MAPUSA
Whether the youth of Goa do drugs or not is not the debate any more. The question is whether drugs are easily available to the young lot in the State and the answer is a resounding yes.
While the dope is easily encountered along the coastal belt, the worrying trend is that narcotics are now accessible even in the remotest parts of the State.
So when the residents of Siolim-Sodiem in a recent gram sabha meeting raised the issue of school students getting exploited by drug peddlers and that there was a threat the menace could spread to several other schools in the vicinity, their apprehensions were not out of place.
“Westernisation is fast taking over and our youth get carried away looking for some new type of entertainment. They look for excitement and possibly narcotics gives them that new high,” said Parmanand Mandrekar, a Siolim-based educationist.
He, however, disagrees with the perception that drugs were available or peddled in schools in Siolim.
“Almost all schools in Siolim have a high discipline protocol and I don’t think it's (drugs) happening in any of these schools in the village. I remember a student in one of the schools was caught smoking. The school management took strict action against the pupil and even suspended him,” Mandrekar informed.
Outside the school premises, there was a high possibility that the youngsters could get together and have their share of fun where dope could be a major source of entertainment.
“There are some common hangout spots like under the Siolim bridge or the road leading to Guddem, where the youth meet during the day and even in the nights to celebrate and have parties,” a local informed.
The online services and social media have made availability of narcotics easier. Besides, several foreigners have started manufacturing some of the common drugs in their houses and making them available to the locals.
Anjuna is the most happening place where parties happen at the drop of the hat. So youth zooming on bikes on the internal roads is not an uncommon sight in the coastal village.
“Students do come to purchase drugs here. Don’t know whether they are school students but college students do come for sure. They must be consuming it elsewhere because they buy the stuff and buzz off from the spot,” said Michael D’Souza, a resident of Anjuna who is involved in social activity.
He also pointed out that mostly students from the urban areas like Mapusa, Panaji and even from South Goa come to the beach village for the consignment.
Sources informed that several locals were involved in the narcotics trade in the beach belt and drugs were stocked in their houses.
“Narcotics is big business and easy money. Believe it or not, drugs are available for sale in every second house in this beach village,” a police official in the know said.
He said parties were happening in South Goa too. But a lot of folks from South flocked to the clubs in Anjuna because dope was much easily available here.
Dismissing the impression that drugs were available in the vicinity of the educational institutes, Deputy Superintendent of Police Jivba Dalvi said it was just “speculation”.
He, however, admitted that he has conducted a series of drug awareness programmes in schools and colleges in the Mapusa sub-division.
“No drugs are sold near any schools or colleges in Bardez. I have interacted with students in schools and colleges and explained to them the ill-effects of drugs,” Dalvi said.
He said everyone should take responsibility to curb the drug menace and parents should keep a watch on their children.
