NGO objects to strangers visiting tortured girl in GMC

NGO objects to strangers visiting tortured girl in GMC
TNN

PANAJI: Stating that the 10-year-old tortured girl, who was working as a maid at Porvorim, is not a show piece', an NGO in Goa has strongly
objected to unknown people visiting the child and asking her to lift her skirt to see the wounds on her body. The NGO has also said that visitors were asking the minor, who is admitted to Goa medical college and hospital with burn injuries, about her past.

Stating that this is proving to be embarrassing for the minor, Audrey Pinto, director of NGO SCAN, who is the complainant in the child abuse case, in a letter to SP (North) said people asked the child to show them her wounds and the child is embarrassed every time she is asked to lift up her dress. The letter was sent on Friday.

"Please look into the matter as this is invading the child's privacy and confidentiality leading to violation of the principal of Goa Children's Act 2000", the letter, which has been written in the best interest of the child' notes.

Citing an incident that happened on Friday, Pinto wrote, "This afternoon 5 persons came to meet the child. They said they had taken permission from the Porvorim police. On inquiring with the constable on duty she said that they were given permission to see the child but could not ask any questions. She said the officer told her it would be ok as she was a victim and not the accused. These persons asked the child to show them the wounds".

When contacted, SP (north) Bosco George said, "We have taken serious note of the matter and given strict instructions to the staff deployed at GMC that no visitor should be allowed to meet the child until there is written clearance from the investigating officer."

The NGO, which in its police complaint last week had said that the three accused -- Audumber (Shubham) Pednekar, Minaxi and his sister-in-law Tina -- had allegedly with a common intention assaulted the minor girl with cable wire and also burned her with a hot steel frying pan on her thighs and back resulting in injuries, had requested the police to stop persons from visiting the victim. Policemen were also placed in GMC with her 24 X7.

However, on interacting with the child, the NGO found that several people had visited her and she was made to show the wound on her thighs to them.

The NGO has also objected to people bringing food for the minor in the hospital stating that "it might be dangerous for her if no proper monitoring is done".

2 August 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition

Denied bail, child maid's tormentors go into hiding

Denied bail, child maid's tormentors go into hiding
TNN

PANAJI: Cancelling the conditional bail granted earlier, president of the children’s court B P Deshpande, on Saturday directed Audumber Pendnekar to immediately surrender before the Porvorim police in connection with the alleged torture of a 10-year-old domestic help employed at his residence.

The court also rejected the separate anticipatory bail applications filed by Pednekar’s wife Minaxi and their relative Rekha Waghela. The trio, however, are absconding, despite Pednekar being required to be present at the police station every morning, said police sources. Cancelling Pednekar’s bail, the court observed that when the conditional bail was granted on July 27, the nature of the child’s injuries were not described in the hurt certificate.

Referring to the record submitted subsequently by the prosecution, the judge noted: "In all, there are 23 burn injuries which are found on various parts of the body and mainly near the stomach and on the thighs and also there is disfigurement of the face."

The court observed that the prosecution, on the basis of the opinion of the medical board, victim’s and other witnesses’ statements, had brought on record that a very serious offence had been committed on the 10-year-old child.

It further took into consideration the prosecution’s claim that the victim was unable to walk and sit properly due to the burn injuries and that three weeks were required for (her) recovery.

2 August 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition

Tamba effect: Govt promises funds to fight swine flu

Tamba effect: Govt promises funds to fight swine flu
TNN

PANAJI: Even as one more case of swine flu was confirmed on Saturday, bringing Goa’s tally of affected persons to seven, the government in an
apparent damage-control move decided to release the funds for the control of the disease.

A day after the state nodal officer for swine flu, Dr Rajendra Tamba, said he had no funds to carry out any activity related to the disease, chief secretary Sanjiv Srivastava said, "By Monday we will sort out the problem and the projected funds for swine flu control in Goa will be provided. We will see that such public health issues are not hampered in future."

Earlier in the day, chief minister Digambar Kamat said that "adequate funds were being released for the swine flu programme".

On Friday, Dr Tamba had issued a statement through the director of information appealing to the people not to contact him for information on swine flu since he had no funds to carry out any activity related to the disease. Government sources, however, said that the problem arose not due to lack of funds but due to "lack of coordination" between health department officials.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man who arrived in Goa on July 28 from the US via Hong Kong and was quarantined at GMC has tested positive for swine flu.

2 August 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition