Events & Issues
New Delhi, 24 March 2008
Scarlett Keeling
Case
BE SERIOUS ABOUT
TOURISTS’ SAFETY
By Syed Ali Mujtaba
The rape and murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, on
a Goa beach has once again caught the attention of the nation towards the
growing crime against foreign tourists in India. Thanks to the media, the
darker side of ‘Incredible India’ is at full display.
Scarlett’s case is not the first of its kind. It’s only the
tip of the iceberg. Newspaper columns from different parts of the country are
often filled with reports of alleged sexual assaults on the foreign tourists
Earlier, three British women were raped and sexually
assaulted in Goa. Another report says a
British freelance journalist was raped by a guesthouse owner in Udaipur. An American
woman was molested at a temple in Pushkar. Two Japanese were gang-raped in Agra. A South Korean was
raped near Manali. Two teenage girls from Canada were sexually assaulted by
security guards at a hotel in Kerala.
One can add on to the list but it would be suffice to say
that these cases are assuming alarming proportion in the country. The
government statistics show that there were 19,348 rape cases reported in 2006,
compared with 15,847 in 2005 in the country. Trend suggests there has been no
let up in the crime against the foreign tourists. There is every reason to
believe that the crime graph would have gone up during 2007-08.
If one tries to do psychoanalysis of all such cases the
common thread is that most of the victims happen to be fair complexioned. Not a
single report of sexual assault has been reported against any black females.
Why?
Sudhir Kakar, an authority on human behavior explains that Indian
men prefer fair skin to the dusky ones. And, there is nothing fairer than
white. If one needs to be convinced on this point, one has to turn to the
matrimonial pages to find all the potential brides are fair complexioned!
Then there are very wrong impressions that some Indian men
carry about the white females. They are widely regarded as promiscuous who
treat sex as casually as shaking hands. So, if an Indian youth bothers a white
woman walking alone on the street, there is nothing abnormal about it. Seeing
such a sight, it’s the psychic disorder that comes into play, adds Kakar.
Notwithstanding such pithy comments, one has to accept the
fact that western tourists are a vulnerable lot. They usually haven't been around
long enough and their ignorance leads to their exploitation. Their polite responses,
which come across as being helpful and friendly are often construed as
something else. Their ignorance to distinguish between the right and wrong
signals make them easy prey to criminals.
The Government has finally been forced to take note. It is seized
of the matter and has reviewed the security measures with the tourism ministers
of different States. The State governments have been reminded of their
commitment to deploy tourists’ police at all important sites. However, so far
only 10 States have complied with the government order and the rest have shown
their inability due to unknown reasons.
The problem is not as simple –of issuing orders or of raising
a tourist police force. There are five million foreign tourists expected to
visit the country and their security issues need a serious thought. It is high
time that the Indian Tourists Development Corporation (ITDC) should play a
proactive role in this regard. Its offices, which have a presence in almost all
the tourists’ locations, have to assume a bigger role and responsibility to
handle the tourists. Since the tourists can connect such offices much more
easily, than the police station, the ITDC offices should be made the nodal
point to register such cases.
The ITDC offices then can take up issues of crime against
the tourists, and pursue it with local police officials. It should also as
starters save tourists from touts at the airports and the ever-fleecing taxi
drivers. Perhaps, specific counters should be opened by it at airports, train
and bus stations.
Unfortunately, the ITDC offices are functioning like a white
elephant. They have work but no responsibility. Rarely would they help tourists
except in few cases. It would be worthwhile to do conduct a survey amongst
tourists to what extent ITDC is of help to them and what is it that they expect
from it.
If tourism has to be promoted in a big way in our country, the
grey area of security of tourists needs special attention. Apparently whenever
there is some hue and cry in the media about tourists becoming victims, the authorities
get into action and try to improve the situation, which regrettably lasts only
a short while. And, then slips back into the same casual rot.
The onus of the security of tourists should also rest on other
stakeholders in the tourism industry. They must realize that the tourists are
“gooses that lay golden eggs,” and if they are maltreated or fleeced then they are
risking their own source of livelihood. The tour operators, hoteliers,
cab drivers, guides, shopkeepers and all those involved in the hospitality
sector should act as a watchdog to ensure that the tourists have a pleasant
stay in the country.
Unfortunately, this is not happening. Some unwanted elements
within the hospitality sector are denting India’s reputation as a safe and
easygoing tourist destination. Such persons, basically criminals operating
under the cloak of hospitality sector, need to be identified and reported to
the police. The hospitality industry should keep a track of cases involving tourists
long after they are gone and ensure that whoever be the criminals are brought
to book and justice done.
The stakeholders must too realize that all foreign tourists
are neither ‘money bags,’ nor ‘promiscuous’. Many of them could be less wealthy
then the average Indians and have come basically to see this beautiful country
and its people. We need to play good hosts.
Last but not the least, the onus of safety also lies on the tourists
themselves. They must take precautions rather than be casual or over confident
of their safety. The world-wide popular Lonely
Planet guide has cautioned women of the dangers of traveling alone in India. It
advises female tourists to refrain from wearing sleeveless blouses;
tight-fitting clothing or to present any bare dare look.
"Getting constantly stared at is something you'll
simply have to get used to in India.
Just walk confidently and refrain from returning male stares, as this may be
considered a ‘come-on’. Try freezing someone who is too persistent in his
attentions or getting uncomfortably familiar, and walk in a manner that puts
out a clear signal: don't mess with me. Don't accept invitations for a drink or
a movie or a ride from men they do not know,” says Lonely Planet.
The Scarlett Keeling case is neither the first incident nor
will be the last in the country. However, it has once again highlighted the horrendous
growing problem of molestation, rape and murder of tourists in the country. If
such incidents of ‘national shame’ are not halted immediately, we could just as
well bid goodbye to ‘Incredible India!’ -- INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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