MARGAO
Warning that no hawker or beggar will be allowed to mete out harassment to tourists on the beaches of Goa, Tourism Minister Babu Ajgaonkar on Saturday said he would soon convene a meeting with tourism officials to review the situation and to tighten screws on the hawkers.
“Tourism department’s stand is simple. There cannot be hawking and begging on the beach belt. Such activities are illegal and any such activity which means harassment to the visitors, both domestic and foreign, will not be tolerated,” he said.
Surprisingly, the Tourism Minister told the media that he has not received any report from the tourism officials on illegal hawking when in reality migrant women rule the roost along the beach belt, especially in Salcete, right under the nose of the tourist police.
The minister, however, said that he would soon call for a meeting of tourism officials to review the situation and to issue instructions to crack a whip against the hawkers. “Let the media point out the illegal activities such as begging and hawking and I will take action,” he said,
adding that no tourists or visitors visiting Goa should be harassed by these illegal hawkers and beggars.
He pointed out that hawking and begging were stopped last year after the media had highlighted the illegal activities along the beach belt. “When we treat tourists, both domestic and foreign, as atithi devo bhava, there cannot be any room for harassment to the visitors. We will initiate action irrespective of the background of the community involved in hawking,” he said, when the media pointed out that Laamani women
are engaged in hawking on the coast.
Ajgaonkar further sent a message to the political class that he will not tolerate any interference when it comes to hawking on the beach, saying “these hawkers may have political influence, but we will not bow down to pressure”.
To a question, he said that the tourism department was well prepared to accept the tourists visiting the State. “Goa is bestowed with natural beauty, including the beaches, besides the temples and churches. Tourists from across the world come to Goa and we will not leave any stone unturned to ensure the safety of the visitors,” he added.
To a question, Ajgaonkar said that promotion and marketing of the State as a tourism destination will continue at the international level.
