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Scarlett Keeling Case:BE SERIOUS ABOUT TOURISTS’ SAFETY, by Syed Ali Mujtaba,24 March 2008 Print E-mail

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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