanting to know their status vis a vis the virus. Vehicles with outstation registration boards were being stopped and passengers questioned.

Cecille Rodrigues a former AAP candidate and now social activist said that it was very clear that not everyone was happy with the borders reopening. She said “I have heard you pay Rs 200 and no test is done and you can drive-in.  It is not uncommon to see several vehicles bearing MH registrations full of men driving around the state.  It is human nature to question. It is very obvious the government is not checking.”.    

Film Director and a resident in the south, Milroy Goes however felt that what was happening was totally uncalled for. Everyone, he said coming into the state should be welcomed as long as they followed the required protocol. He said “ Goans returning from other parts of the country or abroad should be welcomed without question. The same holds true for anyone else coming over. We have to treat the virus and not the person. This kind of behaviour cannot be good for the state”.     

Nupura Hautamaki Events and Marketing Consultant felt there were a lot of people who may have outside registered cars but been living here for months or even years. So locals barging into people's homes when they see an outside registered car, was like the behaviour of khap panchayats

 

This was confirmed  by Madhavi Shastri (name changed) who said “I had a few friends over for lunch yesterday and four cars were parked outside my house and the locals called the cops"

Conrad Barreto the man behind Football dugout said there was no way he could agree with something like this. He said “It is very important to treat people with dignity. This is just not the way to behave. It just does not make sense.  Borders are now open and we have to remember, we are fighting the disease not the infected.” To put it in footballing terms it was certainly offside.

Savia Viegas a woman of letters had her point of view. She said  I do not understand the rationale for this anger for historically the Goan has been a nomad and had peopled the attics of the world.  As I write I can tell you the village of Carmona is half empty and many of these people live in different parts of Britain .Do not workers of the world follow a simple law of economics?  They find a vacuum and fill it. Then why does the worker migrant from another part of Goa become an object of hate?”.

Andre Shackleton, a business consultant said “Vigilantism, though a romantic notion is not practical in any scenario with a democratic govt. But having said that, the government should also take measures to build confidence with the public

A member of the hospitality industry who wanted to stay anonymous said people were very paranoid about outsiders bringing in the virus. This he felt was due to a lack of education and this was obvious in places like Anjuna, Baga where if anyone not from the area stopped, then some local would come and enquire as to what they were doing there. He said it was important that visitors be informed of the protocols and also of a fine they would have to pay if they did not follow the rules.      

Former real estate entrepreneur Kulashekhar Kantipudi said “ It is sad to hear that some of the people having out station car registrations have been targeted and hassled specially under this COVID-19 Situation.  I myself am driving a MH registered Car which I borrowed from a friend.  Yes, it is important to take care about safety but we should not cross a particular Iine and intrude into people's privacy unless of course they are causing nuisance or are cause of very serious threat. We should behave in a civilized manner and treat people with respect”.

Going by the constant and detailed discussions on social groups consisting of tourism stakeholders both from Goa and those from outside who have settled here, it’s clear that there is a churn and the conflict between  the way outsiders are treated and the fact that unchecked influx from outside will lead to harm needs to be resolved. One comment stood out “Any opposition to tourism opening up, its timing, protocols and SOPS should be clearly discussed within each community and each one must manage a consensus at the village level before opening up”

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar