Goa government to crack down on racial discrimination at shacks

PANAJI: Goa state tourism director Amey Abhyankar today said the tourism department had formed flying squads which would visit the beach shacks to check whether the owners were indulging in racial discrimination.

"Action will be taken if such cases came to light," he said.

There have been some incidents in the past where Indians were debarred at beach shacks, or the foreign tourists were given preferential treatment. The license conditions of these shacks - which serve food and liquor - lay it down that there would be no discrimination.

Also, installing CCTVs in the shacks had been made mandatory, Abhyankar said.

"CCTV is something which is a part of the tourism policy. They will have to install it from this year onwards....the shack owners would be given some time to comply with CCTV condition because it is a technology-intensive thing," he said refusing to specify any deadline.

"The cameras are to be installed for security reasons. Police would have the authority to check and certify whether the cameras are operational," he said.