Are creepy men making you feel unsafe? To keep women in Goa safe as they enjoy the vibrant nightlife, some bars now have secret codes. This is already practised in some foreign countries to help women who are feeling uncomfortable in certain situations. Some bars/ pubs are even going to train their staff to have bystander intervention techniques or appoint staff for women to approach if they feel defenceless.
Who made this initiative popular in Goa? Priyansha Mishra. At an Anjuna bar, she saw a code-word disguised as a shot which pleased her and made her feel safer. Priyansha read about the well-known ‘angel shot’ code online and decided to reach out to local entrepreneurs to spread this idea. No, ‘angel-shot’ isn’t the code word in Goa as that would no longer make it a secret. There are 10 bars that will put posters in the ladies’ washrooms with the secret word along with instructions.
Bar staff will be trained so they’ll know what to do when a woman feels unsafe. At first, it was hard for Priyansha to convince bars and restaurants to make a commitment and implement the changes, but some progress has been made.
For us at Planet-Goa, our team is driven by that feeling of exhilaration that one gets when discovering that something ‘unique’ and ‘new’ about Goa for our ever-so-discerning readers.
