They say people get the government they deserve. That may or may not be true (a small clique can manipulate to outright negate the people's mandate). But what is definitely true is an active citizenry can ensure a place gets better governed.
Over the last few days, the big story in the news was the accident that killed three persons at Banastarim. It even edged out the big row over Bolmax Pereira, the outspoken priest, whom some seem to have been waiting to rake up a controversy over.
Banastarim fuelled a whole lot of anger. Outrage over the accident of this scale and nature was only to be expected. It had all the elements to find its way into the headlines. Families and earning members being wiped out is extremely sad by any yardstick. Alcohol allegedly fuelling a tragedy only makes it worse and more unnecessary. Added to this, there were allegations of either arrogance or not accepting responsibility.
Goans widely believe that influence and clout rules Goa today. That there is little to no justice and fair-play. This may or may not be true, but it is a widely held sentiment.
A trust deficit in the police is also widespread. Action is seen as taken as per the influence and clout of those involved, and not on the basis of right or wrong. This has been demonstrated time and time again. The police tell us crime is well under control, and that crime statistics show a downward trend. But the reality we see is something else.
Let's assume all our fears and concerns are true. We anticipate that there will be no justice done in the Banastarim multiple-killer accident. But still, the response and outrage that greeted the accident is little more than venting. It is unlikely to get us results of any kind, and definitely not in the long run.
Let's go back in time a little. Many of us would remember the shock and horror caused by the Calvim (Aldona) accident. A bus plunged into a river, and killed six people in 2012. Four of the dead were school students. Surely, their parents will be missing them till this day as journalist Eduardo Rodrigues found out when he spoke to them.
At that time too, there was speculation over who was driving the bus. Fingers pointed to Samarth Shirodkar, aged 17. Media reports pointed out that Shirodkar was present when the accident took place. He claimed he did not have school that day, but the St Thomas higher secondary said that his vocational classes were indeed on, and he had bunked. News speculation said that drivers sometimes handed over their vehicles to bus cleaners or students at the Aldona market halt -- during the lunch break. Driver Rajesh Naik did not explain the presence of Shirodkar on the bus.
Cut to December 2022. Almost 11 years after the accident, on the eve of Christmas, bus driver Rajesh Naik was acquitted. He had been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. But the prosecution charged with having failed to prove the case. Then Executive Magistrate Mihir Vardhan was meanwhile also faulted for not following the basic requirements of Sec 164 CrPC, while recording the accused's statement. That was that.
Eleven years is a long time, and public memory is weak. Outrage alone is not going to help us sort out the multiple problems we have on our hands.
One is the obvious lack of safety controls on our roads. The police drives against helmetless riding and no-seatbelt driving has yielded results upto a point. But this is not enough. Multiple citizens have blamed officials for not touching high-end cars, as these might be driven by someone influential, which might affect the cops who book them.
However many mega projects we have built, bypasses, flyovers and six-lane roads, Goa is still going to remain a village-dominated State. Broadening of some roads has encouraged reckless driving.
Sadly, many of our institutions have failed us. Our government is defensive (and one can understand that) when some sensational accident happens. Opposition politicians see it as merely a convenient way to criticise the government. We have no statesmen, only politicians making a point or defending themselves.
Individual politicians, some of whom have a stake in the alcohol industry, muddle up the issue by denying there is a drinking-and-driving link. Some sections of the press prefer screaming headlines to long-term campaigns. Things came to a head with the Goa police chief critiquing coverage of a section of the press via Twitter (X) posts.
Many issues need to be simultaneously tackled. RTO and police corruption or inefficiency, drinking and driving, keeping roads without any police for long hours of the night (and day too), unfair implementation of the law (regardless of status or vehicle owned), among others.
Some activists have been screaming their heads off. In doing so, they have been aided and abetted by the new possibilities that video cameras offer.
In the Banastarim case, the photograph of the group which had been at a party (prior to the accident) was circulated via the social media. Is this fair? One activist charged that those responsible should be made to ride on "bicycles" and sent to jail. This might be cathartic for the time being, but it hardly tackles the problem in the long-run.
Just as IT students join in hacking competitions, the best young brains in Goa need to be given a chance to find solutions to our traffic mess. Not just killer accidents, but poor, inefficient and wasteful public transportation too. This has been an unsolved challenge to Goa since the 1960s. It needs long-term and careful attention. Not knee-jerk responses. Goa deserves it. Or, let's be ready to spend a lot many years just in venting mode.
