A painful homecoming for Goans!

MARGAO: For the Goans, who arrived in a bus from Bangalore at Molem border, it was a harrowing experience, as they complained of “bad treatment” that kept them hungry the entire night and alleged that the police and other staff acted very rude. 

Begging for care and attention, their pale faces said it all. The passengers and bus drivers called upon the State government to adopt a more sensitive approach towards the Goans. 

Forty-four Goans, mostly students and remaining families, were brought to the New District Hospital, where they underwent mandatory medical examination at the COVID-19 lab and swab collection unit. 

After undergoing medical checkup, the passengers said they landed at the Goa border at night. As there are strict procedures and timings for allowing buses to enter Goa, which has been declared a Green zone, the time slots were that of the next morning. The people narrated that they were left with no food at Molem. 

Ponda resident Abdul Shoaib, who travelled with his wife and one-year-old child, complained that he and his family and the other passengers were left hungry all night. 

People expressed anger over the bad state of affairs and the utter lack of care show by the staff at the border.

At least 3 students, who returned from Bangalore in the two buses, said their return journey was approved in 8 days. They expressed their disappointment on their return journey. 

The people have thanked the Mamlatdar Madhu Narvenkar, who received them at Margao and immediately facilitated breakfast and other refreshments to them. 

When asked for details on the passengers, Narvenkar said, “Forty-four persons have arrived in Goa from Bangalore and after testing they will be sent to their respective talukas to get themselves quarantined. There are people from Calangute, Ponda, Mapusa, Margao, Vasco and other places”. 

When questioned about the “bad treatment” they had to face at the border, the Mamlatdar said he has followed the procedure at his end here in Margao to ensure that they are sent to quarantine without any hassles. 

The bus drivers informed that with such government facility, they along with the passengers had to undergo harrowing experience. 

“Police and the staff at the borders are very rude. No food was provided to the people last night. I facilitated the travel but have not taken a bath for the last four days and now I will be quarantined,” bus driver Santosh Naik complained.

“They are students, they were in trouble and above all they are Goans, our brothers and sisters. They needed to be dealt with more care and concern, but we couldn’t see any concern and care from anyone at the Goa border,” he said.

It was observed at the hospital premises that the officials and authorities, who were checking on the entry of the people, were searching for various answers on procedures to handle the passengers.