Goans deserve it

(letter published in Herald, 11th October 2010)
The remark of an Andhra Pradesh minister asking goan women to sell 'feni' as was reported in a section of the media is not at all shocking. It is only that this minister was bold enough to say it directly while the rest of India swallows it's remarks. It is also well known that along with 'feni' (alcohol) are available other carnal pleasures and that is what Goa's tourism is all about. Do migrants and tourists flocking into Goa have any better opinion of goans?
Goans are reaping what they have been sowing over the last 30 years, thats all. When any talk about regulating the consumption of alcohol is proposed, it immediately gets perceived as prohibition. Prohibition may never be the solution without committed and sincere governments, but stringent regulations against the consumption of alcohol are definitely possible to arrest the progressing ill effects of alcohol on our goan families and society. How long are goans going to bury their heads in the sand like the ostrich and deny that promotion of alcohol is harmless to society?
Mahatma Gandhi has said, "Only those women who have drunkards know what havoc the drink devil works in homes that once were orderly and peace-giving."