A Goan tragedy, no less than any Greek! Among the most sought-after destinations in the country, to be exposed for its lack of oversight machinery, that ensures both locals and visitors are safe, more than any other offer, for the best food in the country, the best home-grown beverages, the immense potential for responsible fun. All these suffer a meltdown, in the face of safety. It is not an image that Destination Goa deserves, and Goans themselves must come forward to identify the guilty. The state must exhibit its ability to enforce the law, the rules and regulations that will ensure safety. Do not wait for the din to die down, for all to be forgotten. It is a wake-up call for all stakeholders, including the average Goan in every village in the state.
A life taking fire in a Goan nightclub shook the consciousness of every Indian. That as more information rolls into public knowledge, this fire could well have been averted, if only the owners of the club, the local enforcing authorities, the eco-system in which such waywardness thrives had only a bit more of a conscience. And that word, ‘conscience’ is a tricky word. Because we have mastered over time, our capacity to ignore, disrespect, even feel disdainful if ever we were to be reminded. All in the name of that extra buck. Businesses are thriving even otherwise; this is just that bit extra, that bit perhaps even gives that extra macho thrill, that we are above the law, we know everybody, we can do whatever we like.
Yes, we are all shell shocked, miserable at the news of so many deaths, so many injured, in an episode that once is unimaginable, and yet so haunting in that it could have been any of us in that fire. After all, a fire cannot be wished away, it can happen anywhere. But where are the checks and balances, if and when it does strike us. What are rules and regulations for, if these cannot be self-enforced? On another scale, they are not even expensive; when fully implemented, these must be a very small part of the overall costs. But they are also too easily to be overlooked, flaunted in the face of every rule book, as there is small money in all this neglect, to be put into the system. Oversight feeds the system. The rot is not just at the bottom of the ladder, it goes right up.
Interestingly, I have been to Goa on numerous occasions, frequented mostly the Candolim-Calangute area. I cannot recall ever seeing a policeman! I am not saying there aren’t any. They must be, but I have no recall of seeing even one. Which in one way is a great tribute to the people, they happily live their lives self-policed. But some checks and balances are essential in public spaces – the flip side is that most of the eateries and hanging joints are happily left to themselves.
Left to themselves, to a point where they can do their own, literally. No checks. No balances. Only bank balances. The rest does not matter. Imagine, this bar joint had run out of its licences, the structure itself had never been approved.
For a state like Goa, the answer lies in digitisation. Where aspects like inspections and licensing is all on the internet. Each outlet must be told it is mandatory to display all approvals at entry point. Customers must be conscious and alert to reviewing them, and walking out when they find such displays missing. If the consumer is king, it cannot play the role of a mouse, subservient or oblivious of their duty.
Somewhere the eco-system, so finely perfected over time, where anybody can get anything done, must be snapped. It has become the norm, not the exception. Too much is at stake for the reputation of the state. This tragedy has touched the heart of the problem – everybody has known it, few have dared to mention it. These deaths were ‘martyrs’ of the system that paid a heavy price with their lives; this should not go in vain. It is important to catch the criminals and make an example of them. It is great to see bulldozers pulling down the club premises. But what about the next such tragedy, which can happen anytime, unless rules are enforced, and those guilty shamed in public.
A public audit of all eateries must be carried out, results shared. Not just the best food, the ambience but also safety. How easily the last bit is lost among all awards, when given, by the leading media houses of our time! How about an award for the safest eateries in Goa!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Navin Berry, Editor, CS Conversations, over five decades has edited publications like CityScan, India Debates and Travel Trends Today. He is the founder of SATTE, India’s first inbound tourism mart, biggest in Asia.
Blogs at: https://www.csconversations.in/nb-blogs
