Goa: Activists demand action against erring Tattoo studios and shops in the coastal belt

PANAJI: Several social activists from Goa have demanded stern action against erring tattoo shops that have cropped up and mushroomed in the coastal belts of North and South Goa.

In the Baga to Candolim belt alone there are more than 100 big and small tattoo shops, studios and palours, opines Roshan Fernandes, an activist from Nerul.

According to youth activist Nashville D’souza from the Calangute constituency in North Goa, it has come to his notice and knowledge that some tattoo shops use equipment which is not properly sterilized and could be contaminated. Others do not use gloves and masks while working with clients and very often equipment is not properly sterilized.

“Adequate consideration to proper hygienic norms and precaution is not taken and many tattoo artistes do not use 100 percent sterile methods and equipment or instruments. Many cases or complaints were reported on social media and clients have complained that hygienic measures were not followed at certain tattoo studios and shops,” says Nashville.

Sudesh Mayekar, village panchayat panch member and MLA candidate (from the Calangute Constituency), opines that hundreds of tattoo shops have mushroomed in the North Goa coastal belt from Morjim to Nerul.

“Most of these shops (almost 95 per cent of them) are run by outsiders from different states. Earlier, there were several shops and hawkers selling Kashmiri shawls and many of these shops have now become tattoo studios. The tattoo business in Goa is totally unregulated. Many tattoo shops do not have even a Panchayat shop license, forget about a Health department or FDA license,” Mayekar reveals.

When asked about the drugs problem, with complaints of some tattoo shops doubling up as drug pick up joints, Mayekar says, “I cannot say for a fact if any of these shops and studios function as pick-up points for drugs, because drugs can be sold even at food carts and cigarette shops. However, the fact that there are so many tattoo shops in a small area, means that either the business is very lucrative or the owners/operators are running other businesses on the side, with the tattoo business being only a front or façade. All the concerned departments – the Panchayat, Health and FDA departments must come together to regulate the tattoo studios and shops and lay down norms or best practices to ensure that Goa does not get a bad name (for lack of hygiene) in the long run,” Mayekar suggests.

Benedict D’souza, activist and former Parra ward member also feels that several tattoo shops are not following proper hygienic norms. The idea is to make the maximum money and all other issues can go to hell, D’souza says, adding that there should be periodic and random checks by the health department.

According to Nashville if proper medical procedures and hygiene is not followed, one can contract various diseases due to contaminated needles and other tattoo equipment.

“The tourism sector as a whole in Goa gets affected because of the careless acts of a few individuals. Tourists get an unpleasant experience and feel cheated. The government must propose either self-regulation or create a regulatory framework for all the tattoo studios, shops and tattoo artistes who should be required to obtain a registration (with periodic checks) to practice their trade,” Nashville opines.