JAY JOSHI
When it was launched, the traffic sentinel scheme of Goa goverment was seen as a good way to monitor those who break traffic rules. The scheme has witnessed some success. On the other hand, there have been instances where the general populace has resisted the sentinels, and at times attacked them. Amidst such circumstances, calls are being made for the scheme to be shut down. TG Life spoke to people across Goa to know their views on whether the scheme should stop, and received a mixed response.
“As a concerned citizen, I don’t think the scheme should be stopped. If those who break traffic rules are being caught, it is a good development,” says Ashwin Kunkolienkar, a businessman from Porvorim. “However, the action taken after a report by sentinel has to be quick action by the police. The challan should not arrive a month after the offense has been committed,” says Kunkolienkar. “I do not understand why some people highlight the negative sides of the scheme. For instance, reports will say 5000 traffic violations reported in Ponda. But no one will see that 30,000 other people in the town are abiding the law.”
On the other hand, advocate Ram Chari, a Ponda-based lawyer, strongly feels that traffic sentinel scheme should be rescinded. “Some people take undue advantage of the scheme to settle their personal vendettas. There is a possibility that relying on the sentinels the police will neglect their duty of apprehending violators of traffic rules and there is need to strengthen the police department to be more effective,” says the lawyer. “I also feel that there should be a limit to how many pictures and videos a sentinel can send to the police. That will help bring some regulation to the scheme,” says Chari
On similar lines, Shambhu Bhau Bandekar, a writer and newspaper columnist from Saligao offers a politically cautious opinion. “There is no doubt that the intention behind this scheme was good, but the implementation was not done properly. The relevant authorities should have consulted and discussed the scheme with concerned stakeholders before implementing the scheme,” says Bandekar. “There should have been a training programme for sentinels, and regulations should have been put in place to see that people would not take undue advantage of the scheme.
A traffic sentinel from Panaji also shared his views on condition of anonymity. He suggested that the key is to regulate the scheme rather than end it. “Now that these issues have arisen, the authorities could find a solution and improve the scheme rather than shutting it down”, he said.
