Once again Goa is in the news for the wrong reasons. The death of Sonali Phogat has brought the spotlight back on the drug menace. Many locals and tourists have lost their lives, livelihoods and families torn apart. Earlier foreigners were involved in the trade but now the locals are involved in this dirty business. Since it’s a high-profile case, there will be investigations, probably a few arrests too, but will it be the end of the drug trade? Difficult to say anything.
Earlier, it was found that the beach belts and some shady restaurants were the hot-spots for drugs sale but shockingly the illicit drugs are now even available outside schools/colleges and even few bhelpuri gaadas are supply points. Once a privilege of towns and cities, it is easily available in the interiors of villages too. A well-known activist has rightly said that one doesn’t need to travel far for drugs as it is available every few kilometres.
A visit to the drug treatment centre at Mapusa is an eye-opener. The doctor in charge says that most of its patients are youth in the age group of 15-35 who have picked up this habit from their school/college. It starts with weed or grass and then ultimately leads to more dangerous drugs.
Can we as parents then sit relaxed thinking that our young ones will not be influenced by it?
A change in the mind-set of our children is the order of the day. Harsh discipline is not possible today. Also, we need to introspect what kind of role model we are to our child at home. Consuming alcohol or smoking in front of them will make them feel that it is fine to indulge in these things. Spending quality time with family is also important. In our quest to give them materialistic comforts, parents work overtime while neglecting their emotional needs or giving them the right guidance for their social growth. It is important that parents keep tabs on their ward routine and the company they are in; this should be done tactfully without coming across as forceful.
Likewise, children need to be given space to do the best as per their potential. Putting unnecessary pressure to excel in an academic field will only go against their social growth. Children need to be taught to take failures in their strides just like success too. Peer pressure, parental pressure and failures are the usual culprits for children often turning to drinks, drugs and bad company.
Besides individuals and families, it is important for our beautiful city to get an image makeover. The entire country looks at Goa as one big party destination, where everything is easily available—from free-flowing alcohol, easy hook-ups with women, widely spread casinos and easy drugs. So, while tourists are important for our economic growth, it is important to look at the harm tourism is doing to our people and prestige. Whether we like it or not, Goa needs an image makeover critically. People indulging in drugs are subjected to capital punishment in countries like Singapore and many Middle East countries. While this may sound harsh, stringent punishment is required to curb this menace in India too.
The death of Sonali Phogat should serve as a lesson to those indulging in the drug business. It is high time we as Goenkars take steps to rid amche Goem of this filth called drugs.
