I was on my way to Mopa International Airport when I was shocked to see traffic police hoardings carrying advertisements for casinos. These ads seemed to promote the casino culture in Goa, especially targeting tourists and young people. It looked like the traffic regulation boards were sponsored by casinos to attract more business.
This kind of promotion could lure Goan youth, and others from across the country, into casinos and other harmful habits like prostitution, drug use, and alcohol abuse. These are serious concerns, as many young people—especially in Goa’s coastal belt—are already addicted to such vices. Is the police department so short of funds that it has to accept casino advertisements? Are there no other businesses that can sponsor these traffic boards?
The Government of Goa needs to think seriously about this. Casino ads on roads indirectly influence young minds. With so much unemployment in Goa and across India, many youths are drawn to quick money through drugs and other illegal activities. This is ruining families and has brought the drug menace dangerously close to schools and colleges—maybe even inside them. The government must act strictly to stop this. It should look for better, safer sources of income, especially after mining has stopped, and work to protect our youth from falling into these traps.
