They are fighting a lone battle-
Villagers of Saleli in Goa yearn for support, but there is none coming now.
PREETU NAIR
preetu.nair@gmail.com
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim edition , Goa dated 29 December,2006)
SALELI: When the villagers rose in revolt on December 28, 2005 against their Khase (landlord) and the stone crusher operators, they had a reason to be angry. But now a year later, the attitudes here are complex and results stark.
After the initial hue and cry, for many, the pain of Saleli villagers stayed largely invisible, rarely touching the consciousness. Even the Saleli Anyay Nivaran Kruti Samiti established to give villagers justice and comprising of "popular" human rights activists have failed to support them, leave aside ensuring justice. With the initial euphoria over, the hapless villagers are now fighting a lonely battle. "Now, we are fighting a lonely battle, with very few people to help and support us," said a villager N Gaonkar.
Still theirs is a tale of lives shattered, young men suddenly disappearing and families getting split due to financial problems. Now they find themselves on the crossroads. Living under grave limitations, knowing that the risks that they run are many, the villagers have started to feel the heat. Majority of them, especially men want to take the easy way out. While women like Radhika Gaonkar want to take the less travelled route, filled with unlimited struggle for survival.
Perhaps experience has taught 70-plus Radhika that this is their last chance to save themselves and the village. "If we fail now. We will never be able to raise again," she said. This wisdom comes from the bitter experiences she has had in the past.
The story goes like this. More than 30 years ago when the powerful Khase Krishnarao Rane sold off the kaju (cashew) plantations, on which the poor villagers depended for their livelihood, to the Forest department, they had united to fight against the decision and ensure that they get their land back. But their Khase, who promised them tenancy rights and jobs, divided them. Several years later, they are still trying to get tenancy rights.
"We were illiterate then and trusted our Khase. But he never helped us. Our literate youth should never fall into the divide and rule trap. If we are united, then sooner or later our demands will be met," opined Radhika. She and other women know it is time for them to continue the fight. If they don't, no one ever could.
However, her brave words fail to hide the fear that has gripped the village, which is reeling under the shock of the sudden disappearance of a young man with three children. Besides, since last one year, there have been two suicides and one accidental death in the village. This has left the villagers scared and they believe that the village is under an evil influence. "Such things ought to scare us and with no help in sight, things are only getting worse for us," said Chaya Gawas.
Moreover, they are disillusioned by the system and don't trust it anymore. No wonder when the government officials went to inspect the stone crushing units, the women gathered and demanded, "Before you start the crushers, please throw us in the Mandovi".
What really upsets the villagers most is that the uncertainty continues, as some people with the help of powerful local politicians indulge in divide and rule. And a walk in the village reveals a bigger and shocking reality: they have almost succeeded.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Bloody Lords: In the heart of the Khase kingdom-GOA INDIA
PREETU NAIR
preetu.nair@gmail.com
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times,Panjim edition, India)
In the 18th century, the Ranes became the proprietors of the land and the villagers came under their domination. The Portuguese left but the villagers continued to be ruled by the Ranes. The ages of suppression and oppression finally raised the revolt against the Rane clan in Saleli village. Preetu Nair tries to find out why a 'God' fell off the pedestal.
SALELI: The young Krishnarao Rane, pioneer leader of Azad Gomantak Dal, was a man who appealed to his fellowmen and rarely disappointed them. He was their King, their "God". As a freedom fighter, he had secured for himself the love and attachment of his people, sought gratitude and won respect. He had a tender place in their hearts and was welcomed into their homes with open arms.
The villagers are still filled with tales of the young Khase, who used to hide in their homes and eat ordinary bhakri (chapatti) prepared by the village folk, during the struggle against the Portuguese rule. "Khase used to move from place to place and hide in the forests. We used to ensure that he gets food and water. Once we even hid him in our house," revealed Devgo Gawas, a veteran of freedom fighter from the village.
However, he admits that the times were different then and Krishnarao was an altogether different man. "He was very loving towards the village folk and treated us like a friend. He used to say; "You are helping me so much, I will always remember your favour". However, now all the promises are forgotten," said the much-agonised man.
His frustration and anger against his "God" is evident when he added, "If the subjects are not happy, what good is the King and the kingdom."
Just like Devgo, for long, Saleli villagers' love for their "God" was true, sincere, pious, pleasant, gentle, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, even long-suffering. For long, they had lived on their knees and had been the "good" subjects. However, those who love too much can also hate in the like extreme, especially when they realise that their "God" has wronged them.
Even though Goa was liberated in 1961, freedom for them is as elusive as the rainbow's end. They still find themselves in chains with torn thoughts. It is a fight for freedom from fear, freedom from oppression, freedom to live and earn. As a young boy in the village said, "Goa was liberated long back, but we feel liberated only now".
But why did this subaltern group silently adopt the powerless and voiceless world provided to them? "Because we neither had the courage nor the strength to stand up against powerful forces. Money and power was used to suppress and oppress us. We rebelled due to our utmost need of existence," explains Chhaya Gawas.
The villagers, mostly Nave Marathas, recollect stories of the continuous exploitation and harassment they had to endure at the hands of the landlord and his two sons. "When we complained, they beat us up. When we threatened to boycott work, they cooly said that we could leave the village as they can easily get ghattis to work for them. We are poor and no one is ready to help us, not even the village panchayat nor police" rues Rajaram Goankar.
The landlords may claim that they had always loved and helped the villagers as their own kith and kin, but reality seems different. Such was the atrocity that seven years back when few youth revolted against the Rane rule and stood for the Panchayat elections, they were threatened with dire consequences. "After that no one has dared to stand against the family," said a villager, who refused to reveal her name.
What has hurt villagers the most is that the Rane family, whom they believed and worshipped, are depriving them of their livelihood. According to the villagers, whenever someone tried to spread their wings and reach beyond their shores, their wings were clipped.
When it became a do-or-die situation for them, thousands of villagers who had been divided and repressed for long took such a decisive trial of strength. After all, life was getting tough. The innumerable stone crushers in area, which had been given on lease by the Rane family, was responsible for pollution, bad public health and environmental problems. Many villagers were struggling because their crops were destroyed and many small-time farmers were put out of business and forced to work as a daily wage earners. Several requests from the villagers to shut down the stone crushing units fell on empty ears. The final stroke came when Prithviraj Rane (villagers called him Bhai), decided to start a stone-crushing unit.
However, the Nave Marathas' consciousness marks a certain kind of innocence, a certain kind of fear and a certain kind of humanness when they admitted that Bhai shouldn't have been killed. "What happened was unfortunate but how much could we bear in silence," echoed the villagers.
Tenancy or Torture?
Originally, the Saleli Comunidade was an absolute owner of the village. And the villagers as its members enjoyed the proportional rights in the land. But the Portuguese regime apparently dissolved the comunidade and assumed the ownership, which it subsequently transferred by way of mocassos inamas (state grant or proprietorship title) to the Ranes. Subsequently, they became inheritors of the right vested in the government. Based on this, the owner of the village (Ranes) was collecting rent from the original occupiers as entitlement.
Legal experts say that the grants of this nature all over India are abolished, except in Goa. The people have become strangers in their own land as they have no papers to support any claims they may want to make. Ignorance of the law has also resulted in their sorry status.
The Law...Out law
The Rane's were enjoying the Mocassos inamas from 1746 from the Portuguese without paying any tax in return of a favour. The Rane family have been the proprietors for nearly 300 years and owned almost all the village (800 plus square hectare) by virtue of the grant, except the areas, which are owned by the Forest department.
In the past, around 1365-odd persons (census 2001) who used to stay in the land and till it had to pay rent to the Ranes. After Goa's liberation in 1961, a majority of the people stopped paying the rent.
Even in Form I and XIV, their names are not included as tenants. The Rane family is shown as the main occupant. Only a few educated persons were able to put their names as tenants. But majority of them are not even registered as tenants.
The villagers revealed that they had difficulty in getting a loan from the bank to build a house or start a business, as the land was not in their name. So when they approached the Ranes they would be beaten and harassed mentally and physically, revealed a youngster, who didn't want to reveal his name.
Crushed and Conquered
As the building lobby became powerful in Goa and more and more buildings started springing up there was an urgent demand for meta-granite and meta-basalt that was found in large quantity at the Morlegad (hillock) owned by the Rane's. This was some 15 years back. Rane's gave the hillock on lease and started a chain of around 20 stone crushers in the area. The Rane's grew richer, but it destroyed the peace and tranquillity of the villagers. Check this:
* The fields were destroyed. Once after a farmer complained to Krishnarao Rane that the stone crushers were destroying his cashew cultivation, he had to face dire consequences. The same night his plantation was completely destroyed by miscreants. He complained but no one listened.
* In another incident, a year back when a girl was working in the field an explosion occurred and a stone pierced her lower abdomen. She had to be immediately rushed to the hospital. "When my parents complained to khase, all he said, "Ok, she didn't die".
* In 2000, the course of the river also changed and the river became very narrow. Reason: the massive stone crushing in the area, the mountain had become weak and huge stones came crushing from the hill and fell in the river, probably changing its flow forever.
Finally, it was Prithviraj's decision to install a new stone crusher very close to the village that angered the villagers and led to the uprising.
Jitendra Deshprabhu, Pernem MLA
"We are the natural protectors of the tillers and we have been naturally shielding the community. It is really unfortunate that people who have been protected have now turned against their protectors."
Vishwajit Rane, son of Krishnarao Rane
"I had family like relationship with the villagers. We always helped them. I don't know why they killed my brother. They have been instigated by outsiders, people outside the village".
preetu.nair@gmail.com
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times,Panjim edition, India)
In the 18th century, the Ranes became the proprietors of the land and the villagers came under their domination. The Portuguese left but the villagers continued to be ruled by the Ranes. The ages of suppression and oppression finally raised the revolt against the Rane clan in Saleli village. Preetu Nair tries to find out why a 'God' fell off the pedestal.
SALELI: The young Krishnarao Rane, pioneer leader of Azad Gomantak Dal, was a man who appealed to his fellowmen and rarely disappointed them. He was their King, their "God". As a freedom fighter, he had secured for himself the love and attachment of his people, sought gratitude and won respect. He had a tender place in their hearts and was welcomed into their homes with open arms.
The villagers are still filled with tales of the young Khase, who used to hide in their homes and eat ordinary bhakri (chapatti) prepared by the village folk, during the struggle against the Portuguese rule. "Khase used to move from place to place and hide in the forests. We used to ensure that he gets food and water. Once we even hid him in our house," revealed Devgo Gawas, a veteran of freedom fighter from the village.
However, he admits that the times were different then and Krishnarao was an altogether different man. "He was very loving towards the village folk and treated us like a friend. He used to say; "You are helping me so much, I will always remember your favour". However, now all the promises are forgotten," said the much-agonised man.
His frustration and anger against his "God" is evident when he added, "If the subjects are not happy, what good is the King and the kingdom."
Just like Devgo, for long, Saleli villagers' love for their "God" was true, sincere, pious, pleasant, gentle, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, even long-suffering. For long, they had lived on their knees and had been the "good" subjects. However, those who love too much can also hate in the like extreme, especially when they realise that their "God" has wronged them.
Even though Goa was liberated in 1961, freedom for them is as elusive as the rainbow's end. They still find themselves in chains with torn thoughts. It is a fight for freedom from fear, freedom from oppression, freedom to live and earn. As a young boy in the village said, "Goa was liberated long back, but we feel liberated only now".
But why did this subaltern group silently adopt the powerless and voiceless world provided to them? "Because we neither had the courage nor the strength to stand up against powerful forces. Money and power was used to suppress and oppress us. We rebelled due to our utmost need of existence," explains Chhaya Gawas.
The villagers, mostly Nave Marathas, recollect stories of the continuous exploitation and harassment they had to endure at the hands of the landlord and his two sons. "When we complained, they beat us up. When we threatened to boycott work, they cooly said that we could leave the village as they can easily get ghattis to work for them. We are poor and no one is ready to help us, not even the village panchayat nor police" rues Rajaram Goankar.
The landlords may claim that they had always loved and helped the villagers as their own kith and kin, but reality seems different. Such was the atrocity that seven years back when few youth revolted against the Rane rule and stood for the Panchayat elections, they were threatened with dire consequences. "After that no one has dared to stand against the family," said a villager, who refused to reveal her name.
What has hurt villagers the most is that the Rane family, whom they believed and worshipped, are depriving them of their livelihood. According to the villagers, whenever someone tried to spread their wings and reach beyond their shores, their wings were clipped.
When it became a do-or-die situation for them, thousands of villagers who had been divided and repressed for long took such a decisive trial of strength. After all, life was getting tough. The innumerable stone crushers in area, which had been given on lease by the Rane family, was responsible for pollution, bad public health and environmental problems. Many villagers were struggling because their crops were destroyed and many small-time farmers were put out of business and forced to work as a daily wage earners. Several requests from the villagers to shut down the stone crushing units fell on empty ears. The final stroke came when Prithviraj Rane (villagers called him Bhai), decided to start a stone-crushing unit.
However, the Nave Marathas' consciousness marks a certain kind of innocence, a certain kind of fear and a certain kind of humanness when they admitted that Bhai shouldn't have been killed. "What happened was unfortunate but how much could we bear in silence," echoed the villagers.
Tenancy or Torture?
Originally, the Saleli Comunidade was an absolute owner of the village. And the villagers as its members enjoyed the proportional rights in the land. But the Portuguese regime apparently dissolved the comunidade and assumed the ownership, which it subsequently transferred by way of mocassos inamas (state grant or proprietorship title) to the Ranes. Subsequently, they became inheritors of the right vested in the government. Based on this, the owner of the village (Ranes) was collecting rent from the original occupiers as entitlement.
Legal experts say that the grants of this nature all over India are abolished, except in Goa. The people have become strangers in their own land as they have no papers to support any claims they may want to make. Ignorance of the law has also resulted in their sorry status.
The Law...Out law
The Rane's were enjoying the Mocassos inamas from 1746 from the Portuguese without paying any tax in return of a favour. The Rane family have been the proprietors for nearly 300 years and owned almost all the village (800 plus square hectare) by virtue of the grant, except the areas, which are owned by the Forest department.
In the past, around 1365-odd persons (census 2001) who used to stay in the land and till it had to pay rent to the Ranes. After Goa's liberation in 1961, a majority of the people stopped paying the rent.
Even in Form I and XIV, their names are not included as tenants. The Rane family is shown as the main occupant. Only a few educated persons were able to put their names as tenants. But majority of them are not even registered as tenants.
The villagers revealed that they had difficulty in getting a loan from the bank to build a house or start a business, as the land was not in their name. So when they approached the Ranes they would be beaten and harassed mentally and physically, revealed a youngster, who didn't want to reveal his name.
Crushed and Conquered
As the building lobby became powerful in Goa and more and more buildings started springing up there was an urgent demand for meta-granite and meta-basalt that was found in large quantity at the Morlegad (hillock) owned by the Rane's. This was some 15 years back. Rane's gave the hillock on lease and started a chain of around 20 stone crushers in the area. The Rane's grew richer, but it destroyed the peace and tranquillity of the villagers. Check this:
* The fields were destroyed. Once after a farmer complained to Krishnarao Rane that the stone crushers were destroying his cashew cultivation, he had to face dire consequences. The same night his plantation was completely destroyed by miscreants. He complained but no one listened.
* In another incident, a year back when a girl was working in the field an explosion occurred and a stone pierced her lower abdomen. She had to be immediately rushed to the hospital. "When my parents complained to khase, all he said, "Ok, she didn't die".
* In 2000, the course of the river also changed and the river became very narrow. Reason: the massive stone crushing in the area, the mountain had become weak and huge stones came crushing from the hill and fell in the river, probably changing its flow forever.
Finally, it was Prithviraj's decision to install a new stone crusher very close to the village that angered the villagers and led to the uprising.
Jitendra Deshprabhu, Pernem MLA
"We are the natural protectors of the tillers and we have been naturally shielding the community. It is really unfortunate that people who have been protected have now turned against their protectors."
Vishwajit Rane, son of Krishnarao Rane
"I had family like relationship with the villagers. We always helped them. I don't know why they killed my brother. They have been instigated by outsiders, people outside the village".
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
So you don't to want pre-marriage HIV test done because you want privacy…
While an unnecessary debate, whether HIV/AIDS test should be mandatory or not raises, we ask the doubting Thomases to talk to these four women who got HIV becasue their husband's married them with the infection. Now they are about to take their wife's life, even after they are dead.
PANJIM: * Arti never knew what HIV/AIDS was until her husband fell seriously ill. Tests revealed that he was HIV positive. She was also advised to go for HIV/AIDS test. This was four years back. In 2002, she lost her husband. Even Arti's elder daughter was found positive. From then life has become an unending struggle: struggle to live, earn and lead a healthy life. Living with HIV/AIDS, Arti is trying hard to ensure that two of her children who were tested HIV negative have a secure future.
* Sheela's was a child marriage. At the age of four, her parents got her married to a person much older to her. At the age of 12, she came to live in Goa. She had five kids. Four years ago her husband died of HIV/AIDS. Later her three kids also fell prey to the dreaded disease and lost their lives. Her only consolation is that two of her younger children were tested negative.
* Everything was perfect for Sarita. She had a caring family; a loving husband and she felt her world was complete when the doctor told her that she was pregnant. They felt blessed and happy. But this happiness was short-lived. Without informing the couple, Sarita's gynaecologist got an HIV/AIDS test and the result was positive. Life changed forever. Since last two years she is a victim of blame game and acute criticism, which increased when her husband was also found to be HIV positive.
* From a lower middle class family, Shabnam's life has been full of thorns. She was forced to drop out of school and work as a daily wage earner. At the age of 17, her parents got her married to a man, who worked as a bus driver. After marriage she used to fall sick often. Life at her in-laws place was a nightmare and she hardly used to be with her husband. After two years, her husband expired and she was blamed for his death. As her health deteriorated, she was asked to do an HIV/AIDS test. She was also found to be positive.
Arti, Sheela, Sarita and Shabnam's experiences in life maybe different, but they share a harsh reality: they all infected the disease from their husband after marriage. Living and struggling with HIV/AIDS, they strongly support Goa government's decision to make HIV/AIDS test mandatory before marriage. After all AIDS affects people primarily when they are most productive and leads to premature death thereby severely affecting the socio-economic structure of whole families, communities and nations.
It must be recalled that the Goa government is planning to make HIV testing a mandatory requirement for couples planning to get married. Couples would be tested to find out their HIV status, and then - depending on the results - decide whether or not to go through with the ceremony. However, a final decision will be taken only after public consensus is reached on the issue.
Even as many raise questions about the social fate of people tested HIV positive, thereby creating a new stigmatised underclass, these HIV positive women believe that it is only mandatory HIV testing that would curb the spread of the disease. Not only will it save young women from falling prey to the disease but also prevent mother-to-child transmission. After all, majority of women infected with HIV/AIDS in Goa are in the age group of 15 to 35.
Before writing off the policy as unethically draconian, check out what these women have to say:
IT'S MY RIGHT:
If right to privacy is a fundamental human right and people living with HIV/AIDS have a right to live without discrimination. Then women's right to safe sexuality and to autonomy in all decisions relating to sexuality also needs to be respected. Living with HIV/AIDS, four of them strongly believe that if right to privacy is a fundamental right embalmed in the Constitution of India, then right to live is an equally important right and no one should be denied that right. They believe, "By and large, most men, however poor can choose when, with whom and with what protection if any, to have sex. Most women cannot. Often men even after knowing their HIV status marry a woman, thereby denying her right to live. Which is a greater right: Right to live or right to privacy?"
RESTRAIN THYSELF:
If you make the test mandatory, people will be more careful and not risk their life as well as the lives of their partner. They will be scared and restrain from leading an unhealthy sexual life for they know that there is a mandatory testing before marriage. This is a shared view. Sarita adds, "It is very difficult for a woman with HIV/AIDS. Besides, stigma and social ostracism there is this ever-growing financial tension and fear of an uncertain future and inevitable death".
IT'S A LIFELONG AFFAIR:
This one is for those who argue that mandatory testing prior to marriage would only give the state a false sense of security and a false belief that the infection is being effectively prevented from spreading. They believe that along with testing government should also make counselling mandatory to prevent any untoward happening in the future. Still better, Arti says, "Testing should be done at regular intervals and there should be timely intervention to ensure that menace of HIV/AIDS is curbed. Besides, testing should be affordable and within the reach of ordinary people. After all everyone wants to live and live a healthy life of dignity and peace." But how would the policy protect women in India, when many of them end up being infected after marriage by unfaithful spouses? "You have to make a beginning," she adds.
NEED OF THE HOUR: The common view: HIV/AIDS destroys families and houses. It not only affects the couple infected with HIV/AIDS but also devastates parents of the girls infected with HIV/AIDS. Sheela says, "HIV/AIDS testing is necessary not just to save a partner but also to save the future generation. So many kids are born with HIV/AIDS because their parents are ignorant about their HIV status. It is painful to see your kids suffer and die of HIV in front of your eyes. We need to protect their innocence and ensure a better, safer life for them."
DO WE HAVE A VOICE?: Women cannot negotiate safe sex because of her low status in society or lack of personal power. "Therefore, men whether knowingly infected or unaware of their HIV status, have a special responsibility of not putting others at risk. Women are in fact more at risk of getting infected because of their increased vulnerability. In addition, their low status within the family and society further heighten their vulnerability to infection," opined Shabnam.
WHY IS THERE OPPOSITION TO MAKING THE TEST MANDATORY BEFORE MARRIAGE?
WINDOW PERIOD: The window period. Window period is one in which even though a person is infected with HIV, she/he would be tested negative, as her/his antibodies are not developed.
FALSE ALARM: False positive results may actually ruin the life of a person not who is not HIV positive and destroy their career and life.
RUNNING AWAY FROM REALITY: Mandatory testing would only drive the disease underground and would be very costly for the state in the long run. Not many persons are aware of HIV, the nature of the disease, the testing methods, the methods of transmission of HIV, etc. Due to the ignorance, there is fear even to get an HIV test done.
NACO SAYS…: It is against the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) policy on testing, which encourages voluntary testing after pre-test counselling as the appropriate public health strategy in dealing with HIV/AIDS and the Union Health Minister has been quoted recently reaffirming this stand. Besides it is contrary to fundamental rights of Indian citizens RUNAWAY MARRIAGE: Further, it would only have the consequence of people going outside the state to marry, where such tests are not required.
ITS CONFIDENTIAL!: The results should be kept confidential. But here you are sharing the results with the prospective bride or groom.
YET TO PASS THE TEST: It has been tried out at other places and failed. The American Civil Liberties Union Report of March 1998 reported that mandatory pre-marital HIV testing was a record of failure. It stated that more than 30 states in the USA considered pre-marital HIV testing. However, all the states except for Illinois and Louisiana rejected the idea. Illinois and Louisiana enacted and enforced mandatory pre-marital testing, but subsequently repealed them.
VOX POP
1. UK Vohra, Health Secretary, Goa
"Government has proposed to make the test mandatory. We are throwing the issue open for public debate. At the moment there are two schools of thought: one for the test and another against it. We will call all the opinion makers and debate whether a consensus can be reached on the issue. We don't want to rake controversies.
2. Dr Denis Broun, Country Director, United Nations AIDS programme
"You can curb the disease only by spreading information, counselling and convincing families to go for HIV test before marriage. The government shouldn't interfere and introduce mandatory testing before marriage."
3. Rosy da Silva, artist
"I would definitely insist on a HIV/AIDS test before marriage. No one wants to fall into the trap. After all a relation is based on trust and truth, so does one person has the right to destroy his/her partner's life. Right to live is a much bigger right than right to privacy."
4. Rohit Phalgaonkar, teacher
"Personally speaking, I would get myself tested and also encourage my partner to get tested. However, it is more of a personal matter and the couple need to reach a consensus on the issue. More than making the test mandatory, the focus should be on spreading awareness about the disease."
IF YOU CAN DO THIS… THEN …
* If you can get tested and produce HIV free certificate when going for a job abroad, why can't you get yourself tested before marriage?
* If people are more worried about stigma and right to privacy, then the government, as a people's representative is worried about large scale spread of pandemic like situation and denial of right to live for many innocent souls.
http://goadourada.blogspot.com/
Preetu Nair
Senior Reporter
Gomantak Times
Panaji- Goa
India
PANJIM: * Arti never knew what HIV/AIDS was until her husband fell seriously ill. Tests revealed that he was HIV positive. She was also advised to go for HIV/AIDS test. This was four years back. In 2002, she lost her husband. Even Arti's elder daughter was found positive. From then life has become an unending struggle: struggle to live, earn and lead a healthy life. Living with HIV/AIDS, Arti is trying hard to ensure that two of her children who were tested HIV negative have a secure future.
* Sheela's was a child marriage. At the age of four, her parents got her married to a person much older to her. At the age of 12, she came to live in Goa. She had five kids. Four years ago her husband died of HIV/AIDS. Later her three kids also fell prey to the dreaded disease and lost their lives. Her only consolation is that two of her younger children were tested negative.
* Everything was perfect for Sarita. She had a caring family; a loving husband and she felt her world was complete when the doctor told her that she was pregnant. They felt blessed and happy. But this happiness was short-lived. Without informing the couple, Sarita's gynaecologist got an HIV/AIDS test and the result was positive. Life changed forever. Since last two years she is a victim of blame game and acute criticism, which increased when her husband was also found to be HIV positive.
* From a lower middle class family, Shabnam's life has been full of thorns. She was forced to drop out of school and work as a daily wage earner. At the age of 17, her parents got her married to a man, who worked as a bus driver. After marriage she used to fall sick often. Life at her in-laws place was a nightmare and she hardly used to be with her husband. After two years, her husband expired and she was blamed for his death. As her health deteriorated, she was asked to do an HIV/AIDS test. She was also found to be positive.
Arti, Sheela, Sarita and Shabnam's experiences in life maybe different, but they share a harsh reality: they all infected the disease from their husband after marriage. Living and struggling with HIV/AIDS, they strongly support Goa government's decision to make HIV/AIDS test mandatory before marriage. After all AIDS affects people primarily when they are most productive and leads to premature death thereby severely affecting the socio-economic structure of whole families, communities and nations.
It must be recalled that the Goa government is planning to make HIV testing a mandatory requirement for couples planning to get married. Couples would be tested to find out their HIV status, and then - depending on the results - decide whether or not to go through with the ceremony. However, a final decision will be taken only after public consensus is reached on the issue.
Even as many raise questions about the social fate of people tested HIV positive, thereby creating a new stigmatised underclass, these HIV positive women believe that it is only mandatory HIV testing that would curb the spread of the disease. Not only will it save young women from falling prey to the disease but also prevent mother-to-child transmission. After all, majority of women infected with HIV/AIDS in Goa are in the age group of 15 to 35.
Before writing off the policy as unethically draconian, check out what these women have to say:
IT'S MY RIGHT:
If right to privacy is a fundamental human right and people living with HIV/AIDS have a right to live without discrimination. Then women's right to safe sexuality and to autonomy in all decisions relating to sexuality also needs to be respected. Living with HIV/AIDS, four of them strongly believe that if right to privacy is a fundamental right embalmed in the Constitution of India, then right to live is an equally important right and no one should be denied that right. They believe, "By and large, most men, however poor can choose when, with whom and with what protection if any, to have sex. Most women cannot. Often men even after knowing their HIV status marry a woman, thereby denying her right to live. Which is a greater right: Right to live or right to privacy?"
RESTRAIN THYSELF:
If you make the test mandatory, people will be more careful and not risk their life as well as the lives of their partner. They will be scared and restrain from leading an unhealthy sexual life for they know that there is a mandatory testing before marriage. This is a shared view. Sarita adds, "It is very difficult for a woman with HIV/AIDS. Besides, stigma and social ostracism there is this ever-growing financial tension and fear of an uncertain future and inevitable death".
IT'S A LIFELONG AFFAIR:
This one is for those who argue that mandatory testing prior to marriage would only give the state a false sense of security and a false belief that the infection is being effectively prevented from spreading. They believe that along with testing government should also make counselling mandatory to prevent any untoward happening in the future. Still better, Arti says, "Testing should be done at regular intervals and there should be timely intervention to ensure that menace of HIV/AIDS is curbed. Besides, testing should be affordable and within the reach of ordinary people. After all everyone wants to live and live a healthy life of dignity and peace." But how would the policy protect women in India, when many of them end up being infected after marriage by unfaithful spouses? "You have to make a beginning," she adds.
NEED OF THE HOUR: The common view: HIV/AIDS destroys families and houses. It not only affects the couple infected with HIV/AIDS but also devastates parents of the girls infected with HIV/AIDS. Sheela says, "HIV/AIDS testing is necessary not just to save a partner but also to save the future generation. So many kids are born with HIV/AIDS because their parents are ignorant about their HIV status. It is painful to see your kids suffer and die of HIV in front of your eyes. We need to protect their innocence and ensure a better, safer life for them."
DO WE HAVE A VOICE?: Women cannot negotiate safe sex because of her low status in society or lack of personal power. "Therefore, men whether knowingly infected or unaware of their HIV status, have a special responsibility of not putting others at risk. Women are in fact more at risk of getting infected because of their increased vulnerability. In addition, their low status within the family and society further heighten their vulnerability to infection," opined Shabnam.
WHY IS THERE OPPOSITION TO MAKING THE TEST MANDATORY BEFORE MARRIAGE?
WINDOW PERIOD: The window period. Window period is one in which even though a person is infected with HIV, she/he would be tested negative, as her/his antibodies are not developed.
FALSE ALARM: False positive results may actually ruin the life of a person not who is not HIV positive and destroy their career and life.
RUNNING AWAY FROM REALITY: Mandatory testing would only drive the disease underground and would be very costly for the state in the long run. Not many persons are aware of HIV, the nature of the disease, the testing methods, the methods of transmission of HIV, etc. Due to the ignorance, there is fear even to get an HIV test done.
NACO SAYS…: It is against the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) policy on testing, which encourages voluntary testing after pre-test counselling as the appropriate public health strategy in dealing with HIV/AIDS and the Union Health Minister has been quoted recently reaffirming this stand. Besides it is contrary to fundamental rights of Indian citizens RUNAWAY MARRIAGE: Further, it would only have the consequence of people going outside the state to marry, where such tests are not required.
ITS CONFIDENTIAL!: The results should be kept confidential. But here you are sharing the results with the prospective bride or groom.
YET TO PASS THE TEST: It has been tried out at other places and failed. The American Civil Liberties Union Report of March 1998 reported that mandatory pre-marital HIV testing was a record of failure. It stated that more than 30 states in the USA considered pre-marital HIV testing. However, all the states except for Illinois and Louisiana rejected the idea. Illinois and Louisiana enacted and enforced mandatory pre-marital testing, but subsequently repealed them.
VOX POP
1. UK Vohra, Health Secretary, Goa
"Government has proposed to make the test mandatory. We are throwing the issue open for public debate. At the moment there are two schools of thought: one for the test and another against it. We will call all the opinion makers and debate whether a consensus can be reached on the issue. We don't want to rake controversies.
2. Dr Denis Broun, Country Director, United Nations AIDS programme
"You can curb the disease only by spreading information, counselling and convincing families to go for HIV test before marriage. The government shouldn't interfere and introduce mandatory testing before marriage."
3. Rosy da Silva, artist
"I would definitely insist on a HIV/AIDS test before marriage. No one wants to fall into the trap. After all a relation is based on trust and truth, so does one person has the right to destroy his/her partner's life. Right to live is a much bigger right than right to privacy."
4. Rohit Phalgaonkar, teacher
"Personally speaking, I would get myself tested and also encourage my partner to get tested. However, it is more of a personal matter and the couple need to reach a consensus on the issue. More than making the test mandatory, the focus should be on spreading awareness about the disease."
IF YOU CAN DO THIS… THEN …
* If you can get tested and produce HIV free certificate when going for a job abroad, why can't you get yourself tested before marriage?
* If people are more worried about stigma and right to privacy, then the government, as a people's representative is worried about large scale spread of pandemic like situation and denial of right to live for many innocent souls.
http://goadourada.blogspot.com/
Preetu Nair
Senior Reporter
Gomantak Times
Panaji- Goa
India
Gulliver's Travel: A voyage to Goa
Peter de Souza and Preetu Nair
PANJIM: If someone were to write a sequel to Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels: A Voyage to Brobdingnag; it would be called Gulliver's Travel: A voyage to Goa. However, Swift's Gulliver, the surgeon, would be replaced by very many Russian, European, Nigerian and Israeli Gullivers'.
Just like the friendly creatures welcomed Gulliver into their land, in the same manner Goans would have also welcomed travellers from all over the world to Goa. However, unlike Gulliver who after spending two years in Brobdingnag wants to return home, the Gulliver's in Goa have no will or inclination to return home.
The urge to explore and discover Goa is so high for the Russian, European, Nigerian and Israeli Gullivers' that they find very many reasons to stay in Goa. Of course the Goa police and the politicians, often help them in their endeavours and ensure that these Gullivers' find a safe haven in the state. And they continue to live, earn and flourish in Goa, even though they don't have a work permit. Even though their Visa expires they continue to stay in the country for years without any fear of the law of the land.
Despite Anita Rodrigues, SP, Foreigner's Branch claim, "We issue them deportation order and they leave the country", foreigners overstaying in the state adopt numerous tricks to ensure that they are not deported from the country:
Trick 1: I WANT TO STUDY
Many, especially Nigerians, come to Goa on study visa. Once in Goa they either take admission in a college or join a football club and continue to stay in the country. Most of them ensure that they never pass the exams and thus use this as an excuse to overstay in Goa.
Trick 2: PAY FINE & LIVE IN GOA
Those who are overstaying can be booked under the Passport Entry Act into India, 1995, if they don't have a passport. If Visa has expired then the tourist can be booked under the Foreigners' Regulation Order for violating Visa conditions. Once the police book them, they are produced in court. The Act says that any foreigner who overstays is either imposed a fine of Rs 2000 to 5000 or jailed for six months. Foreigners opt to pay the fine and stay in Goa.
Trick 3: ONCE FINED, FREE FOREVER
According to the Act, once a person who is overstaying is fined a sum and pays it, then they can't be arrested for the same offence again. Many take advantage of the loophole in the law and whenever police questions them, they produce the court fee challan. However, the situation would be different, if once convicted of overstaying, the government takes immediate steps to deport the person who is overstaying, said a top police official. He added that until the time they are deported they should be sent to a remand home and the deportation process should be expedite.
TRICK 4: A CASE OR TWO DOES THE TRICK
Often foreigner's overstaying get entangled in legal battles to ensure that they overstay. Once the matter is in court, it becomes all the more difficult to deport them.
TRICK 5: I AM BROKE
Government officials on condition of anonymity say that to deport the foreigner's overstaying in the state, government has to spend from its own pocket. "This the government claims is a burden on the public exchequer and this refrains us from taking any action against those overstaying. The result is that they keep overstaying and involve themselves in nefarious activities," said another top police official.
What is worse is that though the Foreigners Registration Act, 1946 clearly states that foreigners should not carry, buy, sell or use psychotropic drugs or any other narcotic substances while in India as their purchase, sale or possession is a cognisable offence, many indulge in the sale of drugs. While several Israelis and Russians are involved in the drug trade, the Nigerians work as runners. They are never caught, either for overstaying or for selling drugs, thanks to the political patronage that they enjoy in the state.
As a senior police official rightly said, "Overstaying of foreigners has caused innumerable problems, but the government is hardly interested in tackling the issue".
When contacted, Rina Torcato, DySP, Foreigner's Branch said, "Most of these people who are overstaying are engaged in court cases and when a matter is pending in the court, we can't deport them because the matter is in the court. However, on two occasions we have deported a Nigerian". But when asked to name them and the day they were deported, she failed to give any answer.
Our investigations reveal that Foreigner's office in Panjim issues leave India notice but never follows it up. "It is beyond our capacity to deport a foreigner, though we know that innumerable Israelis, Germans and Russians in the Northern coastal belt have taken advantage of this", revealed a staffer at the Foreigner's office in Panjim.
Rules are made to be broken and many foreigners in Goa continue to break laws in Goa and yet continue to live in the state unaffected. Check out a few who have managed to stay in the state, even though they have violated continuously violated the law of the land. This is just a tip of the iceberg.
· It is a known fact that Nigerians are used as "runners" by bigger Israeli and Russian drug lords in the state. But this gained importance when Charles Vozar, a Nigerian was arrested in 1992 for carrying cocaine. It is the same year that he came to Goa with his wife. It is reliably learnt that Charles had swallowed a big sachet of cocaine. Police got him admitted at the GMC. Police requested the doctors to give him a stomach wash but the initial efforts were futile. Later Charles was sent to the lock-up and it is here that he panicked fear that the cocaine pouch in his stomach may burst and he may die. He complained of stomach pain and fainted. It was here at the GMC that Dr Madhu was asked by Charles to give him a stomach wash again. Dr Madhu mentioned about this in the case paper which proved to be an important ground for Charles conviction. Later, he was arrested by Police Inspector Shetgaonkar for overstaying and he contested that his passport was with the ANC. At the moment he runs a notorious place called the Santana bar and restaurant at Gaura waddo in Calangute. This place is frequented by various notorious Nigerians and whatever plans and underhand dealings, even in the black Dollar trade are hatched here. Police officials say that he is taking undue advantage of the court cases against him and hanging him in Goa. Sources at the ANC revealed that both he and his wife are topping the list of the ANC compiled by the National Narcotic Control Bureau, among the Nigerians and the government is doing pretty little to deport them. The former controversial ANC team were much grateful to the existence of Charles and they were overfriendly with them and also a police informer who would provide the names of minor runners in the drug trade. Charles deosn't have money to go back but yet stays in a palatial house.
Arrested by PSI Rajan Prabhudessai and convicted for eight months for possessing 169 gram of brown sugar, worth Rs 25,000 in 2001. Charles had come to live in Goa along with his wife Gloria in 1992. Charles went to appeal in the high Court and the case is still going on.
* Jessi again a Nigerian, who is in list of the ANC is booked in the passport forgery case. so shrewd and cunning is Jessi that in his own passport, he extended his visa from 2001 to 2010 and got caught by the police in 2003. Incidentally, he is out on bail and now moves around freely.
Johnny Lamad, Afrcian, who was overstaying along with a friend raped a British national. Johnny befriended a foreigner in restaurant in Calangute and asked her to accompany him to a disco at late night. When she refused, he offered to drop her home, which she agreed to, lest knowing what was in store. Instead of dropping her home, he took her to his friend's house and the two men took turns in raping the woman and threatened to kill her.
Johnny Young, Bahamas, a close associate of Jacarias, a notorious criminals and alleged murderer involved with various armed cases form Goa. Sources reveal that Johnny was instrumental in teaching Jacarias the trade of throwing chilli powder into the eyes of the jailor and escaping from jail. So high are Johnny's contacts at various embassies that he helped Jacarias escape to Dubai. But he himself is overstaying in Goa thanks to a on-going rape case against him.
Alexis, a notorious Russian drug dealer, whose name figures among the top drug dealer in the National Narcotic Control Bureau list had come to Goa on a work permit. Though his visa expired in, he was overstaying. Finally, law caught up with him and issued him a Leave India Notice and he was planning to shift base to Kulu Manali. Thankfully, probably for the first time, the police acted and deported him before Alexis could take advantage of a loophole in the Act and overstay.
Another Nigerian Ifeanyi Patrick Okoye came to India on June 14, 2005 and his visa expired on December 13, 2005.
Artilce appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim edition, India,
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preetu Nair
Senior Reporter
Gomantak Times
St.Inez, Panaji
Goa-403 001
India
http://goadourada.blogspot.com/
"Freedom of mind is the real freedom"
Babasaheb Ambedkar
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PANJIM: If someone were to write a sequel to Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels: A Voyage to Brobdingnag; it would be called Gulliver's Travel: A voyage to Goa. However, Swift's Gulliver, the surgeon, would be replaced by very many Russian, European, Nigerian and Israeli Gullivers'.
Just like the friendly creatures welcomed Gulliver into their land, in the same manner Goans would have also welcomed travellers from all over the world to Goa. However, unlike Gulliver who after spending two years in Brobdingnag wants to return home, the Gulliver's in Goa have no will or inclination to return home.
The urge to explore and discover Goa is so high for the Russian, European, Nigerian and Israeli Gullivers' that they find very many reasons to stay in Goa. Of course the Goa police and the politicians, often help them in their endeavours and ensure that these Gullivers' find a safe haven in the state. And they continue to live, earn and flourish in Goa, even though they don't have a work permit. Even though their Visa expires they continue to stay in the country for years without any fear of the law of the land.
Despite Anita Rodrigues, SP, Foreigner's Branch claim, "We issue them deportation order and they leave the country", foreigners overstaying in the state adopt numerous tricks to ensure that they are not deported from the country:
Trick 1: I WANT TO STUDY
Many, especially Nigerians, come to Goa on study visa. Once in Goa they either take admission in a college or join a football club and continue to stay in the country. Most of them ensure that they never pass the exams and thus use this as an excuse to overstay in Goa.
Trick 2: PAY FINE & LIVE IN GOA
Those who are overstaying can be booked under the Passport Entry Act into India, 1995, if they don't have a passport. If Visa has expired then the tourist can be booked under the Foreigners' Regulation Order for violating Visa conditions. Once the police book them, they are produced in court. The Act says that any foreigner who overstays is either imposed a fine of Rs 2000 to 5000 or jailed for six months. Foreigners opt to pay the fine and stay in Goa.
Trick 3: ONCE FINED, FREE FOREVER
According to the Act, once a person who is overstaying is fined a sum and pays it, then they can't be arrested for the same offence again. Many take advantage of the loophole in the law and whenever police questions them, they produce the court fee challan. However, the situation would be different, if once convicted of overstaying, the government takes immediate steps to deport the person who is overstaying, said a top police official. He added that until the time they are deported they should be sent to a remand home and the deportation process should be expedite.
TRICK 4: A CASE OR TWO DOES THE TRICK
Often foreigner's overstaying get entangled in legal battles to ensure that they overstay. Once the matter is in court, it becomes all the more difficult to deport them.
TRICK 5: I AM BROKE
Government officials on condition of anonymity say that to deport the foreigner's overstaying in the state, government has to spend from its own pocket. "This the government claims is a burden on the public exchequer and this refrains us from taking any action against those overstaying. The result is that they keep overstaying and involve themselves in nefarious activities," said another top police official.
What is worse is that though the Foreigners Registration Act, 1946 clearly states that foreigners should not carry, buy, sell or use psychotropic drugs or any other narcotic substances while in India as their purchase, sale or possession is a cognisable offence, many indulge in the sale of drugs. While several Israelis and Russians are involved in the drug trade, the Nigerians work as runners. They are never caught, either for overstaying or for selling drugs, thanks to the political patronage that they enjoy in the state.
As a senior police official rightly said, "Overstaying of foreigners has caused innumerable problems, but the government is hardly interested in tackling the issue".
When contacted, Rina Torcato, DySP, Foreigner's Branch said, "Most of these people who are overstaying are engaged in court cases and when a matter is pending in the court, we can't deport them because the matter is in the court. However, on two occasions we have deported a Nigerian". But when asked to name them and the day they were deported, she failed to give any answer.
Our investigations reveal that Foreigner's office in Panjim issues leave India notice but never follows it up. "It is beyond our capacity to deport a foreigner, though we know that innumerable Israelis, Germans and Russians in the Northern coastal belt have taken advantage of this", revealed a staffer at the Foreigner's office in Panjim.
Rules are made to be broken and many foreigners in Goa continue to break laws in Goa and yet continue to live in the state unaffected. Check out a few who have managed to stay in the state, even though they have violated continuously violated the law of the land. This is just a tip of the iceberg.
· It is a known fact that Nigerians are used as "runners" by bigger Israeli and Russian drug lords in the state. But this gained importance when Charles Vozar, a Nigerian was arrested in 1992 for carrying cocaine. It is the same year that he came to Goa with his wife. It is reliably learnt that Charles had swallowed a big sachet of cocaine. Police got him admitted at the GMC. Police requested the doctors to give him a stomach wash but the initial efforts were futile. Later Charles was sent to the lock-up and it is here that he panicked fear that the cocaine pouch in his stomach may burst and he may die. He complained of stomach pain and fainted. It was here at the GMC that Dr Madhu was asked by Charles to give him a stomach wash again. Dr Madhu mentioned about this in the case paper which proved to be an important ground for Charles conviction. Later, he was arrested by Police Inspector Shetgaonkar for overstaying and he contested that his passport was with the ANC. At the moment he runs a notorious place called the Santana bar and restaurant at Gaura waddo in Calangute. This place is frequented by various notorious Nigerians and whatever plans and underhand dealings, even in the black Dollar trade are hatched here. Police officials say that he is taking undue advantage of the court cases against him and hanging him in Goa. Sources at the ANC revealed that both he and his wife are topping the list of the ANC compiled by the National Narcotic Control Bureau, among the Nigerians and the government is doing pretty little to deport them. The former controversial ANC team were much grateful to the existence of Charles and they were overfriendly with them and also a police informer who would provide the names of minor runners in the drug trade. Charles deosn't have money to go back but yet stays in a palatial house.
Arrested by PSI Rajan Prabhudessai and convicted for eight months for possessing 169 gram of brown sugar, worth Rs 25,000 in 2001. Charles had come to live in Goa along with his wife Gloria in 1992. Charles went to appeal in the high Court and the case is still going on.
* Jessi again a Nigerian, who is in list of the ANC is booked in the passport forgery case. so shrewd and cunning is Jessi that in his own passport, he extended his visa from 2001 to 2010 and got caught by the police in 2003. Incidentally, he is out on bail and now moves around freely.
Johnny Lamad, Afrcian, who was overstaying along with a friend raped a British national. Johnny befriended a foreigner in restaurant in Calangute and asked her to accompany him to a disco at late night. When she refused, he offered to drop her home, which she agreed to, lest knowing what was in store. Instead of dropping her home, he took her to his friend's house and the two men took turns in raping the woman and threatened to kill her.
Johnny Young, Bahamas, a close associate of Jacarias, a notorious criminals and alleged murderer involved with various armed cases form Goa. Sources reveal that Johnny was instrumental in teaching Jacarias the trade of throwing chilli powder into the eyes of the jailor and escaping from jail. So high are Johnny's contacts at various embassies that he helped Jacarias escape to Dubai. But he himself is overstaying in Goa thanks to a on-going rape case against him.
Alexis, a notorious Russian drug dealer, whose name figures among the top drug dealer in the National Narcotic Control Bureau list had come to Goa on a work permit. Though his visa expired in, he was overstaying. Finally, law caught up with him and issued him a Leave India Notice and he was planning to shift base to Kulu Manali. Thankfully, probably for the first time, the police acted and deported him before Alexis could take advantage of a loophole in the Act and overstay.
Another Nigerian Ifeanyi Patrick Okoye came to India on June 14, 2005 and his visa expired on December 13, 2005.
Artilce appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim edition, India,
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preetu Nair
Senior Reporter
Gomantak Times
St.Inez, Panaji
Goa-403 001
India
http://goadourada.blogspot.com/
"Freedom of mind is the real freedom"
Babasaheb Ambedkar
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RUSSIAN ROULETTE
Ruling the roost?
PETER DE SOUZA & PREETU NAIR
* "Sound" man: Provider of imported sound systems from Singapore for Rave parties. "Sound" man protected the Israelis from police and also ensured that the Israelis got political patronage, essential for hassle-free trade in the coastal belt. Later, he brokered a truce between the warring Israelis and Russians.
* Baba: A man with long hair running up to his waist, which appears as a bun over his head, he portrays himself as a hermit. He sits near the sound system and gives dakshina to the public in the form of drugs at rave parties, ensures quick compromise when a drug dealer is in trouble.
* Aspee: A Russian, believed to be the King of Coke, he is also one of the best DJs in the world. In the international market he charges $ 2000 per hour to play.
* Baba brothers: They were partners in crime with the alleged Russian drug lord Alexis, who was recently deported from the country. They helped the Russians reach a truce with the Israelis.
PANJIM: Changes can't be prevented, especially when it concerns mafia, drug lords and the sun-kissed beaches of Goa. Anjuna, once known for its flower children has been witnessing constant changes, thanks to the mafia dons who have dominated the area with their drug trade since 1980.
If in the 1980s the Nigerians and Kenyans flourished in the coastal belt in the drug trade, then in the early 90s it was the Israeli mafia who spread their tentacles in Anjuna. And now it is the Russians, who are kingpins of the drug and the flesh trade in the Northern coastal belt. "They want to convert the place into mini-Russia," observed DIG Ujjwal Mishra.
The Israelis, mostly backpackers and soldiers, who came to Anjuna as tourists, became successful drug dealers in the early 90s with the support of Anjuna locals. "Such was the patronage of the locals to the Israeli dealers that Anjuna residents banned Nigerians and Kenyans from entering the trade, confining them to the Calangute belt," said a top police official.
By 1997, Israelis ruled the coastal belt with the help of the locals and more and more Israelis poured into Anjuna to take up the drug trade. "Between 1997 and 99, there was much hatred for the Nigerian and Kenyan drug dealers. The locals, who were Israeli supporters, often beat and threaten them. Soon they were shunted out of the business as well as the area," said the police official.
But Israelis brought along with them not just drugs but also Rave parties. It is reliably learnt that an Assagao based "Sound" man, who is the sole provider of imported sound systems from Singapore for the Rave parties, provided protection to the Israeli drug dealers. "Israelis have invested large amounts of money in these sound systems. In return the Assagao based "Sound" man ensured protection to the Israelis from the police and also ensured that the Israelis got political patronage that was essential to let their trade flourish in the coastal belt," said a top police official.
Besides the "Sound" man, another person Baba, who portrays himself as a hermit ensures that when a drug dealer is in trouble a compromise is reached at the earliest. He sits near the sound system and gives dakshina to the public in the form of drugs during the rave parties.
From 1997 to 2004, there was a spree of rave parties, where only Israelis were allowed to form the DJ line-up. But these rave parties were limited only to Anjuna.
Even though Russians arrived in the state in 2002, they didn't immediately start work. "They descended on Ashvem, Pernem and asked their man DJ Aspee in Goa to study the drug trade scenario in Goa. In 2003-2004 the Russian mafia, which is the most powerful one in the world today, extended their base in Morjim and with local and political support invested in 1.5 lakh square meters of land," said a source.
After extending their tentacles to Dubai, Singapore, Bahrain, Egypt, most of Asia and Gulf, they finally decided to invest in Goa. It is reliably learnt that in 2004, Russians entered the drug trade in Anjuna and the dealers tried to transact business at a controversial rave venue, which is situated on a hill top in Anjuna.
By 2005, they started having regular rave parties at different venues in Pernem. The reason for holding it at different venues is that if there was any drug related death then no one could be held accountable. Slowly, Russians began pouring in large numbers to Goa with women and MDMA (ecstasy tablet, which gives an orgasm for around six hours).
In the past, Israelis had limited themselves to LSD and cocaine, while the Russians specialised in MDMA and high quality cocaine. But when the Russians started gaining popularity, the Israelis joined hands with the locals and monopolised in charas. Our sources reveal that thousands of acres of fields were brought by the Israelis along with their Goan counterparts in Kulu Manali. Charas was grown here in large quantity and they have also set up 16 resorts in Kulu Manali, from where they control 40 percent of the charas trade.
However, with the growing command of the Russians in the trade, the Israelis felt threatened and a massive fight broke out between them. The mighty and by now powerful Russians beat up the Israelis at the same rave venue from where the Russians had started business, thereby ensuring that no Israeli in the Northern belt could operate without the help of Russian mafia.
However, the "Sound" man again with the help of Baba brothers struck a truce between the two warring factions because the mafia war was badly affecting their trade. It must be recalled that Anjuna based Baba brothers were partners in crime with an alleged Russian drug lord Alexis, who was recently deported from the country. "A subtle understanding was reached and it was decided that they wouldn't interfere in each other's business or wander into each other's territory," said the police official.
Lords move from Anjuna to Pernem
Anjuna's loss is Pernem's gain! Ever since GT exposed the drug trade in Anjuna with the help of the local cops and ANC, the Anjuna PI Rajesh Kumar has put his foot down and not allowed any rave parties to be held in his jurisdiction, which was once the unofficial haven for supplying drugs and flesh trade.
After GT exposed how a constable from Anjuna police station and two from the ANC, who had managed to sneak out a list of the drug dealers prepared by the National Narcotics Control Board and used it to extort money from dealers, SP Sharad Agrawal has been hunting for the dealers. The dealers on the other hand took shelter in Pernem. Once in Pernem and under constant watch of the police, the two conflicting mafia gangs - Israelis and Russians - decided to work in harmony. Almost every alternate day, they organise rave parties at the Sweet water lake, Arambol, Morjim and Ashvem beaches.
Once again, the Assagao based "Sound" man, played the connecting factor, between the Israelis and Russian. However, everyone takes orders from Aspee, who is alleged to be the biggest Russian dealer. "He is one of the most elusive dealer and has given us a tough time. Besides he is also one of the best DJs in the world and charges $ 2000 per hour to play in the international market," said a top police official. Aspee is the main attraction at any rave party and foreign tourists flock like bees to a honeycomb to a rave party whenever Aspee is playing.
In Goa, all other DJs who perform at rave parties are under his control and only if he gives permission they play, the source added. Meanwhile, Aspee, who lives in Assagao, moves around with a rough and tough looking middle-aged Russian woman, who is allegedly involved in the supply of young Russian girls between the age of 14 and 17 to customers. She is also known to be Aspee's bodyguard.
Our sources reveal that the dealers had brought almost 100 kg of cocaine this season and hafta of Rs 20 lakh was allegedly paid to the police as instalment to look the other way. The only market for cocaine is at the rave party. With no rave parties in Anjuna and the dealers on the run, there was panic among the dealers because if the cocaine were not sold during the peak season - December to February, crores of rupees would have been lost. If kept for long then cocaine loses its freshness and the prices drop. But thankfully, they found a new and safe destination at Pernem.
(Story appeared in GT Weekender, Panjim edition, India)
PETER DE SOUZA & PREETU NAIR
* "Sound" man: Provider of imported sound systems from Singapore for Rave parties. "Sound" man protected the Israelis from police and also ensured that the Israelis got political patronage, essential for hassle-free trade in the coastal belt. Later, he brokered a truce between the warring Israelis and Russians.
* Baba: A man with long hair running up to his waist, which appears as a bun over his head, he portrays himself as a hermit. He sits near the sound system and gives dakshina to the public in the form of drugs at rave parties, ensures quick compromise when a drug dealer is in trouble.
* Aspee: A Russian, believed to be the King of Coke, he is also one of the best DJs in the world. In the international market he charges $ 2000 per hour to play.
* Baba brothers: They were partners in crime with the alleged Russian drug lord Alexis, who was recently deported from the country. They helped the Russians reach a truce with the Israelis.
PANJIM: Changes can't be prevented, especially when it concerns mafia, drug lords and the sun-kissed beaches of Goa. Anjuna, once known for its flower children has been witnessing constant changes, thanks to the mafia dons who have dominated the area with their drug trade since 1980.
If in the 1980s the Nigerians and Kenyans flourished in the coastal belt in the drug trade, then in the early 90s it was the Israeli mafia who spread their tentacles in Anjuna. And now it is the Russians, who are kingpins of the drug and the flesh trade in the Northern coastal belt. "They want to convert the place into mini-Russia," observed DIG Ujjwal Mishra.
The Israelis, mostly backpackers and soldiers, who came to Anjuna as tourists, became successful drug dealers in the early 90s with the support of Anjuna locals. "Such was the patronage of the locals to the Israeli dealers that Anjuna residents banned Nigerians and Kenyans from entering the trade, confining them to the Calangute belt," said a top police official.
By 1997, Israelis ruled the coastal belt with the help of the locals and more and more Israelis poured into Anjuna to take up the drug trade. "Between 1997 and 99, there was much hatred for the Nigerian and Kenyan drug dealers. The locals, who were Israeli supporters, often beat and threaten them. Soon they were shunted out of the business as well as the area," said the police official.
But Israelis brought along with them not just drugs but also Rave parties. It is reliably learnt that an Assagao based "Sound" man, who is the sole provider of imported sound systems from Singapore for the Rave parties, provided protection to the Israeli drug dealers. "Israelis have invested large amounts of money in these sound systems. In return the Assagao based "Sound" man ensured protection to the Israelis from the police and also ensured that the Israelis got political patronage that was essential to let their trade flourish in the coastal belt," said a top police official.
Besides the "Sound" man, another person Baba, who portrays himself as a hermit ensures that when a drug dealer is in trouble a compromise is reached at the earliest. He sits near the sound system and gives dakshina to the public in the form of drugs during the rave parties.
From 1997 to 2004, there was a spree of rave parties, where only Israelis were allowed to form the DJ line-up. But these rave parties were limited only to Anjuna.
Even though Russians arrived in the state in 2002, they didn't immediately start work. "They descended on Ashvem, Pernem and asked their man DJ Aspee in Goa to study the drug trade scenario in Goa. In 2003-2004 the Russian mafia, which is the most powerful one in the world today, extended their base in Morjim and with local and political support invested in 1.5 lakh square meters of land," said a source.
After extending their tentacles to Dubai, Singapore, Bahrain, Egypt, most of Asia and Gulf, they finally decided to invest in Goa. It is reliably learnt that in 2004, Russians entered the drug trade in Anjuna and the dealers tried to transact business at a controversial rave venue, which is situated on a hill top in Anjuna.
By 2005, they started having regular rave parties at different venues in Pernem. The reason for holding it at different venues is that if there was any drug related death then no one could be held accountable. Slowly, Russians began pouring in large numbers to Goa with women and MDMA (ecstasy tablet, which gives an orgasm for around six hours).
In the past, Israelis had limited themselves to LSD and cocaine, while the Russians specialised in MDMA and high quality cocaine. But when the Russians started gaining popularity, the Israelis joined hands with the locals and monopolised in charas. Our sources reveal that thousands of acres of fields were brought by the Israelis along with their Goan counterparts in Kulu Manali. Charas was grown here in large quantity and they have also set up 16 resorts in Kulu Manali, from where they control 40 percent of the charas trade.
However, with the growing command of the Russians in the trade, the Israelis felt threatened and a massive fight broke out between them. The mighty and by now powerful Russians beat up the Israelis at the same rave venue from where the Russians had started business, thereby ensuring that no Israeli in the Northern belt could operate without the help of Russian mafia.
However, the "Sound" man again with the help of Baba brothers struck a truce between the two warring factions because the mafia war was badly affecting their trade. It must be recalled that Anjuna based Baba brothers were partners in crime with an alleged Russian drug lord Alexis, who was recently deported from the country. "A subtle understanding was reached and it was decided that they wouldn't interfere in each other's business or wander into each other's territory," said the police official.
Lords move from Anjuna to Pernem
Anjuna's loss is Pernem's gain! Ever since GT exposed the drug trade in Anjuna with the help of the local cops and ANC, the Anjuna PI Rajesh Kumar has put his foot down and not allowed any rave parties to be held in his jurisdiction, which was once the unofficial haven for supplying drugs and flesh trade.
After GT exposed how a constable from Anjuna police station and two from the ANC, who had managed to sneak out a list of the drug dealers prepared by the National Narcotics Control Board and used it to extort money from dealers, SP Sharad Agrawal has been hunting for the dealers. The dealers on the other hand took shelter in Pernem. Once in Pernem and under constant watch of the police, the two conflicting mafia gangs - Israelis and Russians - decided to work in harmony. Almost every alternate day, they organise rave parties at the Sweet water lake, Arambol, Morjim and Ashvem beaches.
Once again, the Assagao based "Sound" man, played the connecting factor, between the Israelis and Russian. However, everyone takes orders from Aspee, who is alleged to be the biggest Russian dealer. "He is one of the most elusive dealer and has given us a tough time. Besides he is also one of the best DJs in the world and charges $ 2000 per hour to play in the international market," said a top police official. Aspee is the main attraction at any rave party and foreign tourists flock like bees to a honeycomb to a rave party whenever Aspee is playing.
In Goa, all other DJs who perform at rave parties are under his control and only if he gives permission they play, the source added. Meanwhile, Aspee, who lives in Assagao, moves around with a rough and tough looking middle-aged Russian woman, who is allegedly involved in the supply of young Russian girls between the age of 14 and 17 to customers. She is also known to be Aspee's bodyguard.
Our sources reveal that the dealers had brought almost 100 kg of cocaine this season and hafta of Rs 20 lakh was allegedly paid to the police as instalment to look the other way. The only market for cocaine is at the rave party. With no rave parties in Anjuna and the dealers on the run, there was panic among the dealers because if the cocaine were not sold during the peak season - December to February, crores of rupees would have been lost. If kept for long then cocaine loses its freshness and the prices drop. But thankfully, they found a new and safe destination at Pernem.
(Story appeared in GT Weekender, Panjim edition, India)
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Save Goa
BAMBOLIM: At the age of 80, Dulu Andrade, can barely walk. But she is determined to fight for her family and home. Her house is in middle of a development project and if the builders lobby has its way then she, her children and grandchildren would be soon evicted from their home.
Welcome to a new Goa: where development matters but people don't. The builders lobby may be excited about development of Goa, but for Dulu development is a strategy of deceit. Her wells have been sealed, they have been cordoned off from going anywhere near the beach, her coconut palms have been cut and now she fears displacement.
Their agony started few months back when the powerful and influential people from Goa Real Estate and Construction Pvt. Ltd with the help of the local politicians and police started harassing them. When they fought back they were threatened and police sent to their house. "Do we have a voice? When we raise our voice, we are threatened and harassed," said Dulu.
When the irate villagers complain, the panch, whom they voted to power, refuses to acknowledge their woes. Complaints to the Curca Bambolim Panchayat have also not yielded any positive results. There is much hatred of the police, who the villagers allege are supporting the builders. And it is not without reason.
Kamal Pereira and her sister-in-law were alone at home when Subramanyam, Project Manager, Goan Hotels and Clubs Pvt. Ltd along with plain clothed policemen came to their house late in the night on December 8. Without a search warrant they searched the house. This despite the fact that there was no male member at home. Reason? According to Subramanyam, "few villagers had beaten up my worker and I received information that they had kept him locked in the house, so I had gone to the house with the police to check." It is another matter that they never found anyone in the house, except two scared women.
Further, SDM AAJ Fernandes on November 13, 2006 had passed an order to depute 7 male and 2 female police personnel at the site where work of Goa Real Estate and Construction Pvt. Ltd. is happening, as there is a possibility of a breach of law and order situation and disturbance of public peace and tranquility. This order was passed based on a complaint made by Director, Goa Real Estate and Construction Pvt. Ltd.
Talati A Lawrence said, "They didn't complain to me. They have given their complaints to the panchayat. I can't do anything, until they complain to me."
These ironies don't go unnoticed even by the members of Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) who arrived at the spot yesterday after receiving a complaint from the villagers. "If these atrocities continue, then the whole village will burn down the project. You are going to face one of the biggest agitations Goa has ever seen," said a visibly agitated Dr Oscar Rebello, Convenor, GBA.
The builders of course have managed to show the papers. "Do you think that we will invest crores of rupees without having all the papers in place," questioned Subramanyam. They have got TCP clearance for various projects from 1993 to 1995. In other words, though they have no permission for hill cutting, they have been carrying on the work as they had got permission for the project much before the TCP Amendment of hill cutting came into existence in 1997. It is another matter that they are still cutting the hill and camouflaging it with green and yellow paints, to make it look as if the hill is still green with trees.
However, North Goa Additional Collector Swapnil Naik after inspecting the site along with an official from TCP and Member Secretary Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority ( GCZMA) in the afternoon, promised to issue a stay order.
For the villagers, the problem is much larger than an environmental or administrative problem. It is a fight for livelihood and habitat. The builder's lobby has survived many activists and politicians in Goa. But in the poor villagers of Bambolim, the lobby is finding tougher opponents. And with Save Goa Abhiyan extending support to them, the battle's just begun.
Mass Meeting on December 26
Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) has called for a mass meeting on December 26 at 4.30 pm at Bambolim to show how Goa has been destroyed in the name of development. They also intend to write to Shahrukh Khan, Margaret Alva, Sachin Tedulkar and many other rich and famous who have purchased plots in the village.
"They are equally a part of a larger conspiracy to dislocate Goans and destroy Goa," said Dr Oscar Rebello, Convenor, GBA. He added, the authorities have to act according to their conscience. Far more powerful than politicians are the people of Goa.
"Goan homes are being destroyed to build holiday homes for the rich and the famous," added activist Patricia Pinto.
Construction Stayed
In a late night development, North Goa Additional Collector Swapnil Naik issued a stay order against illegal construction/ development work carried out in survey number 12/1 and 99 by violating the CRZ guidelines and for violating section 17 (2) of Town and Country Plan Act by indulging in large scale hill cutting in survey no 95/1 and 96/12 of Bambolim village. Additional Collector has ordered to stop the above construction with immediate effect, until further orders.
In an order, the Additional Collector said, "At the time of inspection by the undersigned and Member Secretary GCZMA it was noticed that construction/destruction were carried out putting fencing, cutting and uprooting trees and clearing the area. Therefore, the MS GCZMA has directed the undersigned to ascertain the CRZ clearance and maintain status quo of pending inquiry. The party has not been able to produce any clearance from CRZ authority."
In another order, the Additional Collector noted, "…it was seen that construction/development work were carried out by cutting the hill using heavy machines and constructing roads/ buildings. The party has also not been able to produce any clearance from TCP department for hill cutting and whereas, the mater was also discussed during the meeting with Chief Secretary in his conference hall at the Secretariat, wherein the Chief Secretary has directed the undersigned to stop construction, pending inquiry."
Welcome to a new Goa: where development matters but people don't. The builders lobby may be excited about development of Goa, but for Dulu development is a strategy of deceit. Her wells have been sealed, they have been cordoned off from going anywhere near the beach, her coconut palms have been cut and now she fears displacement.
Their agony started few months back when the powerful and influential people from Goa Real Estate and Construction Pvt. Ltd with the help of the local politicians and police started harassing them. When they fought back they were threatened and police sent to their house. "Do we have a voice? When we raise our voice, we are threatened and harassed," said Dulu.
When the irate villagers complain, the panch, whom they voted to power, refuses to acknowledge their woes. Complaints to the Curca Bambolim Panchayat have also not yielded any positive results. There is much hatred of the police, who the villagers allege are supporting the builders. And it is not without reason.
Kamal Pereira and her sister-in-law were alone at home when Subramanyam, Project Manager, Goan Hotels and Clubs Pvt. Ltd along with plain clothed policemen came to their house late in the night on December 8. Without a search warrant they searched the house. This despite the fact that there was no male member at home. Reason? According to Subramanyam, "few villagers had beaten up my worker and I received information that they had kept him locked in the house, so I had gone to the house with the police to check." It is another matter that they never found anyone in the house, except two scared women.
Further, SDM AAJ Fernandes on November 13, 2006 had passed an order to depute 7 male and 2 female police personnel at the site where work of Goa Real Estate and Construction Pvt. Ltd. is happening, as there is a possibility of a breach of law and order situation and disturbance of public peace and tranquility. This order was passed based on a complaint made by Director, Goa Real Estate and Construction Pvt. Ltd.
Talati A Lawrence said, "They didn't complain to me. They have given their complaints to the panchayat. I can't do anything, until they complain to me."
These ironies don't go unnoticed even by the members of Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) who arrived at the spot yesterday after receiving a complaint from the villagers. "If these atrocities continue, then the whole village will burn down the project. You are going to face one of the biggest agitations Goa has ever seen," said a visibly agitated Dr Oscar Rebello, Convenor, GBA.
The builders of course have managed to show the papers. "Do you think that we will invest crores of rupees without having all the papers in place," questioned Subramanyam. They have got TCP clearance for various projects from 1993 to 1995. In other words, though they have no permission for hill cutting, they have been carrying on the work as they had got permission for the project much before the TCP Amendment of hill cutting came into existence in 1997. It is another matter that they are still cutting the hill and camouflaging it with green and yellow paints, to make it look as if the hill is still green with trees.
However, North Goa Additional Collector Swapnil Naik after inspecting the site along with an official from TCP and Member Secretary Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority ( GCZMA) in the afternoon, promised to issue a stay order.
For the villagers, the problem is much larger than an environmental or administrative problem. It is a fight for livelihood and habitat. The builder's lobby has survived many activists and politicians in Goa. But in the poor villagers of Bambolim, the lobby is finding tougher opponents. And with Save Goa Abhiyan extending support to them, the battle's just begun.
Mass Meeting on December 26
Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) has called for a mass meeting on December 26 at 4.30 pm at Bambolim to show how Goa has been destroyed in the name of development. They also intend to write to Shahrukh Khan, Margaret Alva, Sachin Tedulkar and many other rich and famous who have purchased plots in the village.
"They are equally a part of a larger conspiracy to dislocate Goans and destroy Goa," said Dr Oscar Rebello, Convenor, GBA. He added, the authorities have to act according to their conscience. Far more powerful than politicians are the people of Goa.
"Goan homes are being destroyed to build holiday homes for the rich and the famous," added activist Patricia Pinto.
Construction Stayed
In a late night development, North Goa Additional Collector Swapnil Naik issued a stay order against illegal construction/ development work carried out in survey number 12/1 and 99 by violating the CRZ guidelines and for violating section 17 (2) of Town and Country Plan Act by indulging in large scale hill cutting in survey no 95/1 and 96/12 of Bambolim village. Additional Collector has ordered to stop the above construction with immediate effect, until further orders.
In an order, the Additional Collector said, "At the time of inspection by the undersigned and Member Secretary GCZMA it was noticed that construction/destruction were carried out putting fencing, cutting and uprooting trees and clearing the area. Therefore, the MS GCZMA has directed the undersigned to ascertain the CRZ clearance and maintain status quo of pending inquiry. The party has not been able to produce any clearance from CRZ authority."
In another order, the Additional Collector noted, "…it was seen that construction/development work were carried out by cutting the hill using heavy machines and constructing roads/ buildings. The party has also not been able to produce any clearance from TCP department for hill cutting and whereas, the mater was also discussed during the meeting with Chief Secretary in his conference hall at the Secretariat, wherein the Chief Secretary has directed the undersigned to stop construction, pending inquiry."
Thursday, December 21, 2006
NRIs lend a helping hand to poor Dhangar family in Goa
PANJIM: What is common between few NRIs (SULEKHA bloggers) two middle class families in Goa and Chief Secretary of Goa, Mr.J.P. Singh? They help you celebrate the spirit that is India as they come ahead for a common cause -- to help a poor family in Latarbarcem, Bicholim. They have ensured that they fill the family's life with hope and have lifted them from a life of helplessness and despair.
Dispersing all notions of territorial nationalism and chest-thumping bigotry that accompanies it, these people were moved by the plight of a poor Dhangar family in the remote village of Bicholim, which appeared in GT/Weekender (please refer to the edition dated October 15). The manner in which these people came forward to help the family deals with its myriad problems, makes one's heart with swell with pride and fills one with a sense of belief in democracy. Who are these people who went an extra mile to bring smiles on the faces of the Jani and her family?
SHARING WAYS
Rupert Rodrigues from Cansaulim and Selwyn Menezes from Aquem went out of their way to help the family. Born in middle class families, both work hard to earn their bread and butter. While Rupert has a driving school, Selwyn is a musician. After the reading, how each member in the family sustains on Rs 7 a day, that is if they are lucky they came ahead to help the family, because "we are much better off than them". Selwyn gave a cheque of Rs 5000 and Rupert gave 12 post-dated cheques of Rs 1000 each.
OVERCOMING BORDERS TO HELP
Touched by the article, few Indians in USA and other parts of the country, after reading the story got together to economically rehabilitate the family. They have collected approximately $1000, that's nearly Rs 50,000 to help the family become economically independent. In well-known Goa based environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar's words, "This is real India". After all humanity makes you an Indian and connects you with other human beings.
CHIEF SECRETARY SHOWS THE WAY
What several letters couldn't achieve, one phone call from Chief Secretary J P Singh could achieve. After reading the story in GT/Weekender, Chief Secretary asked the North Goa Collector to submit a detailed report. The Collector in turn directed the Deputy Collector and Sub Divisional Officer and Mamlatdar, Bicholim to immediately visit the family and inquire into the matter. The end result: Jani's three disabled sons -- Rajendra, Tukaram and Laxman-got the benefit of the Government's Dayanand Social Security Scheme and their Bank account was opened in State Bank of India on November 24, 2006.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BY PREETU NAIR
An earlier version of the article appered in Gomantak Times, Panjim edition, Goa, India-
preetu.nair@gmail.com
Dispersing all notions of territorial nationalism and chest-thumping bigotry that accompanies it, these people were moved by the plight of a poor Dhangar family in the remote village of Bicholim, which appeared in GT/Weekender (please refer to the edition dated October 15). The manner in which these people came forward to help the family deals with its myriad problems, makes one's heart with swell with pride and fills one with a sense of belief in democracy. Who are these people who went an extra mile to bring smiles on the faces of the Jani and her family?
SHARING WAYS
Rupert Rodrigues from Cansaulim and Selwyn Menezes from Aquem went out of their way to help the family. Born in middle class families, both work hard to earn their bread and butter. While Rupert has a driving school, Selwyn is a musician. After the reading, how each member in the family sustains on Rs 7 a day, that is if they are lucky they came ahead to help the family, because "we are much better off than them". Selwyn gave a cheque of Rs 5000 and Rupert gave 12 post-dated cheques of Rs 1000 each.
OVERCOMING BORDERS TO HELP
Touched by the article, few Indians in USA and other parts of the country, after reading the story got together to economically rehabilitate the family. They have collected approximately $1000, that's nearly Rs 50,000 to help the family become economically independent. In well-known Goa based environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar's words, "This is real India". After all humanity makes you an Indian and connects you with other human beings.
CHIEF SECRETARY SHOWS THE WAY
What several letters couldn't achieve, one phone call from Chief Secretary J P Singh could achieve. After reading the story in GT/Weekender, Chief Secretary asked the North Goa Collector to submit a detailed report. The Collector in turn directed the Deputy Collector and Sub Divisional Officer and Mamlatdar, Bicholim to immediately visit the family and inquire into the matter. The end result: Jani's three disabled sons -- Rajendra, Tukaram and Laxman-got the benefit of the Government's Dayanand Social Security Scheme and their Bank account was opened in State Bank of India on November 24, 2006.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BY PREETU NAIR
An earlier version of the article appered in Gomantak Times, Panjim edition, Goa, India-
preetu.nair@gmail.com
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Goa State Government to blame for Sanguem Mine disaster
PREETU NAIR
preetu_nair@gomantaktimes.com
SANGUEM: Crisis is not new to residents in Dhargini. Even before the "man-made" landslide killed six innocent souls, the villagers had written letters, warning various government authorities that sooner or later the "violent action" witnessed in Saleli would be repeated in Dhargini. The reason: sheer indifference on the part of government authorities to address the genuine problems of the villagers.
The villagers wrote a letter on March 22, 2006 to Mamlatdar, Executive Engineer Water Resource Department, Bhati Sarpanch, Director of Directorate of Mines and Industries, Chairman Goa Pollution Control Board and Sanguem PI complaining (a copy of which is available with GT) against M/S Timblo Ltd. for operating beneficiation plant "illegally" at Dhargini-Bhati which was causing tremendous dust and noise pollution and water scarcity. In the letter, they clearly stated, "We have lost the limits of our tolerance and don't expect us to tolerate the atrocities any further. We request to take measures to stop the illegal operation of the mine and also stop the operation of the plant between 7 pm and 8 am and further to restore the rivulet, wells, plantation and conditions of our houses to its original position".
The inaction on the part of the government officials and their failure to address people's woes despite several reminders, had forced the villagers to write a strong letter to the government officials, including the Chief Secretary, South Goa Collector and Quepem Deputy Collector. "It is painful that though no action was taken to our petition (in January 2006), false and manipulated complaints from the Company officials were entertained at Sanguem police and villagers were harassed by frequent visits of police at our residence," the villagers alleged.
According to the villagers, the "illegal" operation of the beneficiation plant at Dhargini Bhati, "causes tremendous pollution, nuisance and water scarcity". "The operation of mine illegally below the water table has led to water scarcity in the village. We are dependent on the water supplied by the mine owners and during holidays we don't get water. The village has a tap connection, but the tap is dry," alleged villager Babi Velip.
"We are suffering because of the illegal operation of the beneficiation plant by M/S Timblo. Initially, the plant was operated only during the daytime. However, recently the operation of the plant is made round the clock, thereby making lives of the villagers around the plant miserable", he added.
Dhargini residents also allege that despite several complaints to various government authorities, they have no relief. On the contrary, they are troubled and threatened by the mining lobby with the help of government officials, the residents alleged. "Besides, air and sound pollution, the plant has created serious environmental and health hazard for the villagers. Yet no one is wanting to help us," complained Anil Gaonkar.
To add to their woes, the smoke and effluents emitted from the plant has destroyed the rivulet and wells in the village has dried. The cattle are slowly perishing and crops destroyed. "But the authorities are blindly overlooking all the aspects, despite the same being brought to their notice from time to time. The inaction on the part of Government officials and concerned departments is beyond our understanding," added Harichandra Velip.
Well, call it a warning or wake up call for the government authorities. But the fact remains that there is an urgent need for the government to go beyond the obvious and address people's woe. Added Velip, "Don't test our patience and compel us to come on the streets or take law in our hand. We shall be compelled to do so if the authorities don't act suitably soon".
preetu_nair@gomantaktimes.com
SANGUEM: Crisis is not new to residents in Dhargini. Even before the "man-made" landslide killed six innocent souls, the villagers had written letters, warning various government authorities that sooner or later the "violent action" witnessed in Saleli would be repeated in Dhargini. The reason: sheer indifference on the part of government authorities to address the genuine problems of the villagers.
The villagers wrote a letter on March 22, 2006 to Mamlatdar, Executive Engineer Water Resource Department, Bhati Sarpanch, Director of Directorate of Mines and Industries, Chairman Goa Pollution Control Board and Sanguem PI complaining (a copy of which is available with GT) against M/S Timblo Ltd. for operating beneficiation plant "illegally" at Dhargini-Bhati which was causing tremendous dust and noise pollution and water scarcity. In the letter, they clearly stated, "We have lost the limits of our tolerance and don't expect us to tolerate the atrocities any further. We request to take measures to stop the illegal operation of the mine and also stop the operation of the plant between 7 pm and 8 am and further to restore the rivulet, wells, plantation and conditions of our houses to its original position".
The inaction on the part of the government officials and their failure to address people's woes despite several reminders, had forced the villagers to write a strong letter to the government officials, including the Chief Secretary, South Goa Collector and Quepem Deputy Collector. "It is painful that though no action was taken to our petition (in January 2006), false and manipulated complaints from the Company officials were entertained at Sanguem police and villagers were harassed by frequent visits of police at our residence," the villagers alleged.
According to the villagers, the "illegal" operation of the beneficiation plant at Dhargini Bhati, "causes tremendous pollution, nuisance and water scarcity". "The operation of mine illegally below the water table has led to water scarcity in the village. We are dependent on the water supplied by the mine owners and during holidays we don't get water. The village has a tap connection, but the tap is dry," alleged villager Babi Velip.
"We are suffering because of the illegal operation of the beneficiation plant by M/S Timblo. Initially, the plant was operated only during the daytime. However, recently the operation of the plant is made round the clock, thereby making lives of the villagers around the plant miserable", he added.
Dhargini residents also allege that despite several complaints to various government authorities, they have no relief. On the contrary, they are troubled and threatened by the mining lobby with the help of government officials, the residents alleged. "Besides, air and sound pollution, the plant has created serious environmental and health hazard for the villagers. Yet no one is wanting to help us," complained Anil Gaonkar.
To add to their woes, the smoke and effluents emitted from the plant has destroyed the rivulet and wells in the village has dried. The cattle are slowly perishing and crops destroyed. "But the authorities are blindly overlooking all the aspects, despite the same being brought to their notice from time to time. The inaction on the part of Government officials and concerned departments is beyond our understanding," added Harichandra Velip.
Well, call it a warning or wake up call for the government authorities. But the fact remains that there is an urgent need for the government to go beyond the obvious and address people's woe. Added Velip, "Don't test our patience and compel us to come on the streets or take law in our hand. We shall be compelled to do so if the authorities don't act suitably soon".
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Mine of Corpses: Hope amidst grief and pain
Mine of Corpses: Hope amidst grief and pain
by Preetu Nair
SANGUEM/SOUTH GOA/ INDIA:
From Lalita Mirashi's eyes flows pain that falls drop by drop into the heart. Her pain is immense and grief is endless. Her strained face reflects hope. Only, there isn't any left.
Her husband, Satish, was buried alive in an enormous landslide at Tollem mine in Sanguem taluka on Saturday, leaving a two month pregnant Lalita with three little daughters, a widowed mother-in-law and an unmarried sister-in-law.
It is a heartrending scene as she holds on to her children in desperation and uncertainty, wails loudly, screams in pain and then falls unconscious in her two-room 'kutcha' house in Dharginim. Neighbors explain, "She has not eaten anything since Saturday. She is pregnant and the shock is unbearable for her. On Sunday, we had to take her to a private hospital where the doctor put her on a drip and kept her under observation for sometime." Her three children smile and play, too young to realize their mother's suffering.
In between bouts of consciousness and unconsciousness, Lalita reveals that till the landslide killed Satish; he eked out a living by working double shift at the mining unit run by Radha Timblo. He worked as a Supervisor. "We don't have any agricultural land nor have any other source of income. My husband was the only one in the family with a steady income. My younger brother-in-law has just started work," she revealed.
Satish was earning Rs 100 per shift of 8 hours and he often did double shift to meet the family's monthly expenses.
Satish's younger sister Bharati, who sat next to Lalita is silent and stares speechlessly. She was the first to learn that her brother was buried alive in the mine. "We rushed to the spot and Bharati was shocked at the sight there. She knew that she had lost her brother forever. Disappointed and shocked into disbelief we managed to return home," whispers her friend Jayanti Velip, even as from the dark, dingy kitchen we hear an elderly woman wailing. The woman we learn is Satish's mother. Relatives reveal that she believes that her son would survive the landslide, walk into the house soon, calling out for his, "ayee".
If Lalita lost a loving husband in the landslide, then Ulhas Bhandari from Ugem saw his 21-year-old son, Sunny, being buried under the debris. He called out for help, but in vain. "Five minutes wait made the difference between life and death. Sunny had finished work, but waited five minutes to get a lift in the Volvo, which was about to finish loading. It was Sunny's last trip for the day," recollects Ulhas. Little did the family realise that this was to be the last trip of his life.
Ulhas looks stoic but his words have the stamp of desolation. "I don't know why such a tragedy has hit our family? We have lost our young son," he says. Sunny had started working in the mine dropping out of school in standard IX. He was earning anything between Rs 1500 to 2500 a month, depending on the overtime he did.
The only consolation for Lalita and Ulhas, besides the other aggrieved families is that Mine owner Radha Timblo had visited their homes on Sunday with promises to help. But will any help that the Mining company provides, ever compensate for the loss of a husband or a young son?
Rs 2 lakh compensation
Meanwhile, Chetan Timblo, the owner of Tollem mine said that initially the six families would be paid Rs 2 lakh each. He emphasized that this is only the initial help and the Company will look after the families of those buried alive in the landslide. "Our priority still lies in extricating the bodies. All man power and equipment has been put to work to retrieve the bodies. We intend to order an internal inquiry into the unfortunate happening," he added.
Additional Collector to probe
Goa’s Minister of Mines Minister Digambar Kamat told GT that Additional Collector, North, Swapnil Naik has been appointed to probe into the disaster at Tollem mines. "The government has also asked the Company to pay initial compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased, which the Company agreed," added Kamat. The search operations entered the third day, without much success.
Help flows from Congress party
The Congress block committees of Sanguem, Curchorem and Sanvordem have mobilized their members to assist people working at the site of the Tollem mining disaster by lending a helping hand. Besides, providing solace and moral support to the victims' families.
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim edition, December 12. 2006)
by Preetu Nair
SANGUEM/SOUTH GOA/ INDIA:
From Lalita Mirashi's eyes flows pain that falls drop by drop into the heart. Her pain is immense and grief is endless. Her strained face reflects hope. Only, there isn't any left.
Her husband, Satish, was buried alive in an enormous landslide at Tollem mine in Sanguem taluka on Saturday, leaving a two month pregnant Lalita with three little daughters, a widowed mother-in-law and an unmarried sister-in-law.
It is a heartrending scene as she holds on to her children in desperation and uncertainty, wails loudly, screams in pain and then falls unconscious in her two-room 'kutcha' house in Dharginim. Neighbors explain, "She has not eaten anything since Saturday. She is pregnant and the shock is unbearable for her. On Sunday, we had to take her to a private hospital where the doctor put her on a drip and kept her under observation for sometime." Her three children smile and play, too young to realize their mother's suffering.
In between bouts of consciousness and unconsciousness, Lalita reveals that till the landslide killed Satish; he eked out a living by working double shift at the mining unit run by Radha Timblo. He worked as a Supervisor. "We don't have any agricultural land nor have any other source of income. My husband was the only one in the family with a steady income. My younger brother-in-law has just started work," she revealed.
Satish was earning Rs 100 per shift of 8 hours and he often did double shift to meet the family's monthly expenses.
Satish's younger sister Bharati, who sat next to Lalita is silent and stares speechlessly. She was the first to learn that her brother was buried alive in the mine. "We rushed to the spot and Bharati was shocked at the sight there. She knew that she had lost her brother forever. Disappointed and shocked into disbelief we managed to return home," whispers her friend Jayanti Velip, even as from the dark, dingy kitchen we hear an elderly woman wailing. The woman we learn is Satish's mother. Relatives reveal that she believes that her son would survive the landslide, walk into the house soon, calling out for his, "ayee".
If Lalita lost a loving husband in the landslide, then Ulhas Bhandari from Ugem saw his 21-year-old son, Sunny, being buried under the debris. He called out for help, but in vain. "Five minutes wait made the difference between life and death. Sunny had finished work, but waited five minutes to get a lift in the Volvo, which was about to finish loading. It was Sunny's last trip for the day," recollects Ulhas. Little did the family realise that this was to be the last trip of his life.
Ulhas looks stoic but his words have the stamp of desolation. "I don't know why such a tragedy has hit our family? We have lost our young son," he says. Sunny had started working in the mine dropping out of school in standard IX. He was earning anything between Rs 1500 to 2500 a month, depending on the overtime he did.
The only consolation for Lalita and Ulhas, besides the other aggrieved families is that Mine owner Radha Timblo had visited their homes on Sunday with promises to help. But will any help that the Mining company provides, ever compensate for the loss of a husband or a young son?
Rs 2 lakh compensation
Meanwhile, Chetan Timblo, the owner of Tollem mine said that initially the six families would be paid Rs 2 lakh each. He emphasized that this is only the initial help and the Company will look after the families of those buried alive in the landslide. "Our priority still lies in extricating the bodies. All man power and equipment has been put to work to retrieve the bodies. We intend to order an internal inquiry into the unfortunate happening," he added.
Additional Collector to probe
Goa’s Minister of Mines Minister Digambar Kamat told GT that Additional Collector, North, Swapnil Naik has been appointed to probe into the disaster at Tollem mines. "The government has also asked the Company to pay initial compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased, which the Company agreed," added Kamat. The search operations entered the third day, without much success.
Help flows from Congress party
The Congress block committees of Sanguem, Curchorem and Sanvordem have mobilized their members to assist people working at the site of the Tollem mining disaster by lending a helping hand. Besides, providing solace and moral support to the victims' families.
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim edition, December 12. 2006)
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
BURIED ALIVE:MAN-MADE CALAMITY
BURIED ALIVE:MAN-MADE CALAMITY
BY PREETU NAIR & SUSHMA FERNANDES
Official figures state that six people were buried alive in an enormous landslide at Tollem iron ore mine in Sanguem taluka, in what is being considered to be a man-made disaster. However, villagers claim that the death toll maybe much higher
SANGUEM/ SOUTH GOA/ INDIA:
Official figures state that six people were buried alive in an enormous landslide at Tollem iron ore mine in Sanguem taluka, in what is being considered to be a man-made disaster. However, villagers claim that the death toll maybe much higher. The police, who started rescue operations immediately, managed to only remove the body of Gurudas Naik from Collem and a Volvo vehicle from the debris. Majority of the deceased were from Sanguem taluka and were working for contractor Anup Mhatme and Ishwar Shetye at the mining unit as daily wageworkers, earning anything between Rs 75 to 120 per day. The mines had been given as royalty to Radha Timblo
The Sanguem police has registered a case of negligence, under section
304 (A), against the Board of Directors and concerned Managers of the mine. "We have already booked the case and further investigations are on," said Sanguem PI Ramesh Gaonkar.
Though no one knows what triggered the enormous landslide (150 meters high and covering an area of 12,000 sq mts), people working in the mine are blaming the authorities for not taking safety precautions and alleging that the incident occurred due to the negligence of the authorities. However, the workers point out that just last week the Mine had received a safety clearance certificate after the Directorate of Mine
Safety, Margao inspected the safety aspects.
As the workers at the mining unit were dispersing for lunch at around 12.50 pm, they heard a deafening sound and saw some of their colleagues and vehicles getting crushed under the massive landslide. They reveal that it happened so fast that those who perished didn't have any time to react.
The others who are said to be buried alive are Sunny Bhandari, Edwin Fernandes, Satish Mirashi and Shashidhar from Karnataka. Besides, around six vehicles - two Volvo, one Tata Hitachi excavator, one wind loader and two tippers - are still buried in the debris along with several innocent souls.
Earthmovers were deployed to extricate the dead and vehicles, but as they couldn't locate the bodies, the Army was called in late in the evening. After examining the spot, the army personnel asked for a map of the area before starting work today (Sunday).
Mine owner Chetan Timblo maintained, "Our Company will take care of the families of those who died", even as tension and anxiety kept mounting in the area. Several villagers confronted Timblo and accused the company of not paying any heed to the employees' safety, while the aggrieved relatives mourned the deaths. SP South Goa, Shekhar Prabhudessai, Secretary Mines Rajiv Yaduvanshi, Sanguem deputy collector PK Velip, Mamlatdar Parag Parsekar were among the officials who visited the site, even as the police force from Quepem, Curchorem and Sanguem was put into action.
Their God is angry!
SANGUEM: Is it God's wrath or merely a human error? Whatever be the answer, the shocked villagers firmly believe that their God is angry with them and cursed them as they had abused an ancient place of worship that lies in the mine. And they have their reasons. Reveals a villager Arun Kudikar, "Our colleague Ulhas Bhandari was dead against starting mining work in the area for he feared God's wrath, but the manager asked him to start work or quit. He started work on Thursday, and yesterday afternoon he saw his young son Sunny buried under the debris caused due to landslide." Another villager Arjun Dessai said, "The area adjacent to the devasam collapsed, while the devasam is intact."
The story among the villagers goes like this: Long ago, there were paddy fields in the area which is now taken up by the mine, and in the fields was the devasam of Naikidev, whom the villagers worshiped. When the mine owners took over the fields, the devasam of Naikidev was shifted to Ugem. However, villagers believe that their God still resides in the mine and were angry when they started disturbing the abode. "We gave in to the mine owner's pressure tactics and had to pay for it with the loss of so many lives," said Kudikar.
'I've not informed my parents about my brother's death'
SANGUEM: Ludovick Fernandes hopefully watches the men at work. His brother Edwin Fernandes has been trapped beneath tons of earth and every single effort to find him has failed. As darkness descends Ludovick gets restless. "I have not informed my
parents about my brother's death. They will be shocked and pained," he revealed.
According to him, his cousin Simon D'Costa who was waiting eagerly for the lunch break heard a big sound and saw his brother's vehicle number 5, a Volvo, getting buried under the debris. Edwin was in the vehicle. Unhappy with the rescue operations, Ludovick complained that there was only one earthmoving machine in rescue operation when he arrived at the site at 3 pm. "The rest of the machines came an hour later and the
rescue work was delayed. Now they should work faster and ensure that we at least get the body to perform the final rites," he said.
Ludovick said that Edwin should have never come back to Goa to work in the Tollem iron ore mine, but he was happiest when he returned home after working for four years in Madhya Pradesh. Incidentally, police officials at the spot, on condition of anonymity,
admitted that it is dangerous to carry on rescue operations, as they feared that any activity in the area would trigger another landslide. "But we didn't want to hurt people's emotions and tried to help in whichever manner possible," they said.
What is really surprising is that though mine owner Chetan Timblo had
arrived at the spot, the contractors Anup Mhatme and Ishwar Shetye were nowhere on the scene.
Harichandra Velip has another worry. He is surprised that though his close relative Satish Mirashi is buried inside, the Manager of the mine had claimed that Satish was not present at the site when the incident occurred.
"Satish has got three little daughters and I don't know what to say to his young wife. Will his family be denied compensation because he was a contract labourer or will the owners deny help to them stating that he was not present at the site when the incident occurred?" questioned Velip.
He approached Timblo and pointing an accusing finger at him cried out,"Our relatives are buried inside. What are you doing?" even as other villagers consoled him. Meanwhile, Babi Velip who had filed a petition in the Panjim bench of the Bombay High Court against the mine owners for causing pollution and destroying the fields and wells in the area, said, "I have always maintained that the Mine owners were neglecting the welfare of the workers and now we pay for our owner's mistakes with our lives."
(Article appeared on December 10.2006, GT Weekender, Panjim , Goa, India)
BY PREETU NAIR & SUSHMA FERNANDES
Official figures state that six people were buried alive in an enormous landslide at Tollem iron ore mine in Sanguem taluka, in what is being considered to be a man-made disaster. However, villagers claim that the death toll maybe much higher
SANGUEM/ SOUTH GOA/ INDIA:
Official figures state that six people were buried alive in an enormous landslide at Tollem iron ore mine in Sanguem taluka, in what is being considered to be a man-made disaster. However, villagers claim that the death toll maybe much higher. The police, who started rescue operations immediately, managed to only remove the body of Gurudas Naik from Collem and a Volvo vehicle from the debris. Majority of the deceased were from Sanguem taluka and were working for contractor Anup Mhatme and Ishwar Shetye at the mining unit as daily wageworkers, earning anything between Rs 75 to 120 per day. The mines had been given as royalty to Radha Timblo
The Sanguem police has registered a case of negligence, under section
304 (A), against the Board of Directors and concerned Managers of the mine. "We have already booked the case and further investigations are on," said Sanguem PI Ramesh Gaonkar.
Though no one knows what triggered the enormous landslide (150 meters high and covering an area of 12,000 sq mts), people working in the mine are blaming the authorities for not taking safety precautions and alleging that the incident occurred due to the negligence of the authorities. However, the workers point out that just last week the Mine had received a safety clearance certificate after the Directorate of Mine
Safety, Margao inspected the safety aspects.
As the workers at the mining unit were dispersing for lunch at around 12.50 pm, they heard a deafening sound and saw some of their colleagues and vehicles getting crushed under the massive landslide. They reveal that it happened so fast that those who perished didn't have any time to react.
The others who are said to be buried alive are Sunny Bhandari, Edwin Fernandes, Satish Mirashi and Shashidhar from Karnataka. Besides, around six vehicles - two Volvo, one Tata Hitachi excavator, one wind loader and two tippers - are still buried in the debris along with several innocent souls.
Earthmovers were deployed to extricate the dead and vehicles, but as they couldn't locate the bodies, the Army was called in late in the evening. After examining the spot, the army personnel asked for a map of the area before starting work today (Sunday).
Mine owner Chetan Timblo maintained, "Our Company will take care of the families of those who died", even as tension and anxiety kept mounting in the area. Several villagers confronted Timblo and accused the company of not paying any heed to the employees' safety, while the aggrieved relatives mourned the deaths. SP South Goa, Shekhar Prabhudessai, Secretary Mines Rajiv Yaduvanshi, Sanguem deputy collector PK Velip, Mamlatdar Parag Parsekar were among the officials who visited the site, even as the police force from Quepem, Curchorem and Sanguem was put into action.
Their God is angry!
SANGUEM: Is it God's wrath or merely a human error? Whatever be the answer, the shocked villagers firmly believe that their God is angry with them and cursed them as they had abused an ancient place of worship that lies in the mine. And they have their reasons. Reveals a villager Arun Kudikar, "Our colleague Ulhas Bhandari was dead against starting mining work in the area for he feared God's wrath, but the manager asked him to start work or quit. He started work on Thursday, and yesterday afternoon he saw his young son Sunny buried under the debris caused due to landslide." Another villager Arjun Dessai said, "The area adjacent to the devasam collapsed, while the devasam is intact."
The story among the villagers goes like this: Long ago, there were paddy fields in the area which is now taken up by the mine, and in the fields was the devasam of Naikidev, whom the villagers worshiped. When the mine owners took over the fields, the devasam of Naikidev was shifted to Ugem. However, villagers believe that their God still resides in the mine and were angry when they started disturbing the abode. "We gave in to the mine owner's pressure tactics and had to pay for it with the loss of so many lives," said Kudikar.
'I've not informed my parents about my brother's death'
SANGUEM: Ludovick Fernandes hopefully watches the men at work. His brother Edwin Fernandes has been trapped beneath tons of earth and every single effort to find him has failed. As darkness descends Ludovick gets restless. "I have not informed my
parents about my brother's death. They will be shocked and pained," he revealed.
According to him, his cousin Simon D'Costa who was waiting eagerly for the lunch break heard a big sound and saw his brother's vehicle number 5, a Volvo, getting buried under the debris. Edwin was in the vehicle. Unhappy with the rescue operations, Ludovick complained that there was only one earthmoving machine in rescue operation when he arrived at the site at 3 pm. "The rest of the machines came an hour later and the
rescue work was delayed. Now they should work faster and ensure that we at least get the body to perform the final rites," he said.
Ludovick said that Edwin should have never come back to Goa to work in the Tollem iron ore mine, but he was happiest when he returned home after working for four years in Madhya Pradesh. Incidentally, police officials at the spot, on condition of anonymity,
admitted that it is dangerous to carry on rescue operations, as they feared that any activity in the area would trigger another landslide. "But we didn't want to hurt people's emotions and tried to help in whichever manner possible," they said.
What is really surprising is that though mine owner Chetan Timblo had
arrived at the spot, the contractors Anup Mhatme and Ishwar Shetye were nowhere on the scene.
Harichandra Velip has another worry. He is surprised that though his close relative Satish Mirashi is buried inside, the Manager of the mine had claimed that Satish was not present at the site when the incident occurred.
"Satish has got three little daughters and I don't know what to say to his young wife. Will his family be denied compensation because he was a contract labourer or will the owners deny help to them stating that he was not present at the site when the incident occurred?" questioned Velip.
He approached Timblo and pointing an accusing finger at him cried out,"Our relatives are buried inside. What are you doing?" even as other villagers consoled him. Meanwhile, Babi Velip who had filed a petition in the Panjim bench of the Bombay High Court against the mine owners for causing pollution and destroying the fields and wells in the area, said, "I have always maintained that the Mine owners were neglecting the welfare of the workers and now we pay for our owner's mistakes with our lives."
(Article appeared on December 10.2006, GT Weekender, Panjim , Goa, India)
Monday, December 11, 2006
Who is AIDS? There's No One by that name in this village
By Preetu Nair
04 March, 2005
Gomantak Times
"Who is AIDS?" asked a mother of two in Agassaim, Tiswadi in Goa state of India. She added, "There is no one by that name in the village."
Officially known as being more prevalent among the high-risk groups for HIV/AIDS, Goa, could well be on a short fuse. The HIV is spreading and yet many in the remote villages in Goa have not even heard of the disease.
Since the first reported case of a foreigner with HIV in Goa in 1987, there has been a steady rise in the reported number of persons with HIV/ AIDS. According to a report Containing HIV/AIDS in Goa, about 46 percent of HIV cases detected in Goa are from the talukas of Mormugao and Salcete and another 26 percent from Bardez and Tiswadi. The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)'s objective is to attain ninety percent awareness levels. But a test drive through rural Goa showed one thing clearly. AIDS is just a name.
While a young, newly married woman from Pillar admits that she has never heard about HIV/AIDS, her husband quips in, "I have seen it on TV but I am not concerned. My wife won't know anything about AIDS. She doesn't watch television and she is not educated."
And the opinion of another young woman in Cacra is no different. "I have never heard about it. I believe no one in our village will be able to help you, as no one knows about the same," she said.
The situation is so bad that when GT asked a college student in Merces "What is AIDS?" she replied, "Anti-Deficiency Something". While her friend replied, "I don't know and I am not even interested in knowing".
When we asked a class IV government employee about AIDS, he replied that he had never heard about it. When told that AIDS is a dreadful disease, he looked confused and concerned. He asked, "How does one get AIDS?"
But the ground reality is quite disturbing, in the last few years there has been a dramatic increase in HIV infection among young women, between the age of 15 and 29. In the year 2004, 50.4 percent of young women were detected with HIV compared to young men. The strikingly higher infection rates among adolescent girls compared to boys in Goa reveal a disturbing trend.
According to the data available with Gomantak Times, in the last three years, the number of young women infected by HIV is more than that of young men. In 2002, 176 young men were infected with HIV were detected, while women were 181. In 2003, the number of females infected by HIV went up by 187, while men were at 148. In 2004, (upto Nov) the women detected with HIV were 117, while male were 115. However, intotality, the number of men infected with HIV is much higher (64.5 percent) compared to women.
The disease is prevalent in all parts of Goa and majority of reports are reported in the four coastal talukas of Goa: Murmugoa, Salcete, Bardez and Tiswadi. In the book, Containing HIV/AIDS In Goa (2003-04) by the Goa State Aids Control Society (GSACS), it mentioned that sexual route is the predominant mode of transmission in Goa and it ranges between 83 to 97 percent. Infection through blood, blood products and infected syringes/needles are negligible and vertical transmission is around 3 to 6 percent.
A source at GSACS said that though many may not admit but a large number of young people are sexually active at a relatively young age, are not monogamous and don't use condoms regularly to ensure protection. In addition to drinking, they experiment with injectable drugs. "However girls are vulnerable not only because of pregnancy but they are more likely to have coerced invariably unprotected sex than boys and they are susceptible biologically to STDs including HIV Infection," the source revealed. And further added, "Inequality between sees makes girls more vulnerable to violence, to sexual abuse and the practice of female genital mutilation."
"There is still lack of information on health issues and discussion of sexual matters with parents is still a taboo. Further, in school we yet to introduce sex education as part of the curriculum. Further many young people do not see HIV/ AIDS as a personal threat and if there is any problem, they, especially young girls avoid going to a doctor," said Wendy Pereira, Deputy Director, GSACS.
Officials at GSACS believe that education is the key and failure to give them sex education and counseling may in fact be a death sentence. "We are going to distribute a book Disha 2000 to all students from standard IX to XII. The book will help students know about themselves, their adolescence and sexuality. The books also talks about the basic facts on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. It will dispel myths and clarify misconceptions," said ProjectDirector, Dr PK Ghodge, and GSACS.
The author can be reached at preetunair@yahoo.com
04 March, 2005
Gomantak Times
"Who is AIDS?" asked a mother of two in Agassaim, Tiswadi in Goa state of India. She added, "There is no one by that name in the village."
Officially known as being more prevalent among the high-risk groups for HIV/AIDS, Goa, could well be on a short fuse. The HIV is spreading and yet many in the remote villages in Goa have not even heard of the disease.
Since the first reported case of a foreigner with HIV in Goa in 1987, there has been a steady rise in the reported number of persons with HIV/ AIDS. According to a report Containing HIV/AIDS in Goa, about 46 percent of HIV cases detected in Goa are from the talukas of Mormugao and Salcete and another 26 percent from Bardez and Tiswadi. The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)'s objective is to attain ninety percent awareness levels. But a test drive through rural Goa showed one thing clearly. AIDS is just a name.
While a young, newly married woman from Pillar admits that she has never heard about HIV/AIDS, her husband quips in, "I have seen it on TV but I am not concerned. My wife won't know anything about AIDS. She doesn't watch television and she is not educated."
And the opinion of another young woman in Cacra is no different. "I have never heard about it. I believe no one in our village will be able to help you, as no one knows about the same," she said.
The situation is so bad that when GT asked a college student in Merces "What is AIDS?" she replied, "Anti-Deficiency Something". While her friend replied, "I don't know and I am not even interested in knowing".
When we asked a class IV government employee about AIDS, he replied that he had never heard about it. When told that AIDS is a dreadful disease, he looked confused and concerned. He asked, "How does one get AIDS?"
But the ground reality is quite disturbing, in the last few years there has been a dramatic increase in HIV infection among young women, between the age of 15 and 29. In the year 2004, 50.4 percent of young women were detected with HIV compared to young men. The strikingly higher infection rates among adolescent girls compared to boys in Goa reveal a disturbing trend.
According to the data available with Gomantak Times, in the last three years, the number of young women infected by HIV is more than that of young men. In 2002, 176 young men were infected with HIV were detected, while women were 181. In 2003, the number of females infected by HIV went up by 187, while men were at 148. In 2004, (upto Nov) the women detected with HIV were 117, while male were 115. However, intotality, the number of men infected with HIV is much higher (64.5 percent) compared to women.
The disease is prevalent in all parts of Goa and majority of reports are reported in the four coastal talukas of Goa: Murmugoa, Salcete, Bardez and Tiswadi. In the book, Containing HIV/AIDS In Goa (2003-04) by the Goa State Aids Control Society (GSACS), it mentioned that sexual route is the predominant mode of transmission in Goa and it ranges between 83 to 97 percent. Infection through blood, blood products and infected syringes/needles are negligible and vertical transmission is around 3 to 6 percent.
A source at GSACS said that though many may not admit but a large number of young people are sexually active at a relatively young age, are not monogamous and don't use condoms regularly to ensure protection. In addition to drinking, they experiment with injectable drugs. "However girls are vulnerable not only because of pregnancy but they are more likely to have coerced invariably unprotected sex than boys and they are susceptible biologically to STDs including HIV Infection," the source revealed. And further added, "Inequality between sees makes girls more vulnerable to violence, to sexual abuse and the practice of female genital mutilation."
"There is still lack of information on health issues and discussion of sexual matters with parents is still a taboo. Further, in school we yet to introduce sex education as part of the curriculum. Further many young people do not see HIV/ AIDS as a personal threat and if there is any problem, they, especially young girls avoid going to a doctor," said Wendy Pereira, Deputy Director, GSACS.
Officials at GSACS believe that education is the key and failure to give them sex education and counseling may in fact be a death sentence. "We are going to distribute a book Disha 2000 to all students from standard IX to XII. The book will help students know about themselves, their adolescence and sexuality. The books also talks about the basic facts on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. It will dispel myths and clarify misconceptions," said ProjectDirector, Dr PK Ghodge, and GSACS.
The author can be reached at preetunair@yahoo.com
Friday, December 08, 2006
GRAB IT, BUILD IT, FORGET IT - violation of CRZ rules
GRAB IT, BUILD IT, FORGET IT
By Peter de Souza and Preetu Nair
If you want a piece of Goa's coastline, follow three simple steps. Just grab the land, build on it (after making pretences that your structures are temporary) and then forget it. With a little help from a lawyer who can twist facts and a politician who is either a fellow grabber or can keep the law away., This week GT-Weekender looks at some of the prominent cases and the even more prominent violators
VIP's control coastal loot
Carryon Regardless Zone (CRZ)
ANJUNA/CALANGUTE/GOA/ INDIA: A Moon Dance restaurant springs up in Anjuna, a shack turns into a concrete disco on the beach, Zilla Parishad members and panchayat heads themselves are accused in several violation cases and their illegal buildings are there for all to see and lo and behold, cottages supposedly owned by a priest are in complete violation of CRZ rules. The party goes on.
This despite the fact that in a vital judgement, a division bench comprising Hon. Justice Ferdin Rebello and V C Daga of Bombay High Court, Panjim Bench in 2000 made it mandatory for Talatis and Mamlatdars to file weekly reports, based on patrolling and fortnightly inspection by deputy collectors, before the Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA) for necessary action through the district collectors.
"The Talati and Mamlatdar submitted their reports to the deputy collector and before CZMA. Based on that demolition notices were sent to various authorities. The trouble is that almost everyone has political connections. Often, the politicians interfere and stop the demolition", said Norma Alvares, environmentalist.
Though the entire belt within 200 mts of the High Tide Line (HTL) in CRZ-III areas, such as Candolim- Calangute is the No Development Zone (NDZ), where no new 'construction/development' is permissible, human settlements and starred resorts have sprung up.
Environmentalists allege that the stipulation that no human activity should be allowed within 500 meters of the seashore is being violated with impunity by both the locals and people in power. Check this:
• Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes has allegedly constructed a restaurant, Sheetal within 200 mts of HTL in Candolim. NPS Varde, member secretary, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has send a show cause notice to him on December 6, 2001. "This was a planned by the BJP government to malign my name, but I came out of it unaffected," said Agnelo. Further, within 200 to 500 mt of the HTL there are staff quarters, seven cottages, a restaurant and his other resort Silver Sands.
While complainant Betty Alvares says that the cases against Agnelo are with the Director of Panchayats and the Deputy Director of Panchayats, Agnelo claims that the cases have already been dismissed. "Some person with vested interest had filed a PIL against Silver Sands in the High Court, but has decided to withdraw it once I showed the relevant documents. I am not aware of the status of the case at the moment," added Agnelo. It is reliably learnt that while Tony Fernandes and Jerry Coutinho applied for withdrawal of the case, one Augustino Proenca had intervened in the matter and asked to be made party to the case, which is scheduled for hearing next week.
• If an MLA has allegedly violated, how can the ex- Zilla Parishad member be left behind. Anthony Menezes has constructed a massive discotheque Club Utopia right on the Calangute beach. Infact, he had given an affidavit to the Calangute panchayat on October 10, 2003, saying, "I will erect my temporary shack made of wooden poles and palm which will be purely temporary". He had requested for a shack license in his private property bearing no. 139/3 Gaura vaddo, Calangute. But today, the palm leaves and the wooden poles have given way to cement and concrete. The panchayat on January 4, 2006 wrote to Menezes that CZMA has initiated action against illegal construction of the discotheque (139/3), which is within CRZ and rejected his application for renewal of license.
• Club Tito's is every tourist's must visit destination in Goa. But very few know that Tito's outhouse in Calangute has violated the CRZ norms. David, the owner of the outhouse is embroiled in a controversy for extending the outhouse to the CRZ. The panchayat has charged that Tito's outhouse was not shown in the survey plan and asked him to show if he had any evidence to prove that the house existed prior to 1991. However, as David failed to produce any evidence, the Panchayat in March 26, 1999 ordered the house to be demolished. Failing which they said that the case would be referred to the Goa State Demolition Squad. But the outhouse still stands intact.
• Among the others allegedly involved in violating the CRZ is Fr Pres, Sauntavada, Calangute. He has allegedly constructed a guesthouse Sea View Cottages within 200 mts of the High Tide Line under survey no. 242 (1) P.
• On July 27, 2000, the Calangute panchayat named 300 people who own houses as well as bars and restaurants that violate CRZ norms, to the GCZMA. A list of illegal hotels, cold drink houses, jewellery stores etc have also been submitted.
• In Anjuna among the major violators of the legal CRZ are Sarpanch Savio Almeida and ex-ZP member Milton Marquis, British nationals Paul Vincent Smith and Angela Luis Smith, present ZP member Krishna Moraskar, who's constructed a two floor guest house, ex-Panch Vasu Govekar, who's constructed Moon Dance Hotel in the CRZ area and rented it to one Dailo. Besides, Gurudas Moraskar, has constructed a hotel Sea Queen, which is he conveniently converted from a building for residential use to commercial use despite a High Court order directing him not to do so. Meanwhile, despite CRZ demolition notices to Savio and Milton, they survive without any hindrance.
No wonder, the Panchayat has not issued a single notice to CRZ violators.
VOX POP
NORMA ALVARES, ENVIORNMENTALIST
"It is total apathy on the part of the government which turns a blind eye to such violations and encourages these illegalities, which definitely amounts to contempt of court".
DAYANAND MANDREKAR (Siolim MLA)
"I have taken down a detailed report from the Talati and attached copies of Gomantak Times (our earlier reports on CRZ violations) and submitted them to the Chief Secretary, Vigilance department and Director of Panchayats".
DR WILFRED de SOUZA (Deputy Chief Minister, Environment Minister)
"I don't answer any questions on Saturday as we work very hard during the week and I need my rest. Please don't trouble me on Saturday and Sunday. Will your questions die by Monday? (Bang…)."
AGNELO FERNANDES, CALANGUTE MLA
"There is a case pending on CRZ norms in the High Court yet people are still going ahead with the constructions but they can't be blamed for it because how long are they going to wait for the Court order. How can you expect the poor people to wait for so long?"
ANTANASIO MONSERRATE, MINISTER TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING
"All these constructions have come up with the blessings of the local Panchayats. Town and Country Planning is not the monitoring authority. We are helpless in the matter. If someone complains about the illegal constructions we revert the matter back to the panchayat and we have no locus standee to act on it. So the ball is in the Panchayat's court".
ANTHONY J D'SOUZA, OSD/ENVIORNMENT, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
"The Talatis submits reports to the deputy collector regarding illegal constructions in the CRZ. The deputy collector then sends the report to the Science, Technology and Environment department where the orders are issued. Additional collector requisitions nodal officers to issue orders. Implementation powers should be given to the collector to demolish them directly. Lost of time is wasted in moving the files from one office to another. This needs to be streamlined".
"The house that David built:…
Additional collector of North Goa has ordered for demolition of the residence of David, a British national, who has indulged in the most outrageous infringement of the High Tide Line (HTL) and constructed a house on the slope of a hill that hugs the sands at the South Anjuna beach. The demolition will happen at 10 am on January 24, 2006.
It must be recalled that GT in its report on January 11(New definition of CRZ: Carryon Regardless Zone) reported that in order to make room for the illegitimate dwelling on the steep gradient, a part of the hillock has been scooped out and two structures are already topped with concrete slabs.
Though David came under the GCZMA scanner and Chief Secretary ordered for demolition, it was stopped by a Personal Assistant of a prominent minister from the area, who arrived at the spot and ensured that the demolition squad returned from the site without doing its job. After GT published the story, the file which was actually in the possession of the minister was "released" from his clutches and sent to the North Goa collector for necessary action.
(Article published in GT Weekender)
By Peter de Souza and Preetu Nair
If you want a piece of Goa's coastline, follow three simple steps. Just grab the land, build on it (after making pretences that your structures are temporary) and then forget it. With a little help from a lawyer who can twist facts and a politician who is either a fellow grabber or can keep the law away., This week GT-Weekender looks at some of the prominent cases and the even more prominent violators
VIP's control coastal loot
Carryon Regardless Zone (CRZ)
ANJUNA/CALANGUTE/GOA/ INDIA: A Moon Dance restaurant springs up in Anjuna, a shack turns into a concrete disco on the beach, Zilla Parishad members and panchayat heads themselves are accused in several violation cases and their illegal buildings are there for all to see and lo and behold, cottages supposedly owned by a priest are in complete violation of CRZ rules. The party goes on.
This despite the fact that in a vital judgement, a division bench comprising Hon. Justice Ferdin Rebello and V C Daga of Bombay High Court, Panjim Bench in 2000 made it mandatory for Talatis and Mamlatdars to file weekly reports, based on patrolling and fortnightly inspection by deputy collectors, before the Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA) for necessary action through the district collectors.
"The Talati and Mamlatdar submitted their reports to the deputy collector and before CZMA. Based on that demolition notices were sent to various authorities. The trouble is that almost everyone has political connections. Often, the politicians interfere and stop the demolition", said Norma Alvares, environmentalist.
Though the entire belt within 200 mts of the High Tide Line (HTL) in CRZ-III areas, such as Candolim- Calangute is the No Development Zone (NDZ), where no new 'construction/development' is permissible, human settlements and starred resorts have sprung up.
Environmentalists allege that the stipulation that no human activity should be allowed within 500 meters of the seashore is being violated with impunity by both the locals and people in power. Check this:
• Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes has allegedly constructed a restaurant, Sheetal within 200 mts of HTL in Candolim. NPS Varde, member secretary, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has send a show cause notice to him on December 6, 2001. "This was a planned by the BJP government to malign my name, but I came out of it unaffected," said Agnelo. Further, within 200 to 500 mt of the HTL there are staff quarters, seven cottages, a restaurant and his other resort Silver Sands.
While complainant Betty Alvares says that the cases against Agnelo are with the Director of Panchayats and the Deputy Director of Panchayats, Agnelo claims that the cases have already been dismissed. "Some person with vested interest had filed a PIL against Silver Sands in the High Court, but has decided to withdraw it once I showed the relevant documents. I am not aware of the status of the case at the moment," added Agnelo. It is reliably learnt that while Tony Fernandes and Jerry Coutinho applied for withdrawal of the case, one Augustino Proenca had intervened in the matter and asked to be made party to the case, which is scheduled for hearing next week.
• If an MLA has allegedly violated, how can the ex- Zilla Parishad member be left behind. Anthony Menezes has constructed a massive discotheque Club Utopia right on the Calangute beach. Infact, he had given an affidavit to the Calangute panchayat on October 10, 2003, saying, "I will erect my temporary shack made of wooden poles and palm which will be purely temporary". He had requested for a shack license in his private property bearing no. 139/3 Gaura vaddo, Calangute. But today, the palm leaves and the wooden poles have given way to cement and concrete. The panchayat on January 4, 2006 wrote to Menezes that CZMA has initiated action against illegal construction of the discotheque (139/3), which is within CRZ and rejected his application for renewal of license.
• Club Tito's is every tourist's must visit destination in Goa. But very few know that Tito's outhouse in Calangute has violated the CRZ norms. David, the owner of the outhouse is embroiled in a controversy for extending the outhouse to the CRZ. The panchayat has charged that Tito's outhouse was not shown in the survey plan and asked him to show if he had any evidence to prove that the house existed prior to 1991. However, as David failed to produce any evidence, the Panchayat in March 26, 1999 ordered the house to be demolished. Failing which they said that the case would be referred to the Goa State Demolition Squad. But the outhouse still stands intact.
• Among the others allegedly involved in violating the CRZ is Fr Pres, Sauntavada, Calangute. He has allegedly constructed a guesthouse Sea View Cottages within 200 mts of the High Tide Line under survey no. 242 (1) P.
• On July 27, 2000, the Calangute panchayat named 300 people who own houses as well as bars and restaurants that violate CRZ norms, to the GCZMA. A list of illegal hotels, cold drink houses, jewellery stores etc have also been submitted.
• In Anjuna among the major violators of the legal CRZ are Sarpanch Savio Almeida and ex-ZP member Milton Marquis, British nationals Paul Vincent Smith and Angela Luis Smith, present ZP member Krishna Moraskar, who's constructed a two floor guest house, ex-Panch Vasu Govekar, who's constructed Moon Dance Hotel in the CRZ area and rented it to one Dailo. Besides, Gurudas Moraskar, has constructed a hotel Sea Queen, which is he conveniently converted from a building for residential use to commercial use despite a High Court order directing him not to do so. Meanwhile, despite CRZ demolition notices to Savio and Milton, they survive without any hindrance.
No wonder, the Panchayat has not issued a single notice to CRZ violators.
VOX POP
NORMA ALVARES, ENVIORNMENTALIST
"It is total apathy on the part of the government which turns a blind eye to such violations and encourages these illegalities, which definitely amounts to contempt of court".
DAYANAND MANDREKAR (Siolim MLA)
"I have taken down a detailed report from the Talati and attached copies of Gomantak Times (our earlier reports on CRZ violations) and submitted them to the Chief Secretary, Vigilance department and Director of Panchayats".
DR WILFRED de SOUZA (Deputy Chief Minister, Environment Minister)
"I don't answer any questions on Saturday as we work very hard during the week and I need my rest. Please don't trouble me on Saturday and Sunday. Will your questions die by Monday? (Bang…)."
AGNELO FERNANDES, CALANGUTE MLA
"There is a case pending on CRZ norms in the High Court yet people are still going ahead with the constructions but they can't be blamed for it because how long are they going to wait for the Court order. How can you expect the poor people to wait for so long?"
ANTANASIO MONSERRATE, MINISTER TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING
"All these constructions have come up with the blessings of the local Panchayats. Town and Country Planning is not the monitoring authority. We are helpless in the matter. If someone complains about the illegal constructions we revert the matter back to the panchayat and we have no locus standee to act on it. So the ball is in the Panchayat's court".
ANTHONY J D'SOUZA, OSD/ENVIORNMENT, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
"The Talatis submits reports to the deputy collector regarding illegal constructions in the CRZ. The deputy collector then sends the report to the Science, Technology and Environment department where the orders are issued. Additional collector requisitions nodal officers to issue orders. Implementation powers should be given to the collector to demolish them directly. Lost of time is wasted in moving the files from one office to another. This needs to be streamlined".
"The house that David built:…
Additional collector of North Goa has ordered for demolition of the residence of David, a British national, who has indulged in the most outrageous infringement of the High Tide Line (HTL) and constructed a house on the slope of a hill that hugs the sands at the South Anjuna beach. The demolition will happen at 10 am on January 24, 2006.
It must be recalled that GT in its report on January 11(New definition of CRZ: Carryon Regardless Zone) reported that in order to make room for the illegitimate dwelling on the steep gradient, a part of the hillock has been scooped out and two structures are already topped with concrete slabs.
Though David came under the GCZMA scanner and Chief Secretary ordered for demolition, it was stopped by a Personal Assistant of a prominent minister from the area, who arrived at the spot and ensured that the demolition squad returned from the site without doing its job. After GT published the story, the file which was actually in the possession of the minister was "released" from his clutches and sent to the North Goa collector for necessary action.
(Article published in GT Weekender)
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Paedophilic activities in Goa
As a journalist working in Goa. On Thursday, I read a disturbing
report " Now Peedophilia slur on Indian tourist"in the Times of India,Mumbai edition Novemeber 30, 2006, an Indian newspaper, in which Terres
des hommes (TDH) child protection officer Ms. Christa Dammermann and
Ingrid Mendonca, deputy regional co-ordinator TDH spoke to the media
about "paedophilic activities in Goa" at Pune.
There are some very disturbing points she has made to the reporters
that needs immediate attention, especially since one works in Goa. The
remarks show how ignorant the speaker is about the scenario in Goa.
Let me make it clear at the onset that my intention is not to
criticize but only to help you in Terres des hommes (TDH) task. After all, Terres des hommes is a funding agency which supports NGO's working on the issues of children
and I am a journalist who has been reporting on these issues since
last three years.
I must admit that I was shocked to read such irresponsible quotes from
individuals representing a reputed and committed organisation like
yours.
What exactly is my objection?
Christa Dammermann, who is in Pune to attend the national project
partners meeting at YMCA on children's rights said, "I taken aback to
discover that Indian tourists were indulging in child sexual abuse in
Goa. We also found that 60% of the cases involved perpetrators who
were not even 18 years of age. She said that this dispelled the
notion that only foreigners who came to Goa indulged in such acts."
MY OBJECTION: Is there any data to prove this claim? How can Ms.
Dammerman reach such a conclusion? In three years of my career as
journalist I have not come across a case wherein a domestic tourist
has been arrested for paedophilia. On the contrary three foreigners
were arrested for pedophilic activities by the police but were later
acquitted by the Children's Court in Goa for lack of evidence.
It is also impertinent to note here that majority of cases in the
Children's Court are about child sexual abuse and 80 percent of them
is not committed by foreigners or domestic tourists, but by migrant
labourers or known persons.
No one denies the fact that paedophilia is a problem in Goa, but the
extent and magnitude of the problem is not really known because there
is no study in this regard.
It is sad that without any concrete data to support the claim, TDH's
representative is making such irrational statements.
Ingrid Mendonca, deputy regional co-ordinator TDH said that during
their recent visit to Goa they found that Indian tourists were
seeking minors when they visited red light areas there.
MY OBJECTION: There can't be anything more ridiculous than this.
Anyone who has visited and studied Goa knows that Baina, the
unofficial red light area of Goa, was demolished in 2004. I don't deny
the fact that prostitution still exists in Baina, but to say that
Indian tourists seek minors when they visit the area is too much of an
exaggeration. Besides, if that was the case then why was not a single
customer seeking minors not arrested. NGO ARZ is working in the area
and must admit that they have done a commendable job in the area.
However, they are also completely ignorant of such a trend.
report " Now Peedophilia slur on Indian tourist"in the Times of India,Mumbai edition Novemeber 30, 2006, an Indian newspaper, in which Terres
des hommes (TDH) child protection officer Ms. Christa Dammermann and
Ingrid Mendonca, deputy regional co-ordinator TDH spoke to the media
about "paedophilic activities in Goa" at Pune.
There are some very disturbing points she has made to the reporters
that needs immediate attention, especially since one works in Goa. The
remarks show how ignorant the speaker is about the scenario in Goa.
Let me make it clear at the onset that my intention is not to
criticize but only to help you in Terres des hommes (TDH) task. After all, Terres des hommes is a funding agency which supports NGO's working on the issues of children
and I am a journalist who has been reporting on these issues since
last three years.
I must admit that I was shocked to read such irresponsible quotes from
individuals representing a reputed and committed organisation like
yours.
What exactly is my objection?
Christa Dammermann, who is in Pune to attend the national project
partners meeting at YMCA on children's rights said, "I taken aback to
discover that Indian tourists were indulging in child sexual abuse in
Goa. We also found that 60% of the cases involved perpetrators who
were not even 18 years of age. She said that this dispelled the
notion that only foreigners who came to Goa indulged in such acts."
MY OBJECTION: Is there any data to prove this claim? How can Ms.
Dammerman reach such a conclusion? In three years of my career as
journalist I have not come across a case wherein a domestic tourist
has been arrested for paedophilia. On the contrary three foreigners
were arrested for pedophilic activities by the police but were later
acquitted by the Children's Court in Goa for lack of evidence.
It is also impertinent to note here that majority of cases in the
Children's Court are about child sexual abuse and 80 percent of them
is not committed by foreigners or domestic tourists, but by migrant
labourers or known persons.
No one denies the fact that paedophilia is a problem in Goa, but the
extent and magnitude of the problem is not really known because there
is no study in this regard.
It is sad that without any concrete data to support the claim, TDH's
representative is making such irrational statements.
Ingrid Mendonca, deputy regional co-ordinator TDH said that during
their recent visit to Goa they found that Indian tourists were
seeking minors when they visited red light areas there.
MY OBJECTION: There can't be anything more ridiculous than this.
Anyone who has visited and studied Goa knows that Baina, the
unofficial red light area of Goa, was demolished in 2004. I don't deny
the fact that prostitution still exists in Baina, but to say that
Indian tourists seek minors when they visit the area is too much of an
exaggeration. Besides, if that was the case then why was not a single
customer seeking minors not arrested. NGO ARZ is working in the area
and must admit that they have done a commendable job in the area.
However, they are also completely ignorant of such a trend.
Villagers disunited! Mine's the culprit
Villagers disunited! Mine's the culprit
Preetu Nair
MUSHCAUREM/SULCORNA: GOA:
"I can't believe this is happening I can't believe all these people are sniffing each other & backing away teeth grinning hair raised, growling, here in the slaughtered wind…"
When James Douglas Morrison wrote these famous lines he would have hardly known that in the Pearl of the Orient, there are narrow winding roads which led to the quaint village of Mushcaurem and Sulcorna in Quepem taluka. Here mining has divided hearts and families. The villagers who once used to mingle together, with respect like milk and water, now dispute and repel from each other like water and oil.
Despite the Ganesh festive mood, the slaughtered wind has brought the death of all joy for the villagers by dividing them. Ganesh Chaturthi, once the festival of celebrating unity and togetherness is no more fun, as the disease of mutual distrust has spread in the village, thanks to the powerful mining lobby. Now for every story of courage and sacrifice in the village, there is another one of cowardice and greed. For every dream there is a nightmare and for every challenge there is a hurdle.
No one accepts it openly. But the differences are obvious. The villagers, who in the past used to celebrate the festival together by visiting each other's homes, today don't even acknowledge each other's presence. The divide is simple: on one side are those who support the mine owners and on the other side are those who don't.
"We are happy that we are working in the mines and have the support of the mine owners. We are compensated well for any crop damage and also get a decent salary for working in the mines. Besides, when there is water shortage for irrigation purpose, we inform the mine owners and they immediately do the needful," revealed Paik Gaonkar from Mushcaurem.
On the other hand, Anil Sawant, who's also from Mushcaurem alleges that unabated mining activity has polluted the drinking water and they suffer from various ailments. "The silt from the mines flow into our fields and due to this, the crop yield has also lessened in the last few years," he complained.
Differences of opinions and ideas have divided hearts in Mushcaurem and Sulcorna. In Sulcorna the situation is worse, as there are fights often within the family. A village, which was very united once, is divided now. Three powerful villagers who have more land holdings in the village have been gifted trucks by the mining lobby and this has virtually divided the villagers.
Situation worsened when a few days back, five boys who are fighting against the mining lobby were put behind bars for allegedly stealing Rs 2000 and snatching a gold chain worth Rs 15,000 from a supporter of the mining lobby.
Despite bitterness between the villagers, there is still hope in the heart of the youth that things will change and villagers will unite to fight for their rights. "I know one day all of us will get together and fight for our rights. It is just a matter of time," added Ramakant Dessai from Sulcorna.
preetu_nair@gomantaktimes.com
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim, August 29,2006
Preetu Nair
MUSHCAUREM/SULCORNA: GOA:
"I can't believe this is happening I can't believe all these people are sniffing each other & backing away teeth grinning hair raised, growling, here in the slaughtered wind…"
When James Douglas Morrison wrote these famous lines he would have hardly known that in the Pearl of the Orient, there are narrow winding roads which led to the quaint village of Mushcaurem and Sulcorna in Quepem taluka. Here mining has divided hearts and families. The villagers who once used to mingle together, with respect like milk and water, now dispute and repel from each other like water and oil.
Despite the Ganesh festive mood, the slaughtered wind has brought the death of all joy for the villagers by dividing them. Ganesh Chaturthi, once the festival of celebrating unity and togetherness is no more fun, as the disease of mutual distrust has spread in the village, thanks to the powerful mining lobby. Now for every story of courage and sacrifice in the village, there is another one of cowardice and greed. For every dream there is a nightmare and for every challenge there is a hurdle.
No one accepts it openly. But the differences are obvious. The villagers, who in the past used to celebrate the festival together by visiting each other's homes, today don't even acknowledge each other's presence. The divide is simple: on one side are those who support the mine owners and on the other side are those who don't.
"We are happy that we are working in the mines and have the support of the mine owners. We are compensated well for any crop damage and also get a decent salary for working in the mines. Besides, when there is water shortage for irrigation purpose, we inform the mine owners and they immediately do the needful," revealed Paik Gaonkar from Mushcaurem.
On the other hand, Anil Sawant, who's also from Mushcaurem alleges that unabated mining activity has polluted the drinking water and they suffer from various ailments. "The silt from the mines flow into our fields and due to this, the crop yield has also lessened in the last few years," he complained.
Differences of opinions and ideas have divided hearts in Mushcaurem and Sulcorna. In Sulcorna the situation is worse, as there are fights often within the family. A village, which was very united once, is divided now. Three powerful villagers who have more land holdings in the village have been gifted trucks by the mining lobby and this has virtually divided the villagers.
Situation worsened when a few days back, five boys who are fighting against the mining lobby were put behind bars for allegedly stealing Rs 2000 and snatching a gold chain worth Rs 15,000 from a supporter of the mining lobby.
Despite bitterness between the villagers, there is still hope in the heart of the youth that things will change and villagers will unite to fight for their rights. "I know one day all of us will get together and fight for our rights. It is just a matter of time," added Ramakant Dessai from Sulcorna.
preetu_nair@gomantaktimes.com
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim, August 29,2006
Workshop Tourism! In the name of Poor Kids
FIRST THE FIGURES: Nearly 12 workshops on women and child trafficking in three months. In other words, every month there are at least four workshops on trafficking of children. Besides, two training programmes to sensitise the police has been held at Police headquarters, Panjim. In September three more consultations on trafficking have already been announced.
NOW THE FACT: These workshops and conferences are increasingly becoming more about "building partnerships" and less about children or trafficked victims. Check out what is happening in the child friendly state, even as activists are busy formulating new "drafts of conduct" and "mainstreaming child rights". This is just the tip of an iceberg.
The trafficked victims of Baina are still awaiting rehabilitation. A minor girl from Mohana, Orissa is trafficked to Goa and employed as a domestic help at a Public Prosecutor's (PP) house in Margao. She is rescued from the PP's house (cupboard to be precise) and sent to Apna Ghar. But no action is taken against the PP, though he is a government employee.
The state government gives an in-country adoption license to Preet Mandir and the child activists hardly react. Finally, media activism forces state government to suspend license.
This is a clear indicator that somewhere, something has gone wrong. "Training, legislation and sensitisation programmes are important. At the moment there is an overdose of consultations on the same subject. Moreover, reaching out to victims and providing services to them is far more important," explains Arun Pandey, ARZ.
Audrey Pinto, CRG, argues, "It helps to sensitise to a certain extent. There is an awareness created through these conferences and workshops." But Bernie D'Souza, Jan Ugahi, calls this "Workshop Tourism", where expenditures, energies and time spent far outweigh the real benefits to the children or other target groups.
The greatest irony is that majority of these meets are in five-star or three star resorts, where delegates sitting in AC rooms talk about poverty and trafficked victims. Incidentally, the amount spent on one cup of coffee in a five star resort can actually feed a child for two days. However, Sujay Pati from WISE, which has maximum number of meetings at five-star resorts argues, "What you are saying is ethically correct, but it is just not logical as we work with the hotel industry and holding meetings at five star resorts is a matter of convenience."
Sources reveal that there is a sudden focus on trafficking in Goa because 3 million dollars has been sanctioned for Goa by UNIFEM. However, Archana Tamang, Chief, Women's Human Rights and Human Security Unit rubbished it. "We have a small budget and have been trying to make optimum use of it by leveraging broad bases. Perhaps this is the reason why it looks like as though we have spent a lot of money in Goa," said Tamang.
She added, "The figure sources have quoted is almost 5 times greater than our Goa Program budget".
FLURRY OF WORKSHOPS
SINCE JUNE 2006: 12 + two training programme to sensitise police
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION: Trafficking of women and children and child rights
NGO'S ORGANSING IT: WISE, CRG, Sangath, Shaktivahini (Delhi based NGO), Bagla Natak and Childline.
(Article appeared in GT on Friday, September 1, 2006)
NOW THE FACT: These workshops and conferences are increasingly becoming more about "building partnerships" and less about children or trafficked victims. Check out what is happening in the child friendly state, even as activists are busy formulating new "drafts of conduct" and "mainstreaming child rights". This is just the tip of an iceberg.
The trafficked victims of Baina are still awaiting rehabilitation. A minor girl from Mohana, Orissa is trafficked to Goa and employed as a domestic help at a Public Prosecutor's (PP) house in Margao. She is rescued from the PP's house (cupboard to be precise) and sent to Apna Ghar. But no action is taken against the PP, though he is a government employee.
The state government gives an in-country adoption license to Preet Mandir and the child activists hardly react. Finally, media activism forces state government to suspend license.
This is a clear indicator that somewhere, something has gone wrong. "Training, legislation and sensitisation programmes are important. At the moment there is an overdose of consultations on the same subject. Moreover, reaching out to victims and providing services to them is far more important," explains Arun Pandey, ARZ.
Audrey Pinto, CRG, argues, "It helps to sensitise to a certain extent. There is an awareness created through these conferences and workshops." But Bernie D'Souza, Jan Ugahi, calls this "Workshop Tourism", where expenditures, energies and time spent far outweigh the real benefits to the children or other target groups.
The greatest irony is that majority of these meets are in five-star or three star resorts, where delegates sitting in AC rooms talk about poverty and trafficked victims. Incidentally, the amount spent on one cup of coffee in a five star resort can actually feed a child for two days. However, Sujay Pati from WISE, which has maximum number of meetings at five-star resorts argues, "What you are saying is ethically correct, but it is just not logical as we work with the hotel industry and holding meetings at five star resorts is a matter of convenience."
Sources reveal that there is a sudden focus on trafficking in Goa because 3 million dollars has been sanctioned for Goa by UNIFEM. However, Archana Tamang, Chief, Women's Human Rights and Human Security Unit rubbished it. "We have a small budget and have been trying to make optimum use of it by leveraging broad bases. Perhaps this is the reason why it looks like as though we have spent a lot of money in Goa," said Tamang.
She added, "The figure sources have quoted is almost 5 times greater than our Goa Program budget".
FLURRY OF WORKSHOPS
SINCE JUNE 2006: 12 + two training programme to sensitise police
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION: Trafficking of women and children and child rights
NGO'S ORGANSING IT: WISE, CRG, Sangath, Shaktivahini (Delhi based NGO), Bagla Natak and Childline.
(Article appeared in GT on Friday, September 1, 2006)
Angela's death: Sports Authority of Goa on slushy ground!
CHANDOR: "Lord thank you for the gift of my life with football… My final goal scored is towards your celestial home". These words that best describes the life and times of Angela Gomes, catches your attention the moment you enter her home. It is also a reminder that Angelica, who played and read the game of football at a different pace, failed to read her destiny. Quick, brave and always optimistic, she got tired of departmental apathy and finally lost the will to live.
"One of the best footballer of her times, she entered the field with the aim to win every match but unfortunately lost the game of life,” revealed coach Marino Dias, who first noticed her talent and approached her at the age of 10.
Angela, who always approached the game of football with passion and excitement, couldn’t understand the games the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) officials were playing with her. She joined SAG as a Lower Division Clerk (LDC) in 1999 on daily wages, but was asked to coach upcoming sportspersons at Panjim. A year later she was transferred to Margao to coach young footballers under the guidance of Arjuna Award winner Brahmanand Sancoalcar.
"Even as a child she would compete with grown up men and beat them. She was a brave and good humoured footballer on the field and real life," revealed her uncle Anthony Fernandes.
But things began to change in 2002, when the services of six people, who joined after her were regularized, while she continued to be a daily wage earner. From then started a long struggle. " The effort, which started in February 16, 2000, became a routine. Every month she would write letters to SAG requesting them to regularise her services and change her designation and duties, but all in vain. There was no response. In desperation, she would approach the higher authorities, but they would be non-committal. This further frustrated and tired her," revealed Seby Gomes, Angela's younger brother.
Incidentally, though in the official records her name figures as a LDC, she was even sent as a coach (Goa team) for the tenth National Women's Football Tournament in 2002, organized by All India Football Federation.
Add to these her personal woes. The sole earning member in the family, she had to take care of her ailing mother and jobless younger brother. Every week, Angelica had to arrange for Rs 6000 for her mother's dialysis. “She was under tremendous pressure as she was debt ridden. She had borrowed more than Rs 3.5 lakh from friends and as was always worried about returning the money,” added Anthony. And on one Friday night, in a moment of frustration, she ate rat poison. When she was taken to the hospital, she insisted that it was a case of food poisoning. By the time she admitted to her uncle on Tuesday, it was too late. Her system had collapsed. "But she was repentant and wanted to live. She cried bitterly and said that she took the extreme step as she was depressed and frustrated with life. She profusely prayed to God asking for forgiveness, begging God to cure her, but it was too late," revealed an emotional Anthony.
The pathetic condition in which committee sportspersons like Angelica live is best revealed when her coach Dias added, "Football was her life and ultimately her life destroyed her will to live. SAG was just not interested in helping a dedicated and committed footballer like her. Her death is a big loss to football."
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim, October 26,2006)
"One of the best footballer of her times, she entered the field with the aim to win every match but unfortunately lost the game of life,” revealed coach Marino Dias, who first noticed her talent and approached her at the age of 10.
Angela, who always approached the game of football with passion and excitement, couldn’t understand the games the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) officials were playing with her. She joined SAG as a Lower Division Clerk (LDC) in 1999 on daily wages, but was asked to coach upcoming sportspersons at Panjim. A year later she was transferred to Margao to coach young footballers under the guidance of Arjuna Award winner Brahmanand Sancoalcar.
"Even as a child she would compete with grown up men and beat them. She was a brave and good humoured footballer on the field and real life," revealed her uncle Anthony Fernandes.
But things began to change in 2002, when the services of six people, who joined after her were regularized, while she continued to be a daily wage earner. From then started a long struggle. " The effort, which started in February 16, 2000, became a routine. Every month she would write letters to SAG requesting them to regularise her services and change her designation and duties, but all in vain. There was no response. In desperation, she would approach the higher authorities, but they would be non-committal. This further frustrated and tired her," revealed Seby Gomes, Angela's younger brother.
Incidentally, though in the official records her name figures as a LDC, she was even sent as a coach (Goa team) for the tenth National Women's Football Tournament in 2002, organized by All India Football Federation.
Add to these her personal woes. The sole earning member in the family, she had to take care of her ailing mother and jobless younger brother. Every week, Angelica had to arrange for Rs 6000 for her mother's dialysis. “She was under tremendous pressure as she was debt ridden. She had borrowed more than Rs 3.5 lakh from friends and as was always worried about returning the money,” added Anthony. And on one Friday night, in a moment of frustration, she ate rat poison. When she was taken to the hospital, she insisted that it was a case of food poisoning. By the time she admitted to her uncle on Tuesday, it was too late. Her system had collapsed. "But she was repentant and wanted to live. She cried bitterly and said that she took the extreme step as she was depressed and frustrated with life. She profusely prayed to God asking for forgiveness, begging God to cure her, but it was too late," revealed an emotional Anthony.
The pathetic condition in which committee sportspersons like Angelica live is best revealed when her coach Dias added, "Football was her life and ultimately her life destroyed her will to live. SAG was just not interested in helping a dedicated and committed footballer like her. Her death is a big loss to football."
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim, October 26,2006)
Misery SEZ it all
The Goa government's mega plan to set up the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) shatters many dreams in Cortalim, report PREETU NAIR and JOAQUIM GRACIAS
PANJIM: When Savita Naik approached the Cortalim panchayat with a proposal to construct a residential cum commercial building in the 330 sq metres of land in Survey No 134/1, Plot No 27 at Cortalim village on September 11, 2006, she was hoping that the family would be reunited soon.
"My husband is employed in a hotel in Bahrain and earns anything between Rs 16,000 to 17,000 a month. We had decided that once the structure is ready he would return to the country and set up some business along with my son. He is tired of working in the Gulf," revealed Savita. Two years back the couple had invested their earnings of the last 22 years in the plot.
However, she got a shock when she received a letter from S P Surlakar, Deputy Town Planner, Town and Country Planning (TCP) department, Mormugao stating, "the proposal falls in the SEZ as per the Regional Plan for Goa 2011 and hence construction of residential cum commercial building is not permitted."
The family's little dreams have been crushed under Goa government's mega plans to set up the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) inorder to attract industries and create new jobs for Goans.
"I can't sleep at night. We have lost our hard earned money. When we purchased the land, we never knew that the government is planning to convert the area into SEZ," added Savita. She is reluctant to sell her land and a sword of uncertainty is hanging above her head.
Like Savita, there are many more people who are vigorously opposing the government's idea of converting the settlement areas in Mormugao as SEZ in the new Regional Plan for Goa 2011. Sources at TCP department reveal that there are already 25 constructed houses in the area earmarked for SEZ. "We took a loan of Rs 16 lakh to build a residential cum commercial building a year back and are now paying Rs 30,000 a month as installment. How can the government that talks about welfare of its people convert the settlement area into SEZ without thinking about our welfare," questioned Ermelia D'Souza e Fernandes.
What people fail to understand is how their deed of sale was registered in the office of the sub-Registrar of Mormugao if the government was planning to convert the area into SEZ.
Mario Almeida purchased some land in November 26, 2004 thinking that it was area earmarked as settlement area. He had no idea that the government would go ahead and earmark the area as SEZ despite people's opposition. "I had brought 302 sq metres of plot after paying Rs 3,08,000 by a deed of sale dated November 25, 2004, which was registered in the office of the sub-Registrar of Mormugao," he said.
And even as the officials at TCP department continuously claim that past commitments are going to be honored, people like Mario are apprehensive about it.
Interestingly, the Cortalim-Quelossim gram sabha passed a resolution on November 26 demanding with the Chief Town Planner to change back the marked SEZ land in Cortalim and Quelossim to settlement area. It was also resolved "that no land should be acquired in future for any industry", and that if a decision needs to be taken, it should be in consultation with the gram sabha.
Further, it was also highlighted at the gram sabha that villagers in Cortalim and Quelossim at present face acute water and power shortage. Also stated in the gram sabha resolution was that "If more industries are allowed in the village the problem will worsen. That industries that have come in the village has in no way benefit locals".
However, thanks to the writ petition filed by the Goa Heritage Action Group on the Regional Plan 2011, people here have got some relief . After the submission made by the special government counsel on November 28, 2006 in the High Court of Mumbai at Panjmi, Morad Ahmad, Chief Town Planner sent a note to all district and taluka level officers of the TCP department. In the note he stated, "No permissions/NOCs for development, recommendation of conversion under Land Revenue Code and permissions/reports etc in any form shall be granted/issued based on the new areas shown for development in Regional Plan 2011 till further orders."
Probably, a moment of relief before the Congress government sets up islands of affluence over a sea of deprivation.
(Article appeared in GT Weekender,December 3,2006)
PANJIM: When Savita Naik approached the Cortalim panchayat with a proposal to construct a residential cum commercial building in the 330 sq metres of land in Survey No 134/1, Plot No 27 at Cortalim village on September 11, 2006, she was hoping that the family would be reunited soon.
"My husband is employed in a hotel in Bahrain and earns anything between Rs 16,000 to 17,000 a month. We had decided that once the structure is ready he would return to the country and set up some business along with my son. He is tired of working in the Gulf," revealed Savita. Two years back the couple had invested their earnings of the last 22 years in the plot.
However, she got a shock when she received a letter from S P Surlakar, Deputy Town Planner, Town and Country Planning (TCP) department, Mormugao stating, "the proposal falls in the SEZ as per the Regional Plan for Goa 2011 and hence construction of residential cum commercial building is not permitted."
The family's little dreams have been crushed under Goa government's mega plans to set up the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) inorder to attract industries and create new jobs for Goans.
"I can't sleep at night. We have lost our hard earned money. When we purchased the land, we never knew that the government is planning to convert the area into SEZ," added Savita. She is reluctant to sell her land and a sword of uncertainty is hanging above her head.
Like Savita, there are many more people who are vigorously opposing the government's idea of converting the settlement areas in Mormugao as SEZ in the new Regional Plan for Goa 2011. Sources at TCP department reveal that there are already 25 constructed houses in the area earmarked for SEZ. "We took a loan of Rs 16 lakh to build a residential cum commercial building a year back and are now paying Rs 30,000 a month as installment. How can the government that talks about welfare of its people convert the settlement area into SEZ without thinking about our welfare," questioned Ermelia D'Souza e Fernandes.
What people fail to understand is how their deed of sale was registered in the office of the sub-Registrar of Mormugao if the government was planning to convert the area into SEZ.
Mario Almeida purchased some land in November 26, 2004 thinking that it was area earmarked as settlement area. He had no idea that the government would go ahead and earmark the area as SEZ despite people's opposition. "I had brought 302 sq metres of plot after paying Rs 3,08,000 by a deed of sale dated November 25, 2004, which was registered in the office of the sub-Registrar of Mormugao," he said.
And even as the officials at TCP department continuously claim that past commitments are going to be honored, people like Mario are apprehensive about it.
Interestingly, the Cortalim-Quelossim gram sabha passed a resolution on November 26 demanding with the Chief Town Planner to change back the marked SEZ land in Cortalim and Quelossim to settlement area. It was also resolved "that no land should be acquired in future for any industry", and that if a decision needs to be taken, it should be in consultation with the gram sabha.
Further, it was also highlighted at the gram sabha that villagers in Cortalim and Quelossim at present face acute water and power shortage. Also stated in the gram sabha resolution was that "If more industries are allowed in the village the problem will worsen. That industries that have come in the village has in no way benefit locals".
However, thanks to the writ petition filed by the Goa Heritage Action Group on the Regional Plan 2011, people here have got some relief . After the submission made by the special government counsel on November 28, 2006 in the High Court of Mumbai at Panjmi, Morad Ahmad, Chief Town Planner sent a note to all district and taluka level officers of the TCP department. In the note he stated, "No permissions/NOCs for development, recommendation of conversion under Land Revenue Code and permissions/reports etc in any form shall be granted/issued based on the new areas shown for development in Regional Plan 2011 till further orders."
Probably, a moment of relief before the Congress government sets up islands of affluence over a sea of deprivation.
(Article appeared in GT Weekender,December 3,2006)
Saturday, November 18, 2006
HIV+ marriage hits the block at Registrar's office
THE PAPER SCOURGE
BY PREETU NAIR
preetu_nair@gomantaktimes.com
PANJIM: Marriages are made in heaven but getting the marriage
registered on earth is an arduous task if you say, "We do" and parents
say, "You don't". The ordeal just gets harder if you are HIV positive
and the partner negative.
Ramesh and Reena realised that there are more clouds and less
rainbows in the sky of love soon after their marriage on January 26,
2006 in Vasco.
Rajeev married Reena in a temple in Goa, aware of the fact that she
was afflicted with HIV virus. However, even after ten months of
marriage they are still struggling to get their marriage registered.
The official reason given to them at the office of marriage registrar
was, "You have already married in the temple, so you can't now get
your marriage registered".
It's another matter that the Supreme Court has clearly stated that
all marriages, irrespective of their religion, should be compulsorily
registered.
The unofficial reason according to the couple: They married against
Ramesh's parent's wish. Ramesh reveals that when they were trying to
get the marriage registered, his parents with the help of a talathi
created problems for them.
"My parents are opposed to the marriage because Reena is HIV
positive, a Kannadiga and a widow. However, I love her and am happy
that I married her. Besides we have got all the necessary documents.
But that is not enough to get our marriage registered," said Ramesh, a
local lad.
Reena was tested HIV positive in 2001, when she went for a medical
check-up before going abroad for job. She contracted the virus from
her first husband, who expired in 2003.
"I was just about living when I met Ramesh, who brought a new meaning
to my life," revealed Reena.
"When I proposed to her, she refused. But when I insisted, she
revealed her HIV status and said that she didn't want to marry me
because I may also get infected. However, I was determined and we went
for counselling, wherein we were told about the precautions we need to
take. Finally she said yes," admitted Ramesh.
Interestingly, the Supreme Court in its ruling has very clearly
stated that if a person is suffering from any communicable venereal
disease then it's their moral and legal duty to inform the person with
whom the marriage is proposed that he/she was not physically healthy
and suffering from a disease which was likely to be communicated to
the partner.
"It is the duty of a person living with HIV to inform the other
partner about their status and inform and counsel them about HIV
before marriage. Even after all these, if the partner is willing to
get married and they are major, then they can't be denied a marriage
certificate. I am aware about this case and we will definitely follow
up this matter," said Jaffer Inamdar, HIV/AIDS activist.
When contacted, VG Salkar, State Registrar said, "If all documents
are okay, then the sub-registrar can immediately file for a
declaration."
Well, till that happens, Ramesh and Reena will be husband and wife in
spirit but not on paper.
(Name of the couple has been changed to maintain confidentiality)
(Gomantak Times, November 17,2006)
BY PREETU NAIR
preetu_nair@gomantaktimes.com
PANJIM: Marriages are made in heaven but getting the marriage
registered on earth is an arduous task if you say, "We do" and parents
say, "You don't". The ordeal just gets harder if you are HIV positive
and the partner negative.
Ramesh and Reena realised that there are more clouds and less
rainbows in the sky of love soon after their marriage on January 26,
2006 in Vasco.
Rajeev married Reena in a temple in Goa, aware of the fact that she
was afflicted with HIV virus. However, even after ten months of
marriage they are still struggling to get their marriage registered.
The official reason given to them at the office of marriage registrar
was, "You have already married in the temple, so you can't now get
your marriage registered".
It's another matter that the Supreme Court has clearly stated that
all marriages, irrespective of their religion, should be compulsorily
registered.
The unofficial reason according to the couple: They married against
Ramesh's parent's wish. Ramesh reveals that when they were trying to
get the marriage registered, his parents with the help of a talathi
created problems for them.
"My parents are opposed to the marriage because Reena is HIV
positive, a Kannadiga and a widow. However, I love her and am happy
that I married her. Besides we have got all the necessary documents.
But that is not enough to get our marriage registered," said Ramesh, a
local lad.
Reena was tested HIV positive in 2001, when she went for a medical
check-up before going abroad for job. She contracted the virus from
her first husband, who expired in 2003.
"I was just about living when I met Ramesh, who brought a new meaning
to my life," revealed Reena.
"When I proposed to her, she refused. But when I insisted, she
revealed her HIV status and said that she didn't want to marry me
because I may also get infected. However, I was determined and we went
for counselling, wherein we were told about the precautions we need to
take. Finally she said yes," admitted Ramesh.
Interestingly, the Supreme Court in its ruling has very clearly
stated that if a person is suffering from any communicable venereal
disease then it's their moral and legal duty to inform the person with
whom the marriage is proposed that he/she was not physically healthy
and suffering from a disease which was likely to be communicated to
the partner.
"It is the duty of a person living with HIV to inform the other
partner about their status and inform and counsel them about HIV
before marriage. Even after all these, if the partner is willing to
get married and they are major, then they can't be denied a marriage
certificate. I am aware about this case and we will definitely follow
up this matter," said Jaffer Inamdar, HIV/AIDS activist.
When contacted, VG Salkar, State Registrar said, "If all documents
are okay, then the sub-registrar can immediately file for a
declaration."
Well, till that happens, Ramesh and Reena will be husband and wife in
spirit but not on paper.
(Name of the couple has been changed to maintain confidentiality)
(Gomantak Times, November 17,2006)
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