FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
Marie Fernandes
I was reading an article written by Vivek Menezes titled ‘Go Goa Gone.’ There was so much truth in it. He speaks about overwhelming visitors visiting the state either for a fun-time or buying real estate. This is especially in reference to the crisis we have been facing from the start of the pandemic. Unfortunately, it is not only Goa gone, but Goans going to. Where you ask? This time it is not migrating to foreign lands, but to their graves.
There was scant importance given to the lives of every Goan living here from the time we had very religiously observed the lockdown rules and achieved zero cases of Covid-19 in Goa. Alas, our happiness or rather sacrifices bore no fruit, as the government spent no time in opening the borders and letting people from outside the state get inside with hardly much restrictions and monitoring. From then on, there was no stopping the government. Meanwhile, what happened to our conscientious Goans, who were taking all the precautions possible to stay alive? They had nowhere else to run and one by one a lot of our Goan brethren started losing their lives, some as young as 22 and some as old as 72. We mourned the loss of our close friends and relatives. There was nowhere we could isolate ourselves or even social distance. Today, the situation is worse with the holiday season, every nook and corner is taken over by people who are getting into the state in droves happy to rid themselves of their masks and all the restrictions their own home states had imposed on them.
During the monsoon, Goa was advertised for its picturesque hinterland and now for its beaches. Tourism has been portrayed to be the mainstay of Goa. However, this is far from the reality. Most of the shacks are not opened. Many restaurants run by Goans have not opened for fear of the second wave.
Recently, I met a couple who arrived from Delhi, at a spot where my family and I frequented often, and which was pretty isolated once upon a time. While we were wearing masks and stayed a distance from them, the couple wore no masks and kept no social distance. This is not just an isolated case, but we have observed that most of the people who come down to Goa don’t wear a mask and neither social distance. Making it even more difficult for us Goans to frequent our beaches or even go to a grocery store. Never have we felt more isolated and fearful in our own land. Thanks to government apathy and no restrictions in place here.
However, irrespective of the government, I appeal to our visitors, if you must visit Goa, please do it with respect to every Goan living here. If our beautiful state is giving you the freedom and happiness that you are looking for, enjoy it, keeping in mind that every action of yours has a consequence on a Goan living here. Wear a mask, don’t litter. Our culture may be liberal, but it is only so much we can take. Meanwhile, to every Goan - This virus has taught us that health is more important than wealth. Let’s stay united in protecting our land and fellow Goans. Don’t sell your land, homes, or yourselves, else a day will come when we will be digging our own graves.
