The Saturday incident of a Vasco patient being denied treatment is yet another example of how the small virus has changed the attitudes and behaviour of people.
Being Human or being true Goemkar, seems to a thing of distant past.
First it was at Bogda, wherein the people refused the cremation of the dead bodies and then now this incident in Goa Medical College of rude behaviour towards the Vasco patients seems to have shaken the roots of the very Goemkarponn, we Goans boast about.
Incidents of ill-treatment and abuse in containment zones have been reported across several states in the country. Videos have surfaced on social media showing the police beating people with sticks and batons.
In one state, migrant workers were sprayed with disinfectants by local officials. The disinfectant was a mixture of water and bleaching powder, the latter used to sanitize buses. But this is elsewhere in the country and we Goans are a cut above the rest…Aren’t we?
Now one question arises is Why? Why are we subjecting our own people to such harsh treatment. Can the doctor at GMC justify this? Or the people at Bogda justify?
We opposed non-Goans getting jobs and staying here and upto here the issue was debatable if not completely right. But this attitude towards our own Goans is completely unacceptable. While opposing the migrants, it seems like, we are now living for I, me and myself. Isn’t it?
Are the Vasco residents subjected to this because they come from COVID19 hotspot or because they refused to cremate two bodies at Bogda? Whatever may be the answer, neither the incident at Bogda nor the one at GMC is justifiable.
Goans need to understand, people of Vasco are our own, and the port town in in current condition only because we Goans did not stand in their support them when required or when they were demanding complete lockdown in Vasco.
There was not enough pressure on the government to lockdown Vasco when the first few cases were reported in Mangor hill.
Had every Goan protested, the government would have been compelled to force a lockdown. The situation of Mormugao is because of the government’s lax attitude and not enough support from people of other talukas.
Wonder, what were the NGO’s doing then? Otherwise they always raise their voice opposing the smallest issues. Wonder if this was not going to benefit them anyways.
Also, in case of cremation, people need to understand we all are going to die one day and have to go to the same place.
We need to understand Goemkarponn is being positive, honest, hardworking, humble and more important extending a helping hand to those in need. Goemkarponn is also about brandishing our cultural values and ethos unlike the current scenario where Goemkarponn is envy and blocking someone who badly need our help.
Today we seeing Goemkarponn as intolerance to anything and everything which needs to change and change now.
We need to treat each Goemkar with love in these testing times and pass on the message to the dreaded virus we will defeat you.
We have to also send a message to the world and the country that Goans are together. No matter what we will fight this battle together.
(From the editor..)