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.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
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)
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Maimed and mauled GT journalist Simon Alfonso is being treated
Maimed and mauled GT journalist Simon Alfonso is being treated
at GMC after the physical attack on him allegedly by the Chicalim
Sarpanch Raul D'Costa on Wednesday. Though his condition is not
alarming, it is serious as doctors have diagnosed suspected
fracture in the spinal cord without any neuro-vascular deficit.
Simon who was admitted at the Trauma ward late in the evening on
Wednesday was on Friday afternoon shifted to ward no 104. He is at the
moment undergoing treatment at GMC and will be out of action for
atleast six weeks.
Talking to this reporter from the hospital, Simon said, "My fault was
that I raised my voice against injustice and supported the villagers
in their fight. Is it wrong for a law abiding citizen to raise their
voice against injustice? Is the Sarpanch, who is supposed to protect
his village and its people, justified in hitting me and causing
injuries to me?"
According to Simon, he along with villagers were fighting against the
Pinky Shipyard's mega project in Chicalim. "We were coming to Panjim.
On the way we met Milan Borman at the panchayat premise. I got into a
heated argument with him. I didn't realise when the Sarpanch
approached me and started punching my face, which left me in shock and
pain", he said.
"It was unprovoked attack by the Sarpanch", he added.
When contacted, Dr Rajan Kunkolienkar, Medical Superintendent, GMC
said, "He is undergoing treatment at GMC and his condition is stable."
at GMC after the physical attack on him allegedly by the Chicalim
Sarpanch Raul D'Costa on Wednesday. Though his condition is not
alarming, it is serious as doctors have diagnosed suspected
fracture in the spinal cord without any neuro-vascular deficit.
Simon who was admitted at the Trauma ward late in the evening on
Wednesday was on Friday afternoon shifted to ward no 104. He is at the
moment undergoing treatment at GMC and will be out of action for
atleast six weeks.
Talking to this reporter from the hospital, Simon said, "My fault was
that I raised my voice against injustice and supported the villagers
in their fight. Is it wrong for a law abiding citizen to raise their
voice against injustice? Is the Sarpanch, who is supposed to protect
his village and its people, justified in hitting me and causing
injuries to me?"
According to Simon, he along with villagers were fighting against the
Pinky Shipyard's mega project in Chicalim. "We were coming to Panjim.
On the way we met Milan Borman at the panchayat premise. I got into a
heated argument with him. I didn't realise when the Sarpanch
approached me and started punching my face, which left me in shock and
pain", he said.
"It was unprovoked attack by the Sarpanch", he added.
When contacted, Dr Rajan Kunkolienkar, Medical Superintendent, GMC
said, "He is undergoing treatment at GMC and his condition is stable."
Police, Sub Divisional Magistrate ought to know more about Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act
PANJIM: This is one major goof-up that ought to embarrass the protectors of law. The police wrongfully book three women, allegedly working for Anthony Britto, for procuring girls into commercial sex trade and then producing them before the Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Margao instead of a special magistrate. And the SDM remands the perpetrators to the State Protective Home, where rescued trafficked victims are rehabilitated.
Interestingly, this goof-up is happening despite innumerable training sessions conducted by NGOs working with trafficked victims to acquaint the protectors of the law with The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA).
Check out how the case was goofed up:
ERROR 1
COMMITTED BY: The Margao Police
WHAT HAPPENED: The Margao police got information that three of Anthony’s women were coming from Mumbai. So they posed as customers at the station and arrested the women - Laxmi, Kajal and Arti-- from the railway station.
WHERE THEY WENT WRONG:
* They registered an offence under Section 4 and 5 of ITPA and produced the girls before the SDM, Margao. Incidentally, those who are arrested under these sections have to be produced before judicial magistrate of the first class and not SDM.
ERROR 2
COMMITTED BY: SDM, Margao
WHAT HAPPENED: The SDM remanded the three women by an order dated September 6, 2006 to Protective Home, Merces. Here the women were kept for nearly one and half months.
WHERE HE WENT WRONG:
* The case booked under section 4 and 5 doesn’t fall within the jurisdiction of SDM. Yet the SDM remanded the three women to Protective Home, though they are perpetrators of the crime (under section 4 and 5) and not victims.
* A SDM can remand the girl to Protective Home if they are brought under section 15 and 16 ITPA. Then the girls can be referred to Protective Home under section 17 of ITPA.
THE END RESULT
In an order (case No SDM/SAL/Prot-Home/2006/8104) passed by the court of SDM Dipak Desai, Margao (a copy of which is in possession with GT), the SDM released the women stating, “The SDPO (Margao) failed to give any details. Therefore, I have no option but to release them as there is no point of keeping them in Protective Home without proper justification”.
The order further said that SDPO has failed to submit his report and failed to submit the details of the case or offence registered against the women. “As per my knowledge all the above ladies are major in age and they were not arrested or taken into custody from the brothel, however they were arrested by the Police at the Railway station,” the order added.
Interestingly, this goof-up is happening despite innumerable training sessions conducted by NGOs working with trafficked victims to acquaint the protectors of the law with The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA).
Check out how the case was goofed up:
ERROR 1
COMMITTED BY: The Margao Police
WHAT HAPPENED: The Margao police got information that three of Anthony’s women were coming from Mumbai. So they posed as customers at the station and arrested the women - Laxmi, Kajal and Arti-- from the railway station.
WHERE THEY WENT WRONG:
* They registered an offence under Section 4 and 5 of ITPA and produced the girls before the SDM, Margao. Incidentally, those who are arrested under these sections have to be produced before judicial magistrate of the first class and not SDM.
ERROR 2
COMMITTED BY: SDM, Margao
WHAT HAPPENED: The SDM remanded the three women by an order dated September 6, 2006 to Protective Home, Merces. Here the women were kept for nearly one and half months.
WHERE HE WENT WRONG:
* The case booked under section 4 and 5 doesn’t fall within the jurisdiction of SDM. Yet the SDM remanded the three women to Protective Home, though they are perpetrators of the crime (under section 4 and 5) and not victims.
* A SDM can remand the girl to Protective Home if they are brought under section 15 and 16 ITPA. Then the girls can be referred to Protective Home under section 17 of ITPA.
THE END RESULT
In an order (case No SDM/SAL/Prot-Home/2006/8104) passed by the court of SDM Dipak Desai, Margao (a copy of which is in possession with GT), the SDM released the women stating, “The SDPO (Margao) failed to give any details. Therefore, I have no option but to release them as there is no point of keeping them in Protective Home without proper justification”.
The order further said that SDPO has failed to submit his report and failed to submit the details of the case or offence registered against the women. “As per my knowledge all the above ladies are major in age and they were not arrested or taken into custody from the brothel, however they were arrested by the Police at the Railway station,” the order added.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
POSITIVELY NEGLECTED
POSITIVELY NEGLECTED
PREETU NAIR
preetu_nair@gomantaktimes.com
(This article appeared on GT Weekender, Panjim edition, October 29, 2006)
Women in commercial sex work are seen as agents of HIV and their clients unwitting victims. But in the absence of any economic rehabilitation or community based services, the HIV positive trafficked victim, the marginalized section of the society, continues to be commercially sexually exploited. PREETU NAIR goes behind the obvious and discovers that if HIV/AIDS is an epidemic of bad choices then it is also an epidemic of the choiceless and voiceless.
Rehana has just resumed her night job at Vasco after a brief illness. If luck is smiles she will earn anything between Rs 100 and 500, from what she calls the only work she
has.
And because she and her family must survive, she fails to insist that the customer to use condom though she is HIV positive and aware that using condom decreases the risk of HIV transmission. "Most often we are not in a position to negotiate safer sex” she said.
When Rehana (one of her many names) was 15, she caught a morning bus to Goa from Karnataka, along with her lover. By evening she was sold to a brothel keeper in the unofficial red light area of Baina for Rs 10,000. At the age of 23, she tested HIV positive.
Rehana, who till then wanted to live a normal life and get rid of the world of drinks, diseases, beatings and neglect in utter disbelief started drinking heavily.” I began drinking heavily because I knew I was dying. Besides, I drink to reduce the pain I undergo while having sex with a customer".
She knows that she can still live well and long, if she gives up her addiction to alcohol, gutka and beedis coupled with a careless attitude to medication and failure to adopt lifestyle changes. But what's killing her more than the virus is the lack of hope, the
absence of family and community support, tension and their poor socio-economic condition.
"I am aware of the community care services for HIV positive persons, but don’t want to avail them as of now I don’t want to leave Baina, my home, where I am not stigmatized and treated differently," she admitted.
Rehana is not alone. There are many like her who want to leave commercial sex work (CSW) and live a healthy life but are unable to as there is no alternative. However, she added, "If these services are made available to me at home along with economic rehabilitation then I would definitely leave CSW and live a healthy and less painful life".
Living with HIV is not easy. And for a HIV positive trafficked victim it is a bigger struggle. Despite their suffering they are rarely able to express themselves. To survive, majority of
them hide their HIV status.
What is really alarming is that though there is awareness about risks, use of condoms is low, both with non-paying and paying partners, thereby increasing the risk of transmitting the virus. A Behavioural Surveillance Survey 2003-04 at Baina showed that only 69 percent used condoms regularly.
Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) sentinel surveillance estimates that in 2003, around 30.14 percent sex workers in the state were HIV positive. However, the real figure would be probably much higher now.
The United Nations recently reported that that India with 5.7 million infections has become the HIV/AIDS capital of the world surpassing South Africa’s 5.5 million. Though there is dispute regarding the number of infections, no one denies that despite various attempts the spread of the virus shows no sign of slowing down.
Talking to GT/Weekender, Dr Prakash Kanekar, Project Director, Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) admits that they can't afford to be complacent and need greater commitment to reverse HIV/AIDS epidemic as the task has become more difficult after Baina demolition. "It is now extremely difficult to identify a commercial sex worker”
Even Arun Pandey from Arz, an NGO working with trafficked victims in Goa, candidly admits that HIV positive trafficked victims continue to be victimized due to lack of community based services and failure of the state and even NGOs to protect them. Instead of making them independent we make them dependent. We not only put their life at risk but also fail to control the spread of the virus.” Arun added.
Interestingly, majority of targeted interventions undertaken by NGO's through GSACS among CSWs are focused on free condom distribution and creating awareness through peer educators. Besides, GSACS also funds two community care centres with 10 beds each –Freedom Foundation in the North and Aasro in the South – but they are short stay home providing services required in between a home and hospital.
However, Ninoshka Norton, Project Coordinator, Freedom Foundation, admitted
that they have often observed that HIV positive trafficked victims put on DOTS or ART don't continue treatment once they leave the home. "Once out of the home, they go back to their normal routine and start drinking and smoking. This deteriorates their health further," she added.
No easy choices
Though it is difficult to describe the predicaments and circumstances women
in CSW face, GT/ Weekender tries to comprehend a few of them to better understand their lives and situations under which they live
ALL ROADS LEAD TO …
The eldest daughter of the family, Surekha was dedicated to Goddess Yellama as soon as she gained puberty and brought to Baina by a brothel keeper for CSW. Three years back she was tested HIV positive and was also found to be suffering from TB. “I wanted to leave CSW but there was no alternative. Besides there is no one to take care of me,"
she said.
Though her CD4 count is low, doctors can't put her on ART, because she is taking treatment for TB. However, her TB can't be cured because she doesn't regularly take medicines.
NO DATE WITH MEDICINES
Madhumita is just back from a date in Mysore. Date means going out of the state for CSW. She is fully educated about the pros and cons of HIV, yet hardly practices what she has been preached.
Two years back when she tested positive, she expected support from her mard (lover). He was at first sympathetic but when he needed money, she was back on the streets. She protested but he threatened. "I started to go on date, 15 days after I was detected positive. I was feeling week but then got tired of the abuses hurled at me by my mard.
When I work, he is happy and there is peace at home", she reveals. However, what she reveals later after is much shocking, "whenever I go on a date, I stop DOTS treatment,"
she admitted
HOME IS WHERE YOUR HEART IS
In a police raid at Baina recently, a HIV positive trafficked victim was rescued and sent to the State Protective Home. At that time she was taking DOTS treatment, but stopped it when sent to the home. Her condition deteriorated and she started vomiting blood at the Protective Home. Thus forcing D.C. Kundalkar, In - charge, Protective Home to write to the Mormugao Deputy Collector Levinson Martins, "it is not possible to take care of her and medically treat her in the Protective Home."
As the medical tests confirmed that she was HIV positive and suffering from TB, Martins shifted her to Assro and meanwhile tried to make arrangements to send her back to her home in Karnataka. But she escaped from there within a few days and returned to her home in Baina.
*(Names of HIV positive trafficked victims have been changed in order to protect their identity)
** (This story was made possible by a financial grant from The EU-India
Media Initiative on HIV/AIDS implemented by The Thomson Foundation)
PREETU NAIR
preetu_nair@gomantaktimes.com
(This article appeared on GT Weekender, Panjim edition, October 29, 2006)
Women in commercial sex work are seen as agents of HIV and their clients unwitting victims. But in the absence of any economic rehabilitation or community based services, the HIV positive trafficked victim, the marginalized section of the society, continues to be commercially sexually exploited. PREETU NAIR goes behind the obvious and discovers that if HIV/AIDS is an epidemic of bad choices then it is also an epidemic of the choiceless and voiceless.
Rehana has just resumed her night job at Vasco after a brief illness. If luck is smiles she will earn anything between Rs 100 and 500, from what she calls the only work she
has.
And because she and her family must survive, she fails to insist that the customer to use condom though she is HIV positive and aware that using condom decreases the risk of HIV transmission. "Most often we are not in a position to negotiate safer sex” she said.
When Rehana (one of her many names) was 15, she caught a morning bus to Goa from Karnataka, along with her lover. By evening she was sold to a brothel keeper in the unofficial red light area of Baina for Rs 10,000. At the age of 23, she tested HIV positive.
Rehana, who till then wanted to live a normal life and get rid of the world of drinks, diseases, beatings and neglect in utter disbelief started drinking heavily.” I began drinking heavily because I knew I was dying. Besides, I drink to reduce the pain I undergo while having sex with a customer".
She knows that she can still live well and long, if she gives up her addiction to alcohol, gutka and beedis coupled with a careless attitude to medication and failure to adopt lifestyle changes. But what's killing her more than the virus is the lack of hope, the
absence of family and community support, tension and their poor socio-economic condition.
"I am aware of the community care services for HIV positive persons, but don’t want to avail them as of now I don’t want to leave Baina, my home, where I am not stigmatized and treated differently," she admitted.
Rehana is not alone. There are many like her who want to leave commercial sex work (CSW) and live a healthy life but are unable to as there is no alternative. However, she added, "If these services are made available to me at home along with economic rehabilitation then I would definitely leave CSW and live a healthy and less painful life".
Living with HIV is not easy. And for a HIV positive trafficked victim it is a bigger struggle. Despite their suffering they are rarely able to express themselves. To survive, majority of
them hide their HIV status.
What is really alarming is that though there is awareness about risks, use of condoms is low, both with non-paying and paying partners, thereby increasing the risk of transmitting the virus. A Behavioural Surveillance Survey 2003-04 at Baina showed that only 69 percent used condoms regularly.
Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) sentinel surveillance estimates that in 2003, around 30.14 percent sex workers in the state were HIV positive. However, the real figure would be probably much higher now.
The United Nations recently reported that that India with 5.7 million infections has become the HIV/AIDS capital of the world surpassing South Africa’s 5.5 million. Though there is dispute regarding the number of infections, no one denies that despite various attempts the spread of the virus shows no sign of slowing down.
Talking to GT/Weekender, Dr Prakash Kanekar, Project Director, Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) admits that they can't afford to be complacent and need greater commitment to reverse HIV/AIDS epidemic as the task has become more difficult after Baina demolition. "It is now extremely difficult to identify a commercial sex worker”
Even Arun Pandey from Arz, an NGO working with trafficked victims in Goa, candidly admits that HIV positive trafficked victims continue to be victimized due to lack of community based services and failure of the state and even NGOs to protect them. Instead of making them independent we make them dependent. We not only put their life at risk but also fail to control the spread of the virus.” Arun added.
Interestingly, majority of targeted interventions undertaken by NGO's through GSACS among CSWs are focused on free condom distribution and creating awareness through peer educators. Besides, GSACS also funds two community care centres with 10 beds each –Freedom Foundation in the North and Aasro in the South – but they are short stay home providing services required in between a home and hospital.
However, Ninoshka Norton, Project Coordinator, Freedom Foundation, admitted
that they have often observed that HIV positive trafficked victims put on DOTS or ART don't continue treatment once they leave the home. "Once out of the home, they go back to their normal routine and start drinking and smoking. This deteriorates their health further," she added.
No easy choices
Though it is difficult to describe the predicaments and circumstances women
in CSW face, GT/ Weekender tries to comprehend a few of them to better understand their lives and situations under which they live
ALL ROADS LEAD TO …
The eldest daughter of the family, Surekha was dedicated to Goddess Yellama as soon as she gained puberty and brought to Baina by a brothel keeper for CSW. Three years back she was tested HIV positive and was also found to be suffering from TB. “I wanted to leave CSW but there was no alternative. Besides there is no one to take care of me,"
she said.
Though her CD4 count is low, doctors can't put her on ART, because she is taking treatment for TB. However, her TB can't be cured because she doesn't regularly take medicines.
NO DATE WITH MEDICINES
Madhumita is just back from a date in Mysore. Date means going out of the state for CSW. She is fully educated about the pros and cons of HIV, yet hardly practices what she has been preached.
Two years back when she tested positive, she expected support from her mard (lover). He was at first sympathetic but when he needed money, she was back on the streets. She protested but he threatened. "I started to go on date, 15 days after I was detected positive. I was feeling week but then got tired of the abuses hurled at me by my mard.
When I work, he is happy and there is peace at home", she reveals. However, what she reveals later after is much shocking, "whenever I go on a date, I stop DOTS treatment,"
she admitted
HOME IS WHERE YOUR HEART IS
In a police raid at Baina recently, a HIV positive trafficked victim was rescued and sent to the State Protective Home. At that time she was taking DOTS treatment, but stopped it when sent to the home. Her condition deteriorated and she started vomiting blood at the Protective Home. Thus forcing D.C. Kundalkar, In - charge, Protective Home to write to the Mormugao Deputy Collector Levinson Martins, "it is not possible to take care of her and medically treat her in the Protective Home."
As the medical tests confirmed that she was HIV positive and suffering from TB, Martins shifted her to Assro and meanwhile tried to make arrangements to send her back to her home in Karnataka. But she escaped from there within a few days and returned to her home in Baina.
*(Names of HIV positive trafficked victims have been changed in order to protect their identity)
** (This story was made possible by a financial grant from The EU-India
Media Initiative on HIV/AIDS implemented by The Thomson Foundation)
Monday, October 16, 2006
Living on 7 rupees a day!
Total earnings per month - Rs 1500. Members in this Dhangar family - seven. Three are orthopaedically disabled and two chronically ill and old. Average cash in hand that each member has in a day is Rs 7. How much can they possibly spend on food, clothing and medicines? PREETU NAIR travels to Latambarcem (Bicholim taluka) and discovers that beyond the feel-good factory, there is a house where there is a surplus of hunger but no food or hope. This is not the whole story but a window to many such families in the state who live below the poverty line, under similar conditions.
LATAMBARCEM (BICHOLIM TALUKA): Jani Singadi's pain and intensity are real. At 65-plus, she has no relief. Her family is swamped by a crisis of many layers: three orthopaedically disabled sons, surplus of hunger, no money, an illegal house gifted by a few philanthropists, rising debt, etc. Probably, a symptom of a much deeper rural distress.
It is difficult to talk with Jani. And even more difficult to apprehend her pain. She talks, coughs, cries, takes a deep breath and talks again, coughs … the pattern continues. To put it simply, they are landless people from the Dhangar community, who don't even have the "normal" avenues of work. She has six sons but three of them are orthopaedically disabled. Her 80-plus husband is blind and the couple suffers from chronic ailments.
Collapse of hope has broken up the family and their 23-year-old son Sonu, tired of the unending turmoil and sufferings, left his ill parents and three orthopaedically disabled brothers in search of better livelihood options. The only earning member in the family is 27-year-old Rama, a daily wage worker, who if lucky to get some work in a mining unit, earns Rs 60 a day. Her 16-year-old son is the only literate person in the family. He is studying in standard IV in an adjacent government school. After school, he rushes back home to work as a shepherd in the neighbourhood. He tends goats and in return earns around 5 kg raw rice in a month for his family.
So fragile is their economy and equilibrium that more than often they have less than one square meal a day. For clothing, per member has just two shabby and somewhat worn out items . But then what do you expect when the household spends less than Rs 220 a month per person. What can they afford if the most they can spend is, on an average, Rs 7 a day? How much can they possibly spend on food, clothing and shelter?
Every moment spent there is instructive as you are forced to think about how they live and on what is it that they live. When GT-Weekender visited the family it was 1 pm on a Sunday afternoon. The family had no rice to cook. When asked if the family was waiting for the elder son to get some groceries, Jani starts crying inconsolably. Seeing her cry, Rajendra, 20, who looks and behaves like a five -year-old started screaming, "Don't make my mother cry. Please, don't make my mother cry."
The plight of the family makes a deep impact and you understand the acute distress that the family is undergoing. The scenes from the family expose two different rules and realities: the urban rich and rural poor of Goa. This, despite the fact that the government has various schemes for the welfare of disabled and elderly citizens, besides policies for the people living below poverty line.
Though they possess a ration card and had applied for the benefits under BPL, unfortunately their name still doesn't figure in the BPL list.
And although their suffering is certified as genuine by the Social Welfare Department, which has issued a card stating that three children - Tukaram (22), Rajendra (20) and Laxman (11) - are orthopaedically disabled, they are yet to get financial assistance under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme.
It is not that the family has not tried. "We have applied several times and still keep sending several reminders to the Social Welfare Department, but to no avail," revealed Jani. What is still worse is that the semi-pucca house gifted to them by few philanthropists is illegal, while their thatched roof house, bearing number 7 in survey number 557, at Balachi Bhand (Latambarcem Comunidade) collapsed on June 26, 2006 due to the heavy rains.
"It is terrifying. What if we are forced to vacate this house? What will we do," Jani said. The already shattered family is now being troubled by the landlord, as their new house is illegal. "We lodged a police complaint. For sometime, things were fine. But again the threats have started and there is no one to protect us. There's nowhere to go. And we cannot afford to even rebuild a hut with a thatched roof," added Jani.
After years of waiting for government relief, their world has turned fragile and all government assurances of improving their living conditions seem meaningless. This is reality; a deepening but harsh rural nightmare.
But there is another reality, which is a huge lesson in humility: Even though they themselves are on the verge of starvation, they still made it a point to offer this reporter black tea.
LATAMBARCEM (BICHOLIM TALUKA): Jani Singadi's pain and intensity are real. At 65-plus, she has no relief. Her family is swamped by a crisis of many layers: three orthopaedically disabled sons, surplus of hunger, no money, an illegal house gifted by a few philanthropists, rising debt, etc. Probably, a symptom of a much deeper rural distress.
It is difficult to talk with Jani. And even more difficult to apprehend her pain. She talks, coughs, cries, takes a deep breath and talks again, coughs … the pattern continues. To put it simply, they are landless people from the Dhangar community, who don't even have the "normal" avenues of work. She has six sons but three of them are orthopaedically disabled. Her 80-plus husband is blind and the couple suffers from chronic ailments.
Collapse of hope has broken up the family and their 23-year-old son Sonu, tired of the unending turmoil and sufferings, left his ill parents and three orthopaedically disabled brothers in search of better livelihood options. The only earning member in the family is 27-year-old Rama, a daily wage worker, who if lucky to get some work in a mining unit, earns Rs 60 a day. Her 16-year-old son is the only literate person in the family. He is studying in standard IV in an adjacent government school. After school, he rushes back home to work as a shepherd in the neighbourhood. He tends goats and in return earns around 5 kg raw rice in a month for his family.
So fragile is their economy and equilibrium that more than often they have less than one square meal a day. For clothing, per member has just two shabby and somewhat worn out items . But then what do you expect when the household spends less than Rs 220 a month per person. What can they afford if the most they can spend is, on an average, Rs 7 a day? How much can they possibly spend on food, clothing and shelter?
Every moment spent there is instructive as you are forced to think about how they live and on what is it that they live. When GT-Weekender visited the family it was 1 pm on a Sunday afternoon. The family had no rice to cook. When asked if the family was waiting for the elder son to get some groceries, Jani starts crying inconsolably. Seeing her cry, Rajendra, 20, who looks and behaves like a five -year-old started screaming, "Don't make my mother cry. Please, don't make my mother cry."
The plight of the family makes a deep impact and you understand the acute distress that the family is undergoing. The scenes from the family expose two different rules and realities: the urban rich and rural poor of Goa. This, despite the fact that the government has various schemes for the welfare of disabled and elderly citizens, besides policies for the people living below poverty line.
Though they possess a ration card and had applied for the benefits under BPL, unfortunately their name still doesn't figure in the BPL list.
And although their suffering is certified as genuine by the Social Welfare Department, which has issued a card stating that three children - Tukaram (22), Rajendra (20) and Laxman (11) - are orthopaedically disabled, they are yet to get financial assistance under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme.
It is not that the family has not tried. "We have applied several times and still keep sending several reminders to the Social Welfare Department, but to no avail," revealed Jani. What is still worse is that the semi-pucca house gifted to them by few philanthropists is illegal, while their thatched roof house, bearing number 7 in survey number 557, at Balachi Bhand (Latambarcem Comunidade) collapsed on June 26, 2006 due to the heavy rains.
"It is terrifying. What if we are forced to vacate this house? What will we do," Jani said. The already shattered family is now being troubled by the landlord, as their new house is illegal. "We lodged a police complaint. For sometime, things were fine. But again the threats have started and there is no one to protect us. There's nowhere to go. And we cannot afford to even rebuild a hut with a thatched roof," added Jani.
After years of waiting for government relief, their world has turned fragile and all government assurances of improving their living conditions seem meaningless. This is reality; a deepening but harsh rural nightmare.
But there is another reality, which is a huge lesson in humility: Even though they themselves are on the verge of starvation, they still made it a point to offer this reporter black tea.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
“English, a must in today’s world”
PREETU NAIR
SANGUEM: “English should be taught from standard I in all government and government-aided schools. As our children are denied English education from standard I, they have difficulty competing with children from English medium schools,” said Sheikh Mukhtiar, a small time businessman.
His friend, Mohammad Khan, who works in the Gulf added, “As there are no English medium schools in the area, we are forced to send our children to a Konkani medium government school.” Mohammad insists that he understands the benefits of learning in English and feels guilty about not being able to send his child to an English medium school.
In Sanguem, there are many like Mohammad who have no option but to send their children to Marathi or Konkani government or government-aided primary school because there are no English medium schools in the area. And parents who seek to educate their children in English have to send their kids to Sanvordem.
People here strongly believe that if knowledge of mother tongue helps one understand their roots and build identity, then knowledge of English prepares a child for future challenges. “What is wrong if the children speak bilingual: mother tongue as well as universal language in school? Anyway children learn mother tongue very quickly if parents continue to use mother tongue with them,” observed Sheikh Abdul Ghani.
Ghani added that children anyway learn to speak in mother tongue because it is the language spoken at home. “But English is a language they find difficult to learn because most of the time even parents can’t speak in the language. But we want to ensure that the children learn in English which is the universal language,” he said.
A standard VIII student Sheikh Manjal, who had his basic education in Marathi, admits that the complete shift from Marathi to English was not easy. “It was a nightmare. Unlearning what you have learnt in the mother tongue till standard IV and then learning things in an almost alien language from standard V is difficult. It took sometime for me to come to terms with understanding, writing and speaking in English. I respect my mother tongue but the struggle from switching from learning things from one language to another is taxing”, he said.
There are also many who agree that the core identity of a culture is embodied in and perpetuated by its language, yet insist on sending their children to English medium school. Reason. “Learning in English is an access to higher education and economic mobility. Perfect knowledge of English is definitely the cornerstone of success in a fast-driven economy,” opined Ravindra Borker.
SANGUEM: “English should be taught from standard I in all government and government-aided schools. As our children are denied English education from standard I, they have difficulty competing with children from English medium schools,” said Sheikh Mukhtiar, a small time businessman.
His friend, Mohammad Khan, who works in the Gulf added, “As there are no English medium schools in the area, we are forced to send our children to a Konkani medium government school.” Mohammad insists that he understands the benefits of learning in English and feels guilty about not being able to send his child to an English medium school.
In Sanguem, there are many like Mohammad who have no option but to send their children to Marathi or Konkani government or government-aided primary school because there are no English medium schools in the area. And parents who seek to educate their children in English have to send their kids to Sanvordem.
People here strongly believe that if knowledge of mother tongue helps one understand their roots and build identity, then knowledge of English prepares a child for future challenges. “What is wrong if the children speak bilingual: mother tongue as well as universal language in school? Anyway children learn mother tongue very quickly if parents continue to use mother tongue with them,” observed Sheikh Abdul Ghani.
Ghani added that children anyway learn to speak in mother tongue because it is the language spoken at home. “But English is a language they find difficult to learn because most of the time even parents can’t speak in the language. But we want to ensure that the children learn in English which is the universal language,” he said.
A standard VIII student Sheikh Manjal, who had his basic education in Marathi, admits that the complete shift from Marathi to English was not easy. “It was a nightmare. Unlearning what you have learnt in the mother tongue till standard IV and then learning things in an almost alien language from standard V is difficult. It took sometime for me to come to terms with understanding, writing and speaking in English. I respect my mother tongue but the struggle from switching from learning things from one language to another is taxing”, he said.
There are also many who agree that the core identity of a culture is embodied in and perpetuated by its language, yet insist on sending their children to English medium school. Reason. “Learning in English is an access to higher education and economic mobility. Perfect knowledge of English is definitely the cornerstone of success in a fast-driven economy,” opined Ravindra Borker.
Just Another Act?Goa Childrens Act
"Is the Goa Children’s Act more about an act and less about children? Even though the much awaited Children’s Court have started functioning , it has brought into sharp focus several loopholes in the Act that may come in the way of justice ,dignity and safety to Goa’s children.
In 2002, the state government along with few individuals , “sincerely and genuinely” committed to the cause of the children identified and drew a wish list of what needs to be done to create a “a child friendly society”. To ensure that every child has his childhood, Goa Children’s Act 2003 came into force from July 2003 and Children’s Court stated on December 10, 2004 in Goa.
Three years later, the activists and lawyers who were part of the “landmark legislation and a path breaking initiative” are disillusioned with the Goa Children’s Act 2003 and Children’ Court. In the first state in the Country to enact legislation that seeks to give every child, a childhood, innocent children still continues to raped or molested, child labour and prostitution exists.
“One truth that the public must know is that the final draft of all sections that was handled over to the state is not what has finally found its place in the Children’s Act. Behind this is a hand or force that really never allowed the rights of the children to become a reality in the manner intended by the NGO’s and other drafting committee members.” said Bernie D’Souza, Jan Ugahi an organization working for child rights in Margao.
A reliable source at the Law department revealed that a senior counsel who was called from Delhi to look into the Act, disappointed left it mid way. When this reporter tried to meet V.P.Shetye, Legal Advisor to the Government of Goa he said “I have nothing to inform you”.
Questions are now being raised whether the Children’s Court is really child friendly? “Is there a special place for children to sit or will they be seated in the small crowded courtroom along with the accused or their abusers?
“We fought so hard to get the Court in session. Every other issue took priority for the state .Is this what we asked for our children?” added Bernie.
According to Sabina Martins, member, Bailancho Saad, “Many now refuse to register a case of molestation or rape against a minor due to delay in justice .They argue that while the accused is released on bail, the victim child suffers continuous mental tension for long.”
Even Nishta Desai, Children’s Rights Group admits that thought the Children’s Court had been denying bail to offenders in several cases, the most recent case of the High Court granting bail to a suspected offender who had been denied bail by the Children’s Court is a matter of grave concern. "This is an issue that needs to be examined as it will influence the way in which the Children’s Court deals with bail applications. Also the Children’s Court only meets once a week .The frequency with which it sits needs to be increased so that hearings for bail applications can be heard by the Children’s Court with the Public Prosecutor appearing for the victim in the trial proceedings also appearing in the matter of bail application” observed Nishta.
Reliable sources admit that the real problem will start when the trials will begin in the Children’s Court, especially if the loopholes in the Children’s Act are not amended. According to Goa Children’s Act 2003,sec 32 (1)(1) “whenever any offence is alleged to have been committed against a child , the burden of proving that such offence has not been committed by the accused shall lie on the accused .” However, as per the Evidence Act it is on the Prosecution to prove that the offence has been committed by the accused .One advocate has also filed a writ petition in Bombay High Court challenging this section of Burden of Proof.
Further sec.32 (1) (m) of the Act says” whenever a child who is a victim of a crime is required to pose before any authority including this Court, the child shall not be exposed to the presence of the accused or the perpetrators of the crime”.
But universal jurisprudence rests on the sole assumption that “I am innocent till proved guilty”. Moreover, during trial the accused may say that he does not want a lawyer for a particular time and may do the cross-examination of the victim.
Has Goa Children’s Act 2003 changed the fate of the street children?
No. even prior to the framing of the Children’s Act, there has been provisions in the Constitution and the Indian Penal Code, which seeks to protect the child from sexual exploitation. “We have to admit that legislations alone cannot bring in change, unless and until the basic needs of the poor are met,” believes Advocate Pritam da Piedade Morais.
Further critics of Goa Children’s Act 2003 say that when the Central Children’s Bill is almost ready what was the hurry to have a separate Act for Goa? When the Central Bill is implemented which Act will prevail – the State or Central , they question.
Advocate Shanti Fonseca, who was one of the members who drafted the Children’s Act revealed that she was happy that the Children’s Act should come out so soon and in such a manner?” History reveals that the best laws which have been implemented are those which come from the will of the people and not those which are imposed from above. This Act was never the will of the people; it was not the voice of the people of Goa.They never demanded it. People in Goa do not feel that all children are their responsibility.
Why will Goans want to protect a non- Goan child, unless they accept all children are our children,” she said. However, Santosh Vaidya, Secretary, Women and Child Development maintained that the amendment is in process and the present Congress- led government has agreed that the amendments will be done either through Ordinance or Bill.
“Consultations process has been completed and the suggestions will be incorporated in the Act,” added Vaidya.
In 2002, the state government along with few individuals , “sincerely and genuinely” committed to the cause of the children identified and drew a wish list of what needs to be done to create a “a child friendly society”. To ensure that every child has his childhood, Goa Children’s Act 2003 came into force from July 2003 and Children’s Court stated on December 10, 2004 in Goa.
Three years later, the activists and lawyers who were part of the “landmark legislation and a path breaking initiative” are disillusioned with the Goa Children’s Act 2003 and Children’ Court. In the first state in the Country to enact legislation that seeks to give every child, a childhood, innocent children still continues to raped or molested, child labour and prostitution exists.
“One truth that the public must know is that the final draft of all sections that was handled over to the state is not what has finally found its place in the Children’s Act. Behind this is a hand or force that really never allowed the rights of the children to become a reality in the manner intended by the NGO’s and other drafting committee members.” said Bernie D’Souza, Jan Ugahi an organization working for child rights in Margao.
A reliable source at the Law department revealed that a senior counsel who was called from Delhi to look into the Act, disappointed left it mid way. When this reporter tried to meet V.P.Shetye, Legal Advisor to the Government of Goa he said “I have nothing to inform you”.
Questions are now being raised whether the Children’s Court is really child friendly? “Is there a special place for children to sit or will they be seated in the small crowded courtroom along with the accused or their abusers?
“We fought so hard to get the Court in session. Every other issue took priority for the state .Is this what we asked for our children?” added Bernie.
According to Sabina Martins, member, Bailancho Saad, “Many now refuse to register a case of molestation or rape against a minor due to delay in justice .They argue that while the accused is released on bail, the victim child suffers continuous mental tension for long.”
Even Nishta Desai, Children’s Rights Group admits that thought the Children’s Court had been denying bail to offenders in several cases, the most recent case of the High Court granting bail to a suspected offender who had been denied bail by the Children’s Court is a matter of grave concern. "This is an issue that needs to be examined as it will influence the way in which the Children’s Court deals with bail applications. Also the Children’s Court only meets once a week .The frequency with which it sits needs to be increased so that hearings for bail applications can be heard by the Children’s Court with the Public Prosecutor appearing for the victim in the trial proceedings also appearing in the matter of bail application” observed Nishta.
Reliable sources admit that the real problem will start when the trials will begin in the Children’s Court, especially if the loopholes in the Children’s Act are not amended. According to Goa Children’s Act 2003,sec 32 (1)(1) “whenever any offence is alleged to have been committed against a child , the burden of proving that such offence has not been committed by the accused shall lie on the accused .” However, as per the Evidence Act it is on the Prosecution to prove that the offence has been committed by the accused .One advocate has also filed a writ petition in Bombay High Court challenging this section of Burden of Proof.
Further sec.32 (1) (m) of the Act says” whenever a child who is a victim of a crime is required to pose before any authority including this Court, the child shall not be exposed to the presence of the accused or the perpetrators of the crime”.
But universal jurisprudence rests on the sole assumption that “I am innocent till proved guilty”. Moreover, during trial the accused may say that he does not want a lawyer for a particular time and may do the cross-examination of the victim.
Has Goa Children’s Act 2003 changed the fate of the street children?
No. even prior to the framing of the Children’s Act, there has been provisions in the Constitution and the Indian Penal Code, which seeks to protect the child from sexual exploitation. “We have to admit that legislations alone cannot bring in change, unless and until the basic needs of the poor are met,” believes Advocate Pritam da Piedade Morais.
Further critics of Goa Children’s Act 2003 say that when the Central Children’s Bill is almost ready what was the hurry to have a separate Act for Goa? When the Central Bill is implemented which Act will prevail – the State or Central , they question.
Advocate Shanti Fonseca, who was one of the members who drafted the Children’s Act revealed that she was happy that the Children’s Act should come out so soon and in such a manner?” History reveals that the best laws which have been implemented are those which come from the will of the people and not those which are imposed from above. This Act was never the will of the people; it was not the voice of the people of Goa.They never demanded it. People in Goa do not feel that all children are their responsibility.
Why will Goans want to protect a non- Goan child, unless they accept all children are our children,” she said. However, Santosh Vaidya, Secretary, Women and Child Development maintained that the amendment is in process and the present Congress- led government has agreed that the amendments will be done either through Ordinance or Bill.
“Consultations process has been completed and the suggestions will be incorporated in the Act,” added Vaidya.
Phenomenal woman: Sashikala Govekar
By Preetu Nair and Peter D’Souza
On a search for its Woman of the Year, the Goan newspaper Gomantak Times came across the extraordinary Sashikala Govekar, a fisherwoman who breathes life into Mapusa market, and a sarpanch who is much respected in Nerul
She is a mother, a sister, a professional, a provider, a fighter, a struggler, a realist, a radical, a performer, a perfectionist, a lady, a life-giver and a sarpanch. Above all, Sashikala Govekar is a fisherwoman from Mapusa, Goa .
Three months ago, on International Women's Day, Gomantak Times decided to look for a Woman of the Year. The criterion was simple. Obvious publicity-hungry so-called achievers were out. So too were those who were in the continuous race for awards and recognition. Gomantak's Woman of the Year had to conform to the ideals the paper had set for itself: simplicity, hard work, humility and self-sufficiency.
We looked everywhere until finally we found our heroine among lots and lots of fish at the Mapusa fish market.
“…Now you understand just why my head's not bowed. I don't shout or jump about, or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing, it ought to make you proud…I'm a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that's me.” These lines from Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman define Sashikala Govekar, called Sashi, perfectly. Sashi speaks in the lilting cadence of the fisherwoman she was trained to be. She moves with the grace of the businesswoman she was born to be. She laughs with crackling exuberance in her low, resonant, emphatic voice. She fills the Mapusa fish market with life.
Sashi had a difficult childhood. Born into a poor family in Nerul, she didn't have enough food to eat. “There were five children to feed at home. My father, a daily-wage worker, would purchase 1 kg of rice everyday. Mother used to cook it and distribute it equally. That was our breakfast, lunch and dinner. There were often times when we went to sleep after drinking the pez (rice gruel) because there was not enough rice left to eat,” she recalls.
Little Sashi was eager to learn; she enjoyed going to school. But she had to drop out after Class II because her parents didn't have the money to educate her. But this didn't kill her love for reading and learning new things. “We had a person living in our house who used to ferry people from Nerul to Candolim. I used to help him and in return he would give me one anna. I used to save the money and later purchase books to read,” she explains.
Things changed when she met Janu, a young boy from Saligao who worked as toddy-tapper for a neighbour. It was love at first sight. With the blessings of the family they were soon married. Sashikala shyly admits that one thing that connected them instantly was poverty and hardship. The young couple decided to catch tisreo (clams) and sell them in the market to earn money. So began her journey into the business of buying and selling fish. She was 18 then, eager to earn but ignorant about the tricks of the trade. “I didn't know anything about the trade. I was not born into a family of traditional fishermen. But my neighbour Komal taught me the tricks of the trade. I started out selling one basket of fish at Calangute with her,” she says. Her husband and 10 workers would go out to sea to catch the fish, and Sashi would go to the market and sell it.
Soon she began selling fish in the Mapusa fish market. This was around 20-22 years ago. Now she supplies fish to Sanquelim, Bicholim, Valpoi, Pernem, Arambol, Calangute and Mapusa.
When Sashi started out she put away Rs 20 every day in Syndicate Bank, Mapusa. As business grew, so did her savings. With the money she was able to get her sisters and brother married and also buy fishing canoes, trawlers and tempos. “My father was growing old. He was having health problems. So I decided to help him too. My husband supported my decision,” she says. Suddenly she says philosophically: “Family is the essence of life. We are very close to each other. As children we had seen difficulties and fought together, and in future also we will be united.” She adds that the fisherwomen in Mapusa market are her sisters, her extended family. She is not just their leader but a woman with a magic wand; someone who can solve any problem or dispute; someone they can look up to for help.
Sashikala's growing business has brought about a change in her lifestyle. But as a person, this mother of three sons and two daughters has not changed one bit. “I get up early, at 2 am , and reach Margao market by 3 am to purchase fish. I also buy fish from the Panaji and Vasco markets,” she says.
Currently, Sashi's daily turnover is around Rs 80,000. She employs 20 people -- Hindus, Muslims and Christians -- who all work unitedly. “I don't distinguish between people on the basis of caste or religion, for we are all children of one god. Ultimately it is our thinking that separates us,” she concludes. Her workers get a daily wage of Rs 100-Rs 150, with food. “The food is cooked near the fish market and anyone and everyone who wants to enjoy a good meal is welcome,” says Sashi. She adds: “I know what poverty and hunger are. As a child I often went to bed on an empty stomach. I don't want any child to remain hungry.” Her three sons help her in the business.
Although she now owns two shops in Mapusa, Sashi likes to wander around the fish market, meeting people and swapping stories with them. The fisherwomen of Mapusa market all agree that their day would be boring without her!
Sashi is also the sarpanch of Nerul. “Though I was elected sarpanch I am not interested in politics. The youth in the village insisted that I stand for the 2002 elections. They filled the form and submitted my candidature,” she says. She explains that people wanted her to become sarpanch in order to speed up construction of the Dadeshwar temple, which had been lying incomplete for 15 years. She fulfilled their desire within two years.
The monthly salary Sashi receives as sarpanch is donated either to a temple, a chapel or a church. She strongly believes that politics is not a platform to settle personal scores. “I am not a politician. I don't want propaganda. I don't want to canvass or malign my opponents. I want to work with them for the welfare of my people. I love my people and they trust me. I am always there for them. I have grown up here, spent more than 50 years knowing and understanding life in this village.”
(Preetu Nair is a Reporter with Gomantak Times , Goa . Peter D'Souza is a Sub-Editor, Gomantak Times , Goa )
This article was first published in Gomantak Times, March 8, 2005
On a search for its Woman of the Year, the Goan newspaper Gomantak Times came across the extraordinary Sashikala Govekar, a fisherwoman who breathes life into Mapusa market, and a sarpanch who is much respected in Nerul
She is a mother, a sister, a professional, a provider, a fighter, a struggler, a realist, a radical, a performer, a perfectionist, a lady, a life-giver and a sarpanch. Above all, Sashikala Govekar is a fisherwoman from Mapusa, Goa .
Three months ago, on International Women's Day, Gomantak Times decided to look for a Woman of the Year. The criterion was simple. Obvious publicity-hungry so-called achievers were out. So too were those who were in the continuous race for awards and recognition. Gomantak's Woman of the Year had to conform to the ideals the paper had set for itself: simplicity, hard work, humility and self-sufficiency.
We looked everywhere until finally we found our heroine among lots and lots of fish at the Mapusa fish market.
“…Now you understand just why my head's not bowed. I don't shout or jump about, or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing, it ought to make you proud…I'm a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that's me.” These lines from Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman define Sashikala Govekar, called Sashi, perfectly. Sashi speaks in the lilting cadence of the fisherwoman she was trained to be. She moves with the grace of the businesswoman she was born to be. She laughs with crackling exuberance in her low, resonant, emphatic voice. She fills the Mapusa fish market with life.
Sashi had a difficult childhood. Born into a poor family in Nerul, she didn't have enough food to eat. “There were five children to feed at home. My father, a daily-wage worker, would purchase 1 kg of rice everyday. Mother used to cook it and distribute it equally. That was our breakfast, lunch and dinner. There were often times when we went to sleep after drinking the pez (rice gruel) because there was not enough rice left to eat,” she recalls.
Little Sashi was eager to learn; she enjoyed going to school. But she had to drop out after Class II because her parents didn't have the money to educate her. But this didn't kill her love for reading and learning new things. “We had a person living in our house who used to ferry people from Nerul to Candolim. I used to help him and in return he would give me one anna. I used to save the money and later purchase books to read,” she explains.
Things changed when she met Janu, a young boy from Saligao who worked as toddy-tapper for a neighbour. It was love at first sight. With the blessings of the family they were soon married. Sashikala shyly admits that one thing that connected them instantly was poverty and hardship. The young couple decided to catch tisreo (clams) and sell them in the market to earn money. So began her journey into the business of buying and selling fish. She was 18 then, eager to earn but ignorant about the tricks of the trade. “I didn't know anything about the trade. I was not born into a family of traditional fishermen. But my neighbour Komal taught me the tricks of the trade. I started out selling one basket of fish at Calangute with her,” she says. Her husband and 10 workers would go out to sea to catch the fish, and Sashi would go to the market and sell it.
Soon she began selling fish in the Mapusa fish market. This was around 20-22 years ago. Now she supplies fish to Sanquelim, Bicholim, Valpoi, Pernem, Arambol, Calangute and Mapusa.
When Sashi started out she put away Rs 20 every day in Syndicate Bank, Mapusa. As business grew, so did her savings. With the money she was able to get her sisters and brother married and also buy fishing canoes, trawlers and tempos. “My father was growing old. He was having health problems. So I decided to help him too. My husband supported my decision,” she says. Suddenly she says philosophically: “Family is the essence of life. We are very close to each other. As children we had seen difficulties and fought together, and in future also we will be united.” She adds that the fisherwomen in Mapusa market are her sisters, her extended family. She is not just their leader but a woman with a magic wand; someone who can solve any problem or dispute; someone they can look up to for help.
Sashikala's growing business has brought about a change in her lifestyle. But as a person, this mother of three sons and two daughters has not changed one bit. “I get up early, at 2 am , and reach Margao market by 3 am to purchase fish. I also buy fish from the Panaji and Vasco markets,” she says.
Currently, Sashi's daily turnover is around Rs 80,000. She employs 20 people -- Hindus, Muslims and Christians -- who all work unitedly. “I don't distinguish between people on the basis of caste or religion, for we are all children of one god. Ultimately it is our thinking that separates us,” she concludes. Her workers get a daily wage of Rs 100-Rs 150, with food. “The food is cooked near the fish market and anyone and everyone who wants to enjoy a good meal is welcome,” says Sashi. She adds: “I know what poverty and hunger are. As a child I often went to bed on an empty stomach. I don't want any child to remain hungry.” Her three sons help her in the business.
Although she now owns two shops in Mapusa, Sashi likes to wander around the fish market, meeting people and swapping stories with them. The fisherwomen of Mapusa market all agree that their day would be boring without her!
Sashi is also the sarpanch of Nerul. “Though I was elected sarpanch I am not interested in politics. The youth in the village insisted that I stand for the 2002 elections. They filled the form and submitted my candidature,” she says. She explains that people wanted her to become sarpanch in order to speed up construction of the Dadeshwar temple, which had been lying incomplete for 15 years. She fulfilled their desire within two years.
The monthly salary Sashi receives as sarpanch is donated either to a temple, a chapel or a church. She strongly believes that politics is not a platform to settle personal scores. “I am not a politician. I don't want propaganda. I don't want to canvass or malign my opponents. I want to work with them for the welfare of my people. I love my people and they trust me. I am always there for them. I have grown up here, spent more than 50 years knowing and understanding life in this village.”
(Preetu Nair is a Reporter with Gomantak Times , Goa . Peter D'Souza is a Sub-Editor, Gomantak Times , Goa )
This article was first published in Gomantak Times, March 8, 2005
Communal Violence in Goa: Neros in Khaki
Communal Violence in Goa: Neros in Khaki
(Gomantak Times - Weekender, Panjim, March 5, 2006)
Neros in Khaki
The BJP ignites a minor incident and has fuelled
hatred that has snowballed into full blown communal
carnage in Curchorem. As homes and hearts of the
minorities are being torn apart, a hapless and “badly
stretched” police watches over the destruction and
loot. TEAM GT traveled and worked out of the riot
stricken areas of Savordem and Curchorem to get you
the real story and separate falsehood from facts.
Curchorem/Sanvordem:
Goa went into a spin as the communal violence in
Curchorem and Savordem spun out of control and
threatened to engulf the whole state, thankfully here
were no deaths, but a complete failure on the
intelligence machinery and the BJP’s tacit as well as
overt role in fuelling tensions, has scarred Goa’s
psyche.
The communal violence that has rocked the state and
destroyed the communal harmony and law and order
situation in the state could have been averted if the
various arms of government had arrived at a consensus.
Worse still, even as the government machinery failed,
politicians took advantage of the situation, thereby
instigating the crowd and worsening the situation.
Reliable sources reveal that while SP (South) was
against issuing permission to the minority community
to hold a rally because he felt that the situation was
threatening to snowball into a major controversy
between the minority and majority community. However,
the Deputy Magistrate (South) granted permission to
hold the rally. Later Deputy Magistrate did withdraw
the permission to hold the rally , but by then it was
too late and in the unfortunate incident happening
since Friday many from the minority community were
attacked , their shops destroyed, houses ransacked and
vehicles damaged and scorched.
If on Friday, the police with a little force of over
409 personnel failed to handle the mob of 300o plus,
then on Saturday with a force led by SP (South). six
Dy.SP’s and 12 Police Inspector’s stood as mute
spectators as the crowd went on a rampage after being
ignited by the BJP leaders.
A controversial senior office bearer of BJP was heard
saying “It is high time that Hindus and Christians
join hands to kill the Muslims”. Despite all this, no
BJP leaders was arrested or warned for igniting the
crowd and creating communal tension!
S(H)AT(T)ER DAY
• Demonstrators gather at Sanvordem TISK, 60 arrested
for violating Section 144.
• As Chief Minister Rane arrives, gathered people
demand release of 60. Rane warns the people and
leaves.
• Mob turns violent. Police swings into action, fires
in the air. Policemen hurt. Fire services put into
service.
• Governor Jamir arrives .Holds talks with BJP
leadership led by Manohar Parrikar.
• Those arrested are released by 1.30 pm. Mob
continues to loot business establishments and destroy
vehicles.
• Fresh violence erupts. PI Gundu Naik’s pistol
snatched. PSI Devendra Gad also injured, falls
unconscious. His pistol is also taken.
• Mob beats up a constable. He pulls out his service
revolver. Some rounds fired by mistake injuring one
Manohar Naik and another person. Both admitted to Goa
Medical College.
• CISF already posted, three RAF men and CRPF arrived
today.
Six Dy.SP s, about Twelve Police Inspectors should
have controlled it, but the force was inadequate.
Senior officials of the Goa police admit that some of
the damage unleashed on minorities could have been
controlled and quelled since there were Six DySPs and
Eleven Police Inspector’s who were at the spot.
However they admit that the number of men did not add
up. The force was woefully short of what was needed to
stem the violence.
Though no one is admitting this openly, it is clear
that the entire force and the almost non-existent
police machinery was caught napping and were
unprepared for the situation. The BJP and its
affiliates knew only too well that it takes Thirty six
hours for Goa to mobilize optimum personal in a
situation like this and struck without warning.
The Goa Government has claimed credit for not allowing
the violence to get out of hand. In fact Chief
Minister Rane actually termed the situation peaceful,
since there not a single causality. (As our stories
will tell you, this claim is laughable)
Significantly, police officials have completely denied
the BJP propaganda that minority gangs had come from
Bhatkal and Karwar in Karnataka and had brandished
swords and threatened to wipe out the majority
population in Sanvordem. DIG Ujjwal Mishra said that
both the SP and DM (South Goa) confirmed that “in
meeting of the minorities yesterday (Friday) none was
armed or looked like an outsider”.
Mishra admitted that the Goa police was “badly
stretched” and was in no position to control the
sudden but almost premeditated attack on minority
shops, establishments.
Asked why the police fiddled in Curchorem while it
burnt, Mishra speaking to TEAM GT said “We wanted to
save lives. The force was escorting the victims and
was not enough to counter attack and arrest the
attackers.”
Roadway to Hell
Cocktail of Hate: Shaken and Stirred
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters@gomantaktimes.com
Nearly 50 vehicles destroyed and many burnt, four
petrol pumps damaged, shops looted, 20 houses
ransacked and later burnt. All owned by people from
the minority community and the number is increasing by
the hour.
Curchorem/Savordem: The stillborn silence and
suspicion look that they give you makes you squirm. If
the shameless violence appeared to be greatest mockery
of democracy for the cultured, then for the seven
hundred plus persons from the minority community here,
it had shattered their dreams and vision of communal
harmony in Goa.
As democracy’s most forceful articulation , inevitably
driven by the most primeval passions- hate, made its
way into Curchorem and Savordem from Friday , it has
probably silenced the people of the minority community
forever. They are scared to speak or react. But once
they open up, the scars are evident.
Slowly but with caution they reveal how the nameless,
unreasoning and unjustified terror has paralyzed their
life forever. Though they speak, they refuse to be
quoted for they fear that will be punished by the
majority community for speaking their mind.
“We were planning a silent rally to propagate communal
harmony and human bonding on Friday. But we never
expected things to go out of the hand” said a young
person from the minority community.
Recollecting the events of Friday he said, “we
canceled our rally by 2.30 pm once we were warned by
the Deputy Collector (South) that there was a chance
of a mob attack. But by then many people had gathered
at Curchorem from different parts of Goa. Before we
could think or do anything, a mob appeared and pelted
stones at us. Further, they destroyed our vehicles
and many of us took shelter in the mosque.”
“We are separated from our families. We tool shelter
in the mosque, but we hear that our children were
driven away from the house before the mob damaged and
looted it. We don’t know where and how they are,” said
one elderly man.
What has shocked the minority community is the
unprepardness and inefficiency of the Goa police and
Congress government. “if the police suspected foul
play they should have come prepared. There were hardly
30 or 40 policemen when a mob of more than 1000
policemen attacked us,” said another person.
Congress voters since ages, they swear that they will
never vote for the party again, “We were calling each
and every Congress party minister for help and not a
single person was contactable. We are also human
beings, we also have feelings, and we also want to
live peacefully. Why are politicians playing with out
lives and dreams to fulfill their political
ambitions”, said an elderly man. With tears in his
eyes, he added, “This is not the Goa I knew and loved.
This is not my Goa.”
They rubbished newspaper reports that people from
majority community reacted because many of their
people came from Bhatkal and Hubli in vehicles with
swords and knives. “This is utter lie .If it was true,
we should have also attacked the mob rather than
taking shelter in the mosque. Why was not a single
vehicle with Karnataka registration burnt or
destroyed?
All the vehicles that were destroyed belonged to
people from our community, who are either Goans or
settled here since ages.” And true enough; all the
vehicles destroyed and burnt had Goa registration!
I don’ Know, I just don’t know
The woman who wanted to build the Madrasa is too
shocked at the backlash.
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters@gomantaktimes.com
Guddemol (Sanvordem)
Fear stared in Samshad Begum Anar Bi’s eyes and
chalked her face. She is absolutely confused and too
shocked to speak. When after lots of coaxing, she does
speak most of what she utters are abrupt sentences,
followed by long stretches of silence and stare.
She starts of with, “I built this structure single
handedly. I did get financial help from my community
members. It was to be a mosque and a madrasa .People
could pray and young children could study Arabic.”
Samshad had built the structure on a government land,
which comes under the Twenty Point Programme. The
structure was renovated recently to start a mosque as
well as a Madrasa (a school for imparting religious
preachings). But on February 24, the Savordem
panchayat issued a notice in which they stated that
the structure is illegal and would be demolished
within seven days. However, she got a stay order from
the Directorate of Panchayats. But when locals learnt
about it, they attacked the building at night and
demolished the structure.
“It was around midnight, when a mob attacked and
destroyed the structure. I don’t know why they
attacked. I just don’t know…,” and her voice withered
away, as if she was again lost in her world of
uncertainty and grief.
This is not the Goa we once knew
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters@gomantaktimes.com
Curchorem/ Sanvordem
Many locals are shocked and in an utter state of
disbelief. After all, this is not the Goa they love
and value so much. They had always boasted and taken
pride over Goa maintaining its communal harmony,
despite all odds.
But when the houses of minority community were
ransacked and demolished, shops burgled by an angry
mob led by BJP and a few Shiv Sainiks, they were
reduced to mere spectators watching the incidents from
the safety of their houses.
They talk but refuse to be quoted. Said one person
“They can do anything. They have turned a small issue
into a religious issue and are attacking people and
destroying homes. We want to be safe.”
“We are very shocked by the way people have reacted.
They have mixed two issues: one of religion and
another insider-outsider issue. It is really sad and I
feel ashamed,” said another lady.
Meanwhile, an elderly man who observed the incidents
of the day went inside shaking his hands, as the mob
started pelting stones and attacking police. “This is
the darkest and worst day for the Goan society. As few
locals are going about creating a mountain out of a
molehill, they have destroyed the harmony and peace of
the place. I can’t believe this is happening in my
Goa,” he added.
Another person, who was part of the mob on Friday, but
withdrew on Saturday said, “It has now become a
political issue and the politicians are now using us
for their political gains.”
GOA WANTS ANSWERS
• THEY SAY: CM Pratapsing Rane tells a delegation of
minority leaders who seek appointment with him on
Saturday, “I have visited the place in the morning.
Everything is normal and peaceful. You meet me on
Monday”.
BUT: Mr. CM is burning cars, pelting stones,
ransacking petrol pumps and looting sari, footwear
shops and small establishments, injured policemen etc.
signs of peace or violence?
• THEY SAY: Both the people from majority community
and BJP leaders say that the violence occurred because
people from minority community brought people armed
with swords and knives from Bhatkal and Hubli
BUT: If the people from minority community were really
armed, then why did they not retaliate and attack the
mob? On the contrary, many rushed back home and others
took shelter in the mosque at Curchorem.
• THEY SAY: Further there are allegations that they
came in large numbers from Karnataka.
BUT: Not a single vehicle, which was damaged and
destroyed, had Karnataka registration. All vehicles
belonged to people from minority community in Goa.
• They Say: Leader of Opposition, Manohar Parrikar
said, “The influx of migrants in the state cause
social tension and disturb the harmony of the state.”
BUT: The majority of the people whose houses were
attacked, shops burnt and burgled are very much Goans.
And the few others who had migrated from other parts
of country had made Goa their homes and have ration
cards. By calling them outsiders, aren’t you violating
their fundamental right to live and work here?
• THEY SAY: Police claim that they were extremely
short – staffed to control the mob of three thousand
plus.
BUT: It is surprising that with Six Dy SP’s and Twelve
Police Inspectors at the spot, the police failed to
control the mob. But one must admit that the police
were tired and hungry. After all, they are on duty
from Friday evening and the authorities didn’t even
bother to feed them lunch. No wonder, many found it
difficult to handle the mob on empty stomachs.
(Gomantak Times - Weekender, Panjim, March 5, 2006)
Neros in Khaki
The BJP ignites a minor incident and has fuelled
hatred that has snowballed into full blown communal
carnage in Curchorem. As homes and hearts of the
minorities are being torn apart, a hapless and “badly
stretched” police watches over the destruction and
loot. TEAM GT traveled and worked out of the riot
stricken areas of Savordem and Curchorem to get you
the real story and separate falsehood from facts.
Curchorem/Sanvordem:
Goa went into a spin as the communal violence in
Curchorem and Savordem spun out of control and
threatened to engulf the whole state, thankfully here
were no deaths, but a complete failure on the
intelligence machinery and the BJP’s tacit as well as
overt role in fuelling tensions, has scarred Goa’s
psyche.
The communal violence that has rocked the state and
destroyed the communal harmony and law and order
situation in the state could have been averted if the
various arms of government had arrived at a consensus.
Worse still, even as the government machinery failed,
politicians took advantage of the situation, thereby
instigating the crowd and worsening the situation.
Reliable sources reveal that while SP (South) was
against issuing permission to the minority community
to hold a rally because he felt that the situation was
threatening to snowball into a major controversy
between the minority and majority community. However,
the Deputy Magistrate (South) granted permission to
hold the rally. Later Deputy Magistrate did withdraw
the permission to hold the rally , but by then it was
too late and in the unfortunate incident happening
since Friday many from the minority community were
attacked , their shops destroyed, houses ransacked and
vehicles damaged and scorched.
If on Friday, the police with a little force of over
409 personnel failed to handle the mob of 300o plus,
then on Saturday with a force led by SP (South). six
Dy.SP’s and 12 Police Inspector’s stood as mute
spectators as the crowd went on a rampage after being
ignited by the BJP leaders.
A controversial senior office bearer of BJP was heard
saying “It is high time that Hindus and Christians
join hands to kill the Muslims”. Despite all this, no
BJP leaders was arrested or warned for igniting the
crowd and creating communal tension!
S(H)AT(T)ER DAY
• Demonstrators gather at Sanvordem TISK, 60 arrested
for violating Section 144.
• As Chief Minister Rane arrives, gathered people
demand release of 60. Rane warns the people and
leaves.
• Mob turns violent. Police swings into action, fires
in the air. Policemen hurt. Fire services put into
service.
• Governor Jamir arrives .Holds talks with BJP
leadership led by Manohar Parrikar.
• Those arrested are released by 1.30 pm. Mob
continues to loot business establishments and destroy
vehicles.
• Fresh violence erupts. PI Gundu Naik’s pistol
snatched. PSI Devendra Gad also injured, falls
unconscious. His pistol is also taken.
• Mob beats up a constable. He pulls out his service
revolver. Some rounds fired by mistake injuring one
Manohar Naik and another person. Both admitted to Goa
Medical College.
• CISF already posted, three RAF men and CRPF arrived
today.
Six Dy.SP s, about Twelve Police Inspectors should
have controlled it, but the force was inadequate.
Senior officials of the Goa police admit that some of
the damage unleashed on minorities could have been
controlled and quelled since there were Six DySPs and
Eleven Police Inspector’s who were at the spot.
However they admit that the number of men did not add
up. The force was woefully short of what was needed to
stem the violence.
Though no one is admitting this openly, it is clear
that the entire force and the almost non-existent
police machinery was caught napping and were
unprepared for the situation. The BJP and its
affiliates knew only too well that it takes Thirty six
hours for Goa to mobilize optimum personal in a
situation like this and struck without warning.
The Goa Government has claimed credit for not allowing
the violence to get out of hand. In fact Chief
Minister Rane actually termed the situation peaceful,
since there not a single causality. (As our stories
will tell you, this claim is laughable)
Significantly, police officials have completely denied
the BJP propaganda that minority gangs had come from
Bhatkal and Karwar in Karnataka and had brandished
swords and threatened to wipe out the majority
population in Sanvordem. DIG Ujjwal Mishra said that
both the SP and DM (South Goa) confirmed that “in
meeting of the minorities yesterday (Friday) none was
armed or looked like an outsider”.
Mishra admitted that the Goa police was “badly
stretched” and was in no position to control the
sudden but almost premeditated attack on minority
shops, establishments.
Asked why the police fiddled in Curchorem while it
burnt, Mishra speaking to TEAM GT said “We wanted to
save lives. The force was escorting the victims and
was not enough to counter attack and arrest the
attackers.”
Roadway to Hell
Cocktail of Hate: Shaken and Stirred
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters@gomantaktimes.com
Nearly 50 vehicles destroyed and many burnt, four
petrol pumps damaged, shops looted, 20 houses
ransacked and later burnt. All owned by people from
the minority community and the number is increasing by
the hour.
Curchorem/Savordem: The stillborn silence and
suspicion look that they give you makes you squirm. If
the shameless violence appeared to be greatest mockery
of democracy for the cultured, then for the seven
hundred plus persons from the minority community here,
it had shattered their dreams and vision of communal
harmony in Goa.
As democracy’s most forceful articulation , inevitably
driven by the most primeval passions- hate, made its
way into Curchorem and Savordem from Friday , it has
probably silenced the people of the minority community
forever. They are scared to speak or react. But once
they open up, the scars are evident.
Slowly but with caution they reveal how the nameless,
unreasoning and unjustified terror has paralyzed their
life forever. Though they speak, they refuse to be
quoted for they fear that will be punished by the
majority community for speaking their mind.
“We were planning a silent rally to propagate communal
harmony and human bonding on Friday. But we never
expected things to go out of the hand” said a young
person from the minority community.
Recollecting the events of Friday he said, “we
canceled our rally by 2.30 pm once we were warned by
the Deputy Collector (South) that there was a chance
of a mob attack. But by then many people had gathered
at Curchorem from different parts of Goa. Before we
could think or do anything, a mob appeared and pelted
stones at us. Further, they destroyed our vehicles
and many of us took shelter in the mosque.”
“We are separated from our families. We tool shelter
in the mosque, but we hear that our children were
driven away from the house before the mob damaged and
looted it. We don’t know where and how they are,” said
one elderly man.
What has shocked the minority community is the
unprepardness and inefficiency of the Goa police and
Congress government. “if the police suspected foul
play they should have come prepared. There were hardly
30 or 40 policemen when a mob of more than 1000
policemen attacked us,” said another person.
Congress voters since ages, they swear that they will
never vote for the party again, “We were calling each
and every Congress party minister for help and not a
single person was contactable. We are also human
beings, we also have feelings, and we also want to
live peacefully. Why are politicians playing with out
lives and dreams to fulfill their political
ambitions”, said an elderly man. With tears in his
eyes, he added, “This is not the Goa I knew and loved.
This is not my Goa.”
They rubbished newspaper reports that people from
majority community reacted because many of their
people came from Bhatkal and Hubli in vehicles with
swords and knives. “This is utter lie .If it was true,
we should have also attacked the mob rather than
taking shelter in the mosque. Why was not a single
vehicle with Karnataka registration burnt or
destroyed?
All the vehicles that were destroyed belonged to
people from our community, who are either Goans or
settled here since ages.” And true enough; all the
vehicles destroyed and burnt had Goa registration!
I don’ Know, I just don’t know
The woman who wanted to build the Madrasa is too
shocked at the backlash.
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters@gomantaktimes.com
Guddemol (Sanvordem)
Fear stared in Samshad Begum Anar Bi’s eyes and
chalked her face. She is absolutely confused and too
shocked to speak. When after lots of coaxing, she does
speak most of what she utters are abrupt sentences,
followed by long stretches of silence and stare.
She starts of with, “I built this structure single
handedly. I did get financial help from my community
members. It was to be a mosque and a madrasa .People
could pray and young children could study Arabic.”
Samshad had built the structure on a government land,
which comes under the Twenty Point Programme. The
structure was renovated recently to start a mosque as
well as a Madrasa (a school for imparting religious
preachings). But on February 24, the Savordem
panchayat issued a notice in which they stated that
the structure is illegal and would be demolished
within seven days. However, she got a stay order from
the Directorate of Panchayats. But when locals learnt
about it, they attacked the building at night and
demolished the structure.
“It was around midnight, when a mob attacked and
destroyed the structure. I don’t know why they
attacked. I just don’t know…,” and her voice withered
away, as if she was again lost in her world of
uncertainty and grief.
This is not the Goa we once knew
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters@gomantaktimes.com
Curchorem/ Sanvordem
Many locals are shocked and in an utter state of
disbelief. After all, this is not the Goa they love
and value so much. They had always boasted and taken
pride over Goa maintaining its communal harmony,
despite all odds.
But when the houses of minority community were
ransacked and demolished, shops burgled by an angry
mob led by BJP and a few Shiv Sainiks, they were
reduced to mere spectators watching the incidents from
the safety of their houses.
They talk but refuse to be quoted. Said one person
“They can do anything. They have turned a small issue
into a religious issue and are attacking people and
destroying homes. We want to be safe.”
“We are very shocked by the way people have reacted.
They have mixed two issues: one of religion and
another insider-outsider issue. It is really sad and I
feel ashamed,” said another lady.
Meanwhile, an elderly man who observed the incidents
of the day went inside shaking his hands, as the mob
started pelting stones and attacking police. “This is
the darkest and worst day for the Goan society. As few
locals are going about creating a mountain out of a
molehill, they have destroyed the harmony and peace of
the place. I can’t believe this is happening in my
Goa,” he added.
Another person, who was part of the mob on Friday, but
withdrew on Saturday said, “It has now become a
political issue and the politicians are now using us
for their political gains.”
GOA WANTS ANSWERS
• THEY SAY: CM Pratapsing Rane tells a delegation of
minority leaders who seek appointment with him on
Saturday, “I have visited the place in the morning.
Everything is normal and peaceful. You meet me on
Monday”.
BUT: Mr. CM is burning cars, pelting stones,
ransacking petrol pumps and looting sari, footwear
shops and small establishments, injured policemen etc.
signs of peace or violence?
• THEY SAY: Both the people from majority community
and BJP leaders say that the violence occurred because
people from minority community brought people armed
with swords and knives from Bhatkal and Hubli
BUT: If the people from minority community were really
armed, then why did they not retaliate and attack the
mob? On the contrary, many rushed back home and others
took shelter in the mosque at Curchorem.
• THEY SAY: Further there are allegations that they
came in large numbers from Karnataka.
BUT: Not a single vehicle, which was damaged and
destroyed, had Karnataka registration. All vehicles
belonged to people from minority community in Goa.
• They Say: Leader of Opposition, Manohar Parrikar
said, “The influx of migrants in the state cause
social tension and disturb the harmony of the state.”
BUT: The majority of the people whose houses were
attacked, shops burnt and burgled are very much Goans.
And the few others who had migrated from other parts
of country had made Goa their homes and have ration
cards. By calling them outsiders, aren’t you violating
their fundamental right to live and work here?
• THEY SAY: Police claim that they were extremely
short – staffed to control the mob of three thousand
plus.
BUT: It is surprising that with Six Dy SP’s and Twelve
Police Inspectors at the spot, the police failed to
control the mob. But one must admit that the police
were tired and hungry. After all, they are on duty
from Friday evening and the authorities didn’t even
bother to feed them lunch. No wonder, many found it
difficult to handle the mob on empty stomachs.
RANE AND PARRIKAR ARE BOTH CRIMINALS' – Victims of Sanvordem
RANE AND PARRIKAR ARE BOTH CRIMINALS' – Victims of
Sanvordem
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim edition
dated March 6,2005)
When Godhra happened, Gujarat had a BJP government.
Goa is ruled by a party Muslims trusted blindly
till
they were blinded last Friday.
Does anyone care to listen to the voice of the Muslims
in Sanvordem and Curchorem? This is their verdict. You
want to know why? Here's why. Nighar Agha was asked to
leave her rented house by her landlady cos she was
forced to by Hindu mobs. She ran away with her
4-year-old daughter with a heart problem. Seeing her
run, the mob snatched away the medicine bag of her
daughter. She could have died
running from the mob.
Noorjah Sheikh broke her back but managed to cover the
mouths of her children so that they didn't shout,
Sheikh Rafiq locked himself and his family, but the
mob came, broke his garage and damaged both his cars
and 2 of his shops. The Sheikh brothers screamed out
to the police to help when eight of their shops were
ransacked and looted. Not a single policeman came
forward.
We looked for these victims in Sanvordem, Curchorem,
Margao and at the Margao railway station to present
voices that would have otherwise been numbed
By Preetu Nair
preetu_nair at gomantaktimes.com
MARGAO/SANVORDEM /CURCHOREM: It was the greatest test
of endurance for Nighar Agha last Friday. The images
of the riots will haunt her forever. Living alone in a
rented house at Sanvordem, Nigar has three little
kids. Her husband is in the Gulf and her four-year-old
daughter has a heart problem and is easily susceptible
to infection.
"On that unfortunate day, my daughter got an eye
infection and fever. I was scared and worried about
her health. Though I wanted to take her to the
hospital, I couldn't and her condition worsened. In
the morning, our landlady, a Catholic, came to my
help. She took my daughter to the hospital. But when
she returned, she advised me to vacate the house as
people from the majority community in the area were
threatening to attack us," she recollects and pauses.
Taking a deep breath, she again continues with the
horrors she underwent on Saturday afternoon. "Along
with some boys, who had taken shelter in my house, and
children, I walked to my brothers' house as no one was
ready to give us lift and it was impossible for my
brothers to enter Sanvordem. Four boys lifted my ill
daughter and we walked for nearly 6 km, when a mob
surrounded us and abused us. One man snatched the bag
containing my daughter's medicine and threw it in the
field. They beat two boys and said, "We will ensure
that you people are not able to raise your head for
atleast another 10 years". When I pleaded and cried,
they allowed us to go."
57-year-old Noorjah Sheikh still squirms in pain. "We
were scared and helpless. When we heard that mobs were
attacking our homes, we armed ourselves with the
masalas and utensils. But when they started pelting
stones and shouting slogans we got scared. So I rushed
upstairs in the dark (they didn't switch on the light
that night) to collect some sticks but lost my balance
and hurt my back and neck. Though in pain, I didn't
scream, lest the mob heard my cry. I was scared for
the lives of the young children at home. I was really
scared and helpless," she reveals. She admits that it
is shocking that majority of people from the mob were
people whom they knew, if not by name, but atleast by
face.
Revealing his tale of woes, Sheikh Rafiq from
Sanvordem reveals that he was at the mosque when he
got message that homes and shops of minority community
were being ransacked. So he rushed home to be with his
family of 10. "I locked the door from outside. We
switched off the lights and were too scared to even
breathe. Around 8 pm, we heard noises and a mob of
youngsters approaching our home with torch, shouting
"Jai Mahadev". They broke open the garage and
destroyed two cars, while I stood near my window as a
hapless and speechless spectator. We were so scared
that women held the mouth of our children, lest they
make any noise," he revealed.
Questioning the role of police in the communal riot,
he said, "I called DIG Ujjwal Mishra for help. He
promised to send help, but then cut the line without
taking the address. The police never came. Late in the
night, we along with the women and children in our
neighborhood (around 20 persons) escaped in their
Maruti van to my brother's house in Margao."
Sheikh Brothers, who own nearly 10 shops in Sanvordem
reveal that eight of their shops were completely
destroyed by the mob, homes attacked and vehicles
destroyed and burnt. "Everything happened before the
police and they stood their helpless as if unwilling
to help us. All pleas for help fell on deaf ears,"
they added.
Thankfully, an eye for an eye is not the motto of the
minority community, who allege that just as Nero
fiddled while Rome burned, in the same manner, Rane
was busy attending functions even as Curchorem and
Sanvordem was burning. "It is Congress government and
it was the ruling government's job to protect us. In
Congress raj if this is our fate, then what is the use
of having Rane as the CM? More than BJP and RSS, we
blame Rane for the communal tension," alleged Ussein
Gazi.
* People tried contacting DIG Ujjwal Mishra on Friday
and Saturday for help. He promised help but never
delivered.
When they contacted CM Rane when mob was burning their
cars and attacking homes, he said everything is under
control. Later, he cut their calls abruptly.
All Congress MLAs and MP's had only one answer, we
have called DIG.
* During a meeting at Margao, the minority community
leaders criticized Rane and asked Digambar Kamat (who
was present there) what he would do for them? He was
absolutely silent.
***********************
WAITING TO CATCH THE TRAIN TO FREEDOM!
BY PREETU NAIR
Preetu_nair at gomantaktimes.com
MARGAO STATION: In March 2002, Gujarat burnt as
bloodthirsty mobs attacked homes and killed innocent
people. In March 2005, Goa is burning. Hundreds of
people from the minority community are rendered
homeless and jobless. The politics of hate is slowly
threatening to erupt the fabric of a harmonious
society and robust democracy that Goans have always
been proud of.
Scared that people who wrongly justified the burning
of vehicles, destruction of shops and homes, all owned
by the Minority community, by saying that armed people
came from Bhatkal and Hubli, would also harm them
without any rhyme or reason, they are leaving the
state, which was their home for long.
At 3.25 pm, the Margao railway station is packed with
women in burkha, their children and men, all waiting
to board Jan Shatabdi express bound for Mangalore.
Somehow their scared and agonized looks were more
chilling than the event itself. They were scared to
talk and appeared withdrawn. There was shock and gloom
prevailing all over.
Well, they can't be really blamed, after all their
homes were destroyed by the very people they knew.
They also never thought that the homes of friends and
neighbours would be shut for them during the riots due
to fear of a backlash.
As violence flared up in Curchorem and Sanvordem and
politicians slowly made it an insider-outsider issue
(to quote Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar: Heavy
influx of migrants to the state was the cause of
creation of social tension and disharmony), it has
left a feeling of fear and mistrust. "We have been
living in Goa since last 20 years and had a small shop
at Curchorem. The mob dragged us out of the house and
burnt our house. They destroyed our shop. We came to
Goa to earn a living, not to spread communal
disharmony. It hurts that even after living here for
20 years, we still can't call Goa our home," said a
person who was boarding the train to go to his
hometown Bhatkal, who didn't wish to be named.
Just as the train arrived at the platform at 3.32 pm,
they eagerly boarded the train. Once in the train,
they removed the burkha, breathed some fresh air and
smiled in relief as they set out on a new journey.
Sanvordem
(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim edition
dated March 6,2005)
When Godhra happened, Gujarat had a BJP government.
Goa is ruled by a party Muslims trusted blindly
till
they were blinded last Friday.
Does anyone care to listen to the voice of the Muslims
in Sanvordem and Curchorem? This is their verdict. You
want to know why? Here's why. Nighar Agha was asked to
leave her rented house by her landlady cos she was
forced to by Hindu mobs. She ran away with her
4-year-old daughter with a heart problem. Seeing her
run, the mob snatched away the medicine bag of her
daughter. She could have died
running from the mob.
Noorjah Sheikh broke her back but managed to cover the
mouths of her children so that they didn't shout,
Sheikh Rafiq locked himself and his family, but the
mob came, broke his garage and damaged both his cars
and 2 of his shops. The Sheikh brothers screamed out
to the police to help when eight of their shops were
ransacked and looted. Not a single policeman came
forward.
We looked for these victims in Sanvordem, Curchorem,
Margao and at the Margao railway station to present
voices that would have otherwise been numbed
By Preetu Nair
preetu_nair at gomantaktimes.com
MARGAO/SANVORDEM /CURCHOREM: It was the greatest test
of endurance for Nighar Agha last Friday. The images
of the riots will haunt her forever. Living alone in a
rented house at Sanvordem, Nigar has three little
kids. Her husband is in the Gulf and her four-year-old
daughter has a heart problem and is easily susceptible
to infection.
"On that unfortunate day, my daughter got an eye
infection and fever. I was scared and worried about
her health. Though I wanted to take her to the
hospital, I couldn't and her condition worsened. In
the morning, our landlady, a Catholic, came to my
help. She took my daughter to the hospital. But when
she returned, she advised me to vacate the house as
people from the majority community in the area were
threatening to attack us," she recollects and pauses.
Taking a deep breath, she again continues with the
horrors she underwent on Saturday afternoon. "Along
with some boys, who had taken shelter in my house, and
children, I walked to my brothers' house as no one was
ready to give us lift and it was impossible for my
brothers to enter Sanvordem. Four boys lifted my ill
daughter and we walked for nearly 6 km, when a mob
surrounded us and abused us. One man snatched the bag
containing my daughter's medicine and threw it in the
field. They beat two boys and said, "We will ensure
that you people are not able to raise your head for
atleast another 10 years". When I pleaded and cried,
they allowed us to go."
57-year-old Noorjah Sheikh still squirms in pain. "We
were scared and helpless. When we heard that mobs were
attacking our homes, we armed ourselves with the
masalas and utensils. But when they started pelting
stones and shouting slogans we got scared. So I rushed
upstairs in the dark (they didn't switch on the light
that night) to collect some sticks but lost my balance
and hurt my back and neck. Though in pain, I didn't
scream, lest the mob heard my cry. I was scared for
the lives of the young children at home. I was really
scared and helpless," she reveals. She admits that it
is shocking that majority of people from the mob were
people whom they knew, if not by name, but atleast by
face.
Revealing his tale of woes, Sheikh Rafiq from
Sanvordem reveals that he was at the mosque when he
got message that homes and shops of minority community
were being ransacked. So he rushed home to be with his
family of 10. "I locked the door from outside. We
switched off the lights and were too scared to even
breathe. Around 8 pm, we heard noises and a mob of
youngsters approaching our home with torch, shouting
"Jai Mahadev". They broke open the garage and
destroyed two cars, while I stood near my window as a
hapless and speechless spectator. We were so scared
that women held the mouth of our children, lest they
make any noise," he revealed.
Questioning the role of police in the communal riot,
he said, "I called DIG Ujjwal Mishra for help. He
promised to send help, but then cut the line without
taking the address. The police never came. Late in the
night, we along with the women and children in our
neighborhood (around 20 persons) escaped in their
Maruti van to my brother's house in Margao."
Sheikh Brothers, who own nearly 10 shops in Sanvordem
reveal that eight of their shops were completely
destroyed by the mob, homes attacked and vehicles
destroyed and burnt. "Everything happened before the
police and they stood their helpless as if unwilling
to help us. All pleas for help fell on deaf ears,"
they added.
Thankfully, an eye for an eye is not the motto of the
minority community, who allege that just as Nero
fiddled while Rome burned, in the same manner, Rane
was busy attending functions even as Curchorem and
Sanvordem was burning. "It is Congress government and
it was the ruling government's job to protect us. In
Congress raj if this is our fate, then what is the use
of having Rane as the CM? More than BJP and RSS, we
blame Rane for the communal tension," alleged Ussein
Gazi.
* People tried contacting DIG Ujjwal Mishra on Friday
and Saturday for help. He promised help but never
delivered.
When they contacted CM Rane when mob was burning their
cars and attacking homes, he said everything is under
control. Later, he cut their calls abruptly.
All Congress MLAs and MP's had only one answer, we
have called DIG.
* During a meeting at Margao, the minority community
leaders criticized Rane and asked Digambar Kamat (who
was present there) what he would do for them? He was
absolutely silent.
***********************
WAITING TO CATCH THE TRAIN TO FREEDOM!
BY PREETU NAIR
Preetu_nair at gomantaktimes.com
MARGAO STATION: In March 2002, Gujarat burnt as
bloodthirsty mobs attacked homes and killed innocent
people. In March 2005, Goa is burning. Hundreds of
people from the minority community are rendered
homeless and jobless. The politics of hate is slowly
threatening to erupt the fabric of a harmonious
society and robust democracy that Goans have always
been proud of.
Scared that people who wrongly justified the burning
of vehicles, destruction of shops and homes, all owned
by the Minority community, by saying that armed people
came from Bhatkal and Hubli, would also harm them
without any rhyme or reason, they are leaving the
state, which was their home for long.
At 3.25 pm, the Margao railway station is packed with
women in burkha, their children and men, all waiting
to board Jan Shatabdi express bound for Mangalore.
Somehow their scared and agonized looks were more
chilling than the event itself. They were scared to
talk and appeared withdrawn. There was shock and gloom
prevailing all over.
Well, they can't be really blamed, after all their
homes were destroyed by the very people they knew.
They also never thought that the homes of friends and
neighbours would be shut for them during the riots due
to fear of a backlash.
As violence flared up in Curchorem and Sanvordem and
politicians slowly made it an insider-outsider issue
(to quote Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar: Heavy
influx of migrants to the state was the cause of
creation of social tension and disharmony), it has
left a feeling of fear and mistrust. "We have been
living in Goa since last 20 years and had a small shop
at Curchorem. The mob dragged us out of the house and
burnt our house. They destroyed our shop. We came to
Goa to earn a living, not to spread communal
disharmony. It hurts that even after living here for
20 years, we still can't call Goa our home," said a
person who was boarding the train to go to his
hometown Bhatkal, who didn't wish to be named.
Just as the train arrived at the platform at 3.32 pm,
they eagerly boarded the train. Once in the train,
they removed the burkha, breathed some fresh air and
smiled in relief as they set out on a new journey.
Neros in Khaki
Neros in Khaki
(This article appeared in GT- Weekender, Panjim, March
5, 2006)
The BJP ignites a minor incident and has fuelled
hatred that has snowballed into full blown communal
carnage in Curchorem. As homes and hearts of the
minorities are being torn apart, a hapless and “badly
stretched” police watches over the destruction and
loot. TEAM GT traveled and worked out of the riot
stricken areas of Savordem and Curchorem to get you
the real story and separate falsehood from facts.
Curchorem/Sanvordem:
Goa went into a spin as the communal violence in
Curchorem and Savordem spun out of control and
threatened to engulf the whole state, thankfully here
were no deaths, but a complete failure on the
intelligence machinery and the BJP’s tacit as well as
overt role in fuelling tensions, has scarred Goa’s
psyche.
The communal violence that has rocked the state and
destroyed the communal harmony and law and order
situation in the state could have been averted if the
various arms of government had arrived at a consensus.
Worse still, even as the government machinery failed,
politicians took advantage of the situation, thereby
instigating the crowd and worsening the situation.
Reliable sources reveal that while SP (South) was
against issuing permission to the minority community
to hold a rally because he felt that the situation was
threatening to snowball into a major controversy
between the minority and majority community. However,
the Deputy Magistrate (South) granted permission to
hold the rally. Later Deputy Magistrate did withdraw
the permission to hold the rally , but by then it was
too late and in the unfortunate incident happening
since Friday many from the minority community were
attacked , their shops destroyed, houses ransacked and
vehicles damaged and scorched.
If on Friday, the police with a little force of over
409 personnel failed to handle the mob of 300o plus,
then on Saturday with a force led by SP (South). six
Dy.SP’s and 12 Police Inspector’s stood as mute
spectators as the crowd went on a rampage after being
ignited by the BJP leaders.
A controversial senior office bearer of BJP was heard
saying “It is high time that Hindus and Christians
join hands to kill the Muslims”. Despite all this, no
BJP leaders was arrested or warned for igniting the
crowd and creating communal tension!
S(H)AT(T)ER DAY
• Demonstrators gather at Sanvordem TISK, 60 arrested
for violating Section 144.
• As Chief Minister Rane arrives, gathered people
demand release of 60. Rane warns the people and
leaves.
• Mob turns violent. Police swings into action, fires
in the air. Policemen hurt. Fire services put into
service.
• Governor Jamir arrives .Holds talks with BJP
leadership led by Manohar Parrikar.
• Those arrested are released by 1.30 pm. Mob
continues to loot business establishments and destroy
vehicles.
• Fresh violence erupts. PI Gundu Naik’s pistol
snatched. PSI Devendra Gad also injured, falls
unconscious. His pistol is also taken.
• Mob beats up a constable. He pulls out his service
revolver. Some rounds fired by mistake injuring one
Manohar Naik and another person. Both admitted to Goa
Medical College.
• CISF already posted, three RAF men and CRPF arrived
today.
Six Dy.SP s, about Twelve Police Inspectors should
have controlled it, but the force was inadequate.
Senior officials of the Goa police admit that some of
the damage unleashed on minorities could have been
controlled and quelled since there were Six DySPs and
Eleven Police Inspector’s who were at the spot.
However they admit that the number of men did not add
up. The force was woefully short of what was needed to
stem the violence.
Though no one is admitting this openly, it is clear
that the entire force and the almost non-existent
police machinery was caught napping and were
unprepared for the situation. The BJP and its
affiliates knew only too well that it takes Thirty six
hours for Goa to mobilize optimum personal in a
situation like this and struck without warning.
The Goa Government has claimed credit for not allowing
the violence to get out of hand. In fact Chief
Minister Rane actually termed the situation peaceful,
since there not a single causality. (As our stories
will tell you, this claim is laughable)
Significantly, police officials have completely denied
the BJP propaganda that minority gangs had come from
Bhatkal and Karwar in Karnataka and had brandished
swords and threatened to wipe out the majority
population in Sanvordem. DIG Ujjwal Mishra said that
both the SP and DM (South Goa) confirmed that “in
meeting of the minorities yesterday (Friday) none was
armed or looked like an outsider”.
Mishra admitted that the Goa police was “badly
stretched” and was in no position to control the
sudden but almost premeditated attack on minority
shops, establishments.
Asked why the police fiddled in Curchorem while it
burnt, Mishra speaking to TEAM GT said “We wanted to
save lives. The force was escorting the victims and
was not enough to counter attack and arrest the
attackers.”
Roadway to Hell
Cocktail of Hate: Shaken and Stirred
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters at gomantaktimes.com
Nearly 50 vehicles destroyed and many burnt, four
petrol pumps damaged, shops looted, 20 houses
ransacked and later burnt. All owned by people from
the minority community and the number is increasing by
the hour.
Curchorem/Savordem: The stillborn silence and
suspicion look that they give you makes you squirm. If
the shameless violence appeared to be greatest mockery
of democracy for the cultured, then for the seven
hundred plus persons from the minority community here,
it had shattered their dreams and vision of communal
harmony in Goa.
As democracy’s most forceful articulation , inevitably
driven by the most primeval passions- hate, made its
way into Curchorem and Savordem from Friday , it has
probably silenced the people of the minority community
forever. They are scared to speak or react. But once
they open up, the scars are evident.
Slowly but with caution they reveal how the nameless,
unreasoning and unjustified terror has paralyzed their
life forever. Though they speak, they refuse to be
quoted for they fear that will be punished by the
majority community for speaking their mind.
“We were planning a silent rally to propagate communal
harmony and human bonding on Friday. But we never
expected things to go out of the hand” said a young
person from the minority community.
Recollecting the events of Friday he said, “we
canceled our rally by 2.30 pm once we were warned by
the Deputy Collector (South) that there was a chance
of a mob attack. But by then many people had gathered
at Curchorem from different parts of Goa. Before we
could think or do anything, a mob appeared and pelted
stones at us. Further, they destroyed our vehicles
and many of us took shelter in the mosque.”
“We are separated from our families. We tool shelter
in the mosque, but we hear that our children were
driven away from the house before the mob damaged and
looted it. We don’t know where and how they are,” said
one elderly man.
What has shocked the minority community is the
unprepardness and inefficiency of the Goa police and
Congress government. “if the police suspected foul
play they should have come prepared. There were hardly
30 or 40 policemen when a mob of more than 1000
policemen attacked us,” said another person.
Congress voters since ages, they swear that they will
never vote for the party again, “We were calling each
and every Congress party minister for help and not a
single person was contactable. We are also human
beings, we also have feelings, and we also want to
live peacefully. Why are politicians playing with out
lives and dreams to fulfill their political
ambitions”, said an elderly man. With tears in his
eyes, he added, “This is not the Goa I knew and loved.
This is not my Goa.”
They rubbished newspaper reports that people from
majority community reacted because many of their
people came from Bhatkal and Hubli in vehicles with
swords and knives. “This is utter lie .If it was true,
we should have also attacked the mob rather than
taking shelter in the mosque. Why was not a single
vehicle with Karnataka registration burnt or
destroyed?
All the vehicles that were destroyed belonged to
people from our community, who are either Goans or
settled here since ages.” And true enough; all the
vehicles destroyed and burnt had Goa registration!
I don’ Know, I just don’t know
The woman who wanted to build the Madrasa is too
shocked at the backlash.
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters at gomantaktimes.com
Guddemol (Sanvordem)
Fear stared in Samshad Begum Anar Bi’s eyes and
chalked her face. She is absolutely confused and too
shocked to speak. When after lots of coaxing, she does
speak most of what she utters are abrupt sentences,
followed by long stretches of silence and stare.
She starts of with, “I built this structure single
handedly. I did get financial help from my community
members. It was to be a mosque and a madrasa .People
could pray and young children could study Arabic.”
Samshad had built the structure on a government land,
which comes under the Twenty Point Programme. The
structure was renovated recently to start a mosque as
well as a Madrasa (a school for imparting religious
preachings). But on February 24, the Savordem
panchayat issued a notice in which they stated that
the structure is illegal and would be demolished
within seven days. However, she got a stay order from
the Directorate of Panchayats. But when locals learnt
about it, they attacked the building at night and
demolished the structure.
“It was around midnight, when a mob attacked and
destroyed the structure. I don’t know why they
attacked. I just don’t know
,” and her voice withered
away, as if she was again lost in her world of
uncertainty and grief.
This is not the Goa we once knew
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters at gomantaktimes.com
Curchorem/ Sanvordem
Many locals are shocked and in an utter state of
disbelief. After all, this is not the Goa they love
and value so much. They had always boasted and taken
pride over Goa maintaining its communal harmony,
despite all odds.
But when the houses of minority community were
ransacked and demolished, shops burgled by an angry
mob led by BJP and a few Shiv Sainiks, they were
reduced to mere spectators watching the incidents from
the safety of their houses.
They talk but refuse to be quoted. Said one person
“They can do anything. They have turned a small issue
into a religious issue and are attacking people and
destroying homes. We want to be safe.”
“We are very shocked by the way people have reacted.
They have mixed two issues: one of religion and
another insider-outsider issue. It is really sad and I
feel ashamed,” said another lady.
Meanwhile, an elderly man who observed the incidents
of the day went inside shaking his hands, as the mob
started pelting stones and attacking police. “This is
the darkest and worst day for the Goan society. As few
locals are going about creating a mountain out of a
molehill, they have destroyed the harmony and peace of
the place. I can’t believe this is happening in my
Goa,” he added.
Another person, who was part of the mob on Friday, but
withdrew on Saturday said, “It has now become a
political issue and the politicians are now using us
for their political gains.”
GOA WANTS ANSWERS
• THEY SAY: CM Pratapsing Rane tells a delegation of
minority leaders who seek appointment with him on
Saturday, “I have visited the place in the morning.
Everything is normal and peaceful. You meet me on
Monday”.
BUT: Mr. CM is burning cars, pelting stones,
ransacking petrol pumps and looting sari, footwear
shops and small establishments, injured policemen etc.
signs of peace or violence?
• THEY SAY: Both the people from majority community
and BJP leaders say that the violence occurred because
people from minority community brought people armed
with swords and knives from Bhatkal and Hubli
BUT: If the people from minority community were really
armed, then why did they not retaliate and attack the
mob? On the contrary, many rushed back home and others
took shelter in the mosque at Curchorem.
• THEY SAY: Further there are allegations that they
came in large numbers from Karnataka.
BUT: Not a single vehicle, which was damaged and
destroyed, had Karnataka registration. All vehicles
belonged to people from minority community in Goa.
• They Say: Leader of Opposition, Manohar Parrikar
said, “The influx of migrants in the state cause
social tension and disturb the harmony of the state.”
BUT: The majority of the people whose houses were
attacked, shops burnt and burgled are very much Goans.
And the few others who had migrated from other parts
of country had made Goa their homes and have ration
cards. By calling them outsiders, aren’t you violating
their fundamental right to live and work here?
• THEY SAY: Police claim that they were extremely
short – staffed to control the mob of three thousand
plus.
BUT: It is surprising that with Six Dy SP’s and Twelve
Police Inspectors at the spot, the police failed to
control the mob. But one must admit that the police
were tired and hungry. After all, they are on duty
from Friday evening and the authorities didn’t even
bother to feed them lunch. No wonder, many found it
difficult to handle the mob on empty stomachs.
(This article appeared in GT- Weekender, Panjim, March
5, 2006)
The BJP ignites a minor incident and has fuelled
hatred that has snowballed into full blown communal
carnage in Curchorem. As homes and hearts of the
minorities are being torn apart, a hapless and “badly
stretched” police watches over the destruction and
loot. TEAM GT traveled and worked out of the riot
stricken areas of Savordem and Curchorem to get you
the real story and separate falsehood from facts.
Curchorem/Sanvordem:
Goa went into a spin as the communal violence in
Curchorem and Savordem spun out of control and
threatened to engulf the whole state, thankfully here
were no deaths, but a complete failure on the
intelligence machinery and the BJP’s tacit as well as
overt role in fuelling tensions, has scarred Goa’s
psyche.
The communal violence that has rocked the state and
destroyed the communal harmony and law and order
situation in the state could have been averted if the
various arms of government had arrived at a consensus.
Worse still, even as the government machinery failed,
politicians took advantage of the situation, thereby
instigating the crowd and worsening the situation.
Reliable sources reveal that while SP (South) was
against issuing permission to the minority community
to hold a rally because he felt that the situation was
threatening to snowball into a major controversy
between the minority and majority community. However,
the Deputy Magistrate (South) granted permission to
hold the rally. Later Deputy Magistrate did withdraw
the permission to hold the rally , but by then it was
too late and in the unfortunate incident happening
since Friday many from the minority community were
attacked , their shops destroyed, houses ransacked and
vehicles damaged and scorched.
If on Friday, the police with a little force of over
409 personnel failed to handle the mob of 300o plus,
then on Saturday with a force led by SP (South). six
Dy.SP’s and 12 Police Inspector’s stood as mute
spectators as the crowd went on a rampage after being
ignited by the BJP leaders.
A controversial senior office bearer of BJP was heard
saying “It is high time that Hindus and Christians
join hands to kill the Muslims”. Despite all this, no
BJP leaders was arrested or warned for igniting the
crowd and creating communal tension!
S(H)AT(T)ER DAY
• Demonstrators gather at Sanvordem TISK, 60 arrested
for violating Section 144.
• As Chief Minister Rane arrives, gathered people
demand release of 60. Rane warns the people and
leaves.
• Mob turns violent. Police swings into action, fires
in the air. Policemen hurt. Fire services put into
service.
• Governor Jamir arrives .Holds talks with BJP
leadership led by Manohar Parrikar.
• Those arrested are released by 1.30 pm. Mob
continues to loot business establishments and destroy
vehicles.
• Fresh violence erupts. PI Gundu Naik’s pistol
snatched. PSI Devendra Gad also injured, falls
unconscious. His pistol is also taken.
• Mob beats up a constable. He pulls out his service
revolver. Some rounds fired by mistake injuring one
Manohar Naik and another person. Both admitted to Goa
Medical College.
• CISF already posted, three RAF men and CRPF arrived
today.
Six Dy.SP s, about Twelve Police Inspectors should
have controlled it, but the force was inadequate.
Senior officials of the Goa police admit that some of
the damage unleashed on minorities could have been
controlled and quelled since there were Six DySPs and
Eleven Police Inspector’s who were at the spot.
However they admit that the number of men did not add
up. The force was woefully short of what was needed to
stem the violence.
Though no one is admitting this openly, it is clear
that the entire force and the almost non-existent
police machinery was caught napping and were
unprepared for the situation. The BJP and its
affiliates knew only too well that it takes Thirty six
hours for Goa to mobilize optimum personal in a
situation like this and struck without warning.
The Goa Government has claimed credit for not allowing
the violence to get out of hand. In fact Chief
Minister Rane actually termed the situation peaceful,
since there not a single causality. (As our stories
will tell you, this claim is laughable)
Significantly, police officials have completely denied
the BJP propaganda that minority gangs had come from
Bhatkal and Karwar in Karnataka and had brandished
swords and threatened to wipe out the majority
population in Sanvordem. DIG Ujjwal Mishra said that
both the SP and DM (South Goa) confirmed that “in
meeting of the minorities yesterday (Friday) none was
armed or looked like an outsider”.
Mishra admitted that the Goa police was “badly
stretched” and was in no position to control the
sudden but almost premeditated attack on minority
shops, establishments.
Asked why the police fiddled in Curchorem while it
burnt, Mishra speaking to TEAM GT said “We wanted to
save lives. The force was escorting the victims and
was not enough to counter attack and arrest the
attackers.”
Roadway to Hell
Cocktail of Hate: Shaken and Stirred
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters at gomantaktimes.com
Nearly 50 vehicles destroyed and many burnt, four
petrol pumps damaged, shops looted, 20 houses
ransacked and later burnt. All owned by people from
the minority community and the number is increasing by
the hour.
Curchorem/Savordem: The stillborn silence and
suspicion look that they give you makes you squirm. If
the shameless violence appeared to be greatest mockery
of democracy for the cultured, then for the seven
hundred plus persons from the minority community here,
it had shattered their dreams and vision of communal
harmony in Goa.
As democracy’s most forceful articulation , inevitably
driven by the most primeval passions- hate, made its
way into Curchorem and Savordem from Friday , it has
probably silenced the people of the minority community
forever. They are scared to speak or react. But once
they open up, the scars are evident.
Slowly but with caution they reveal how the nameless,
unreasoning and unjustified terror has paralyzed their
life forever. Though they speak, they refuse to be
quoted for they fear that will be punished by the
majority community for speaking their mind.
“We were planning a silent rally to propagate communal
harmony and human bonding on Friday. But we never
expected things to go out of the hand” said a young
person from the minority community.
Recollecting the events of Friday he said, “we
canceled our rally by 2.30 pm once we were warned by
the Deputy Collector (South) that there was a chance
of a mob attack. But by then many people had gathered
at Curchorem from different parts of Goa. Before we
could think or do anything, a mob appeared and pelted
stones at us. Further, they destroyed our vehicles
and many of us took shelter in the mosque.”
“We are separated from our families. We tool shelter
in the mosque, but we hear that our children were
driven away from the house before the mob damaged and
looted it. We don’t know where and how they are,” said
one elderly man.
What has shocked the minority community is the
unprepardness and inefficiency of the Goa police and
Congress government. “if the police suspected foul
play they should have come prepared. There were hardly
30 or 40 policemen when a mob of more than 1000
policemen attacked us,” said another person.
Congress voters since ages, they swear that they will
never vote for the party again, “We were calling each
and every Congress party minister for help and not a
single person was contactable. We are also human
beings, we also have feelings, and we also want to
live peacefully. Why are politicians playing with out
lives and dreams to fulfill their political
ambitions”, said an elderly man. With tears in his
eyes, he added, “This is not the Goa I knew and loved.
This is not my Goa.”
They rubbished newspaper reports that people from
majority community reacted because many of their
people came from Bhatkal and Hubli in vehicles with
swords and knives. “This is utter lie .If it was true,
we should have also attacked the mob rather than
taking shelter in the mosque. Why was not a single
vehicle with Karnataka registration burnt or
destroyed?
All the vehicles that were destroyed belonged to
people from our community, who are either Goans or
settled here since ages.” And true enough; all the
vehicles destroyed and burnt had Goa registration!
I don’ Know, I just don’t know
The woman who wanted to build the Madrasa is too
shocked at the backlash.
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters at gomantaktimes.com
Guddemol (Sanvordem)
Fear stared in Samshad Begum Anar Bi’s eyes and
chalked her face. She is absolutely confused and too
shocked to speak. When after lots of coaxing, she does
speak most of what she utters are abrupt sentences,
followed by long stretches of silence and stare.
She starts of with, “I built this structure single
handedly. I did get financial help from my community
members. It was to be a mosque and a madrasa .People
could pray and young children could study Arabic.”
Samshad had built the structure on a government land,
which comes under the Twenty Point Programme. The
structure was renovated recently to start a mosque as
well as a Madrasa (a school for imparting religious
preachings). But on February 24, the Savordem
panchayat issued a notice in which they stated that
the structure is illegal and would be demolished
within seven days. However, she got a stay order from
the Directorate of Panchayats. But when locals learnt
about it, they attacked the building at night and
demolished the structure.
“It was around midnight, when a mob attacked and
destroyed the structure. I don’t know why they
attacked. I just don’t know
,” and her voice withered
away, as if she was again lost in her world of
uncertainty and grief.
This is not the Goa we once knew
Preetu Nair and Lynn Shirodkar
reporters at gomantaktimes.com
Curchorem/ Sanvordem
Many locals are shocked and in an utter state of
disbelief. After all, this is not the Goa they love
and value so much. They had always boasted and taken
pride over Goa maintaining its communal harmony,
despite all odds.
But when the houses of minority community were
ransacked and demolished, shops burgled by an angry
mob led by BJP and a few Shiv Sainiks, they were
reduced to mere spectators watching the incidents from
the safety of their houses.
They talk but refuse to be quoted. Said one person
“They can do anything. They have turned a small issue
into a religious issue and are attacking people and
destroying homes. We want to be safe.”
“We are very shocked by the way people have reacted.
They have mixed two issues: one of religion and
another insider-outsider issue. It is really sad and I
feel ashamed,” said another lady.
Meanwhile, an elderly man who observed the incidents
of the day went inside shaking his hands, as the mob
started pelting stones and attacking police. “This is
the darkest and worst day for the Goan society. As few
locals are going about creating a mountain out of a
molehill, they have destroyed the harmony and peace of
the place. I can’t believe this is happening in my
Goa,” he added.
Another person, who was part of the mob on Friday, but
withdrew on Saturday said, “It has now become a
political issue and the politicians are now using us
for their political gains.”
GOA WANTS ANSWERS
• THEY SAY: CM Pratapsing Rane tells a delegation of
minority leaders who seek appointment with him on
Saturday, “I have visited the place in the morning.
Everything is normal and peaceful. You meet me on
Monday”.
BUT: Mr. CM is burning cars, pelting stones,
ransacking petrol pumps and looting sari, footwear
shops and small establishments, injured policemen etc.
signs of peace or violence?
• THEY SAY: Both the people from majority community
and BJP leaders say that the violence occurred because
people from minority community brought people armed
with swords and knives from Bhatkal and Hubli
BUT: If the people from minority community were really
armed, then why did they not retaliate and attack the
mob? On the contrary, many rushed back home and others
took shelter in the mosque at Curchorem.
• THEY SAY: Further there are allegations that they
came in large numbers from Karnataka.
BUT: Not a single vehicle, which was damaged and
destroyed, had Karnataka registration. All vehicles
belonged to people from minority community in Goa.
• They Say: Leader of Opposition, Manohar Parrikar
said, “The influx of migrants in the state cause
social tension and disturb the harmony of the state.”
BUT: The majority of the people whose houses were
attacked, shops burnt and burgled are very much Goans.
And the few others who had migrated from other parts
of country had made Goa their homes and have ration
cards. By calling them outsiders, aren’t you violating
their fundamental right to live and work here?
• THEY SAY: Police claim that they were extremely
short – staffed to control the mob of three thousand
plus.
BUT: It is surprising that with Six Dy SP’s and Twelve
Police Inspectors at the spot, the police failed to
control the mob. But one must admit that the police
were tired and hungry. After all, they are on duty
from Friday evening and the authorities didn’t even
bother to feed them lunch. No wonder, many found it
difficult to handle the mob on empty stomachs.
Only mines, no heart
Only mines, no heart
by Preetu Nair
(This article appeared first in GT Weekender, Panjim edition,
January 8, 2005)
"Babuso arrived at Pandhari's house with Prasad babu, a
Gujarati mine owner with a plan and a certain dream. A dream
where mine pits make gold and certain money too. Unlike a
farmer's job, where after sowing the field for six months, a
farmer may not earn anything because of a bad crop. With the
promise of better money, Pandhari was lured away from his
traditional work to a new work. But little he realizes then
that he has lighted a lamp that is slowly going to burn his
village, his home and finally people.
These characters of Sahitya Akademi winner Pundalik Naik's
novel Acchev (The Upheaval) come alive in very many persons
that one meets at Sattari taluka in Northern district of Goa.
Just like Pandhari they were few years back lured away with
dreams of a better future and good life and development. But
little did the villagers realize that the decision that they
are taking in one moment of weakness would destroy their
future forever and bring in grief and utter devastation. And
yet they know that there is no respite now!
Mining activities in the area has destroyed their source of
water and majority of villagers are now depended on water
supplied by the water tankers of the mining units in the
area. Majority of fields in the area are destroyed and people
are forced to work in the mining units, often for a paltry
sum to ensure that they provide two time meal to their
family.
Every year, the mining industry excavates some 80 million
tonnes of iron and manganese ore with mud from the mountains
in Goa. This has turned the forested areas of Satteri into a
barren land and disrupted ground water table, destroyed the
fields and degraded the habitat of ordinary men and women.
The problem is immense but no government in Goa or any
political party has ever indicated either interest or
commitment to deal with the problems created by the mining
industry. No doubt the mining units have created a fair
amount of employment and helped Goan economy but the price
these villagers in the mining area are paying is too huge.
"We have lost everything. Our fields are completely
destroyed. Our wells are dry. We made several complaints to
the mining companies and even government, but to no avail.
Now if mining activity is stopped then people in the village
will die of hunger and thirst (water is provided by the
mining area). However, it would have been a different story
if mining activity had stopped 15 years back, but then people
never knew the ill-effects of mining," said Balchandra Gawde
of a mining affected village of Pissurlem.
Balchandra is full of stories of how, the mining activity in
the area has slowly but steadily destroyed the economy of the
place and destroyed their peace and health. "People fall sick
in the area at the drop of a hat. The main reason for this is
air and water pollution. The tankers which provide water is
hardly cleaned (once a year). This is the water we use for
drinking, cooking etc. as a result; stomach ailments are
quite common in the area. Tuberculosis and lung ailments are
also very common. My aged mother often falls sick because of
the dust pollution."
He recollects that 12 year back he led a comfortable and calm
life with his family and worked in the 2000 sq mt field that
he tilled. At that time what he cultivated, the family ate.
"I didn't have to worry about rice or vegetables as
everything was grown by us. But the during one monsoon, as
the ore rejects descended with the rains into the fields with
the rain water entered the fields and destroyed the land and
the crops. Now we have to purchase everything from the market
and it is very expensive", he said.
Balchandra admits that every year the mining companies pay
them money for the loss to agriculture but this money is
quite less. "We have complained to the mamlatdar (village
officer) but it has not helped. There are around 150 mundkars
(tenants) in our village, but it is only the influential ones
who get a decent sum while the rest get a paltry sum," he
added. Damage to agriculture is irreversible.
Ironically, severely hit by mining activity Balchandra is now
compelled to work in a mining company for Rs 7000 per month.
"I have no other option. With my fields completely destroyed,
I am forced to work in the mining unit or leave my home and
migrate to another place in search of better opportunities. I
choose the former." Village wells are adversely affected due
to percolation, pollution and disruption of the water table.
Mining activity is also responsible for pollution of water by
oil and grease.
It is not that Balchandra and other villagers from the mining
areas have not approached the government for help, but there
request for help had been turned down by the government. "In
1997, I had written a letter to then CM Pratpsigh Raoji Rane,
who is incidentally our MLA, to look into these issues, but
there was no reply. Now I am tired of the government lethargy
and inaction and am trying to readjust to the new way of
life, however bad it maybe," he added.
It is not just Balchandra's voice. It is the voice of several
villagers who have been affected by the mining units but
don't have the courage to stand up against the unit, lest
they be troubled or left jobless.
Jayshree Naik, (we are not revealing where she stays because
we don't want her husband rendered jobless) who stays close
to one of the mining units bears a lean look. The roof of her
house appears to be painted red, but a closer look reveals
that it is a film of red dust. She is waiting for the
promised rehabilitation since last five years. Her husband
works in one of the units and she is scared to speak against
the mine owners, lest her husband is rendered jobless.
However, she admits that living close to the mining units is
not easy. "After 7 pm the dust pollution is immense as they
stop sprinkling water. Besides there is lot of noise
pollution as trucks keep on coming and going. Due to this
often we don't even get a good sleep," she complained. The
trucks raise large quantities of dust, which enters their
house and adds to their misery. This is the dust they breathe
everyday.
Gurudas Samanth, a retired school teacher from Honda
recollects how three years back, the whole waddo
(neighborhood) was under water during monsoon. "Around
midnight due to heavy rains, the miming dumps became full
with water and due to pressure the retaining wall broke and
the water entered our fields and home. We were shocked. The
waddo was in complete darkness. Somehow we managed to escape
but our belongings were destroyed," he said.
And did the mining units and government tired to help them?
"The government paid Rs 5000 as compensation to the affected
people. But I am yet to get the compensation. In mid 2004 I
got a cheque of Rs 5000 from the Mamlatdar's office, but I
had to send it back as my surname was spelt wrong. After that
I have never heard from them", he added.
Sixty seven year old Vasant Marathe, Honda in Sattari taluka
recollects the time when his khua ghar (plantation) was rich
with areca nuts, coconuts and spices. At that time he dreamt
of a peaceful and calm life in the village, but now he
complains of sleeplessness and ill-health due to the dust
pollution. This was 15 years back when the mining activity
had not completely destroyed their resources and polluted the
place. Once a mining work started in between the nullah from
which the water came to the fields, the water stopped and
they had to incur huge loss. Now since last 10 years they are
using an unused pit of mining unit to pump water to the
fields. "This year mining companies have refused to fill
diesel in the pumps and we are still waiting for the pump to
start. We are helpless. We went to meet the Chief Minister
this week. He has given us an assurance. Let's see what he
does for us", he says.
As a parting shot, he added, "One day there will be a more
serious and stronger agitation than the one happening at
Saleli. The poor have been oppressed and suppressed since
long by the mine owners with the help of the police,
bureaucracy and politicians. But one day, people will unite
and stand up in revolt. I just hope it is not too late."
Mining
The growth of mining activities is accompanied by
deterioration in quality of environment (air, water and land)
besides life. Mining operation involves drilling, blasting,
ripping, dozing, loading, waste disposal sizing and washing
ores in beneficiation plants.
AIR
Mining dust pollution is a major hurdle in the area. Trucks
carrying huge tons of ore raise large quantities of dust.
Though they are covered it doesn't help and the dust enters
home and people are forced to breathe this dust every moment.
The village during evenings appears to be shrouded in gloomy
pall of ore dust.
WATER
The factors contributing to discharge of water bodies are
discharge of mine pit water, waste water from wet
beneficiation plants, rain run-off from the dumps, effluent
from workshops, pumping out water to rivers and streams from
mines. Soil erosion and run off from mine dumps due to heavy
rains causes siltation of rivers, streams, nallahs and even
agriculture lands. Even the ground water is severely affected
and due this often the river, nallahs and wells in the area
have gone dry.
LAND
The villages which were two decades back completely
agricultural land with rabi and kharif crops have been
completely destroyed. For mining, land is required not only
for mine excavation but also for waste dumping, ore
stockyard, infrastructural facilities etc. Since the over
burden ration in Goa is more than 1:3 enormous waste material
is generated per tonne of iron ore and so huge area outside
the mining lease area is required for the dumping. Mining has
also effected the streams that irrigate the fields and in
certain cases the fields themselves. At some places
agricultural land has been converted to a dumping pit.
by Preetu Nair
(This article appeared first in GT Weekender, Panjim edition,
January 8, 2005)
"Babuso arrived at Pandhari's house with Prasad babu, a
Gujarati mine owner with a plan and a certain dream. A dream
where mine pits make gold and certain money too. Unlike a
farmer's job, where after sowing the field for six months, a
farmer may not earn anything because of a bad crop. With the
promise of better money, Pandhari was lured away from his
traditional work to a new work. But little he realizes then
that he has lighted a lamp that is slowly going to burn his
village, his home and finally people.
These characters of Sahitya Akademi winner Pundalik Naik's
novel Acchev (The Upheaval) come alive in very many persons
that one meets at Sattari taluka in Northern district of Goa.
Just like Pandhari they were few years back lured away with
dreams of a better future and good life and development. But
little did the villagers realize that the decision that they
are taking in one moment of weakness would destroy their
future forever and bring in grief and utter devastation. And
yet they know that there is no respite now!
Mining activities in the area has destroyed their source of
water and majority of villagers are now depended on water
supplied by the water tankers of the mining units in the
area. Majority of fields in the area are destroyed and people
are forced to work in the mining units, often for a paltry
sum to ensure that they provide two time meal to their
family.
Every year, the mining industry excavates some 80 million
tonnes of iron and manganese ore with mud from the mountains
in Goa. This has turned the forested areas of Satteri into a
barren land and disrupted ground water table, destroyed the
fields and degraded the habitat of ordinary men and women.
The problem is immense but no government in Goa or any
political party has ever indicated either interest or
commitment to deal with the problems created by the mining
industry. No doubt the mining units have created a fair
amount of employment and helped Goan economy but the price
these villagers in the mining area are paying is too huge.
"We have lost everything. Our fields are completely
destroyed. Our wells are dry. We made several complaints to
the mining companies and even government, but to no avail.
Now if mining activity is stopped then people in the village
will die of hunger and thirst (water is provided by the
mining area). However, it would have been a different story
if mining activity had stopped 15 years back, but then people
never knew the ill-effects of mining," said Balchandra Gawde
of a mining affected village of Pissurlem.
Balchandra is full of stories of how, the mining activity in
the area has slowly but steadily destroyed the economy of the
place and destroyed their peace and health. "People fall sick
in the area at the drop of a hat. The main reason for this is
air and water pollution. The tankers which provide water is
hardly cleaned (once a year). This is the water we use for
drinking, cooking etc. as a result; stomach ailments are
quite common in the area. Tuberculosis and lung ailments are
also very common. My aged mother often falls sick because of
the dust pollution."
He recollects that 12 year back he led a comfortable and calm
life with his family and worked in the 2000 sq mt field that
he tilled. At that time what he cultivated, the family ate.
"I didn't have to worry about rice or vegetables as
everything was grown by us. But the during one monsoon, as
the ore rejects descended with the rains into the fields with
the rain water entered the fields and destroyed the land and
the crops. Now we have to purchase everything from the market
and it is very expensive", he said.
Balchandra admits that every year the mining companies pay
them money for the loss to agriculture but this money is
quite less. "We have complained to the mamlatdar (village
officer) but it has not helped. There are around 150 mundkars
(tenants) in our village, but it is only the influential ones
who get a decent sum while the rest get a paltry sum," he
added. Damage to agriculture is irreversible.
Ironically, severely hit by mining activity Balchandra is now
compelled to work in a mining company for Rs 7000 per month.
"I have no other option. With my fields completely destroyed,
I am forced to work in the mining unit or leave my home and
migrate to another place in search of better opportunities. I
choose the former." Village wells are adversely affected due
to percolation, pollution and disruption of the water table.
Mining activity is also responsible for pollution of water by
oil and grease.
It is not that Balchandra and other villagers from the mining
areas have not approached the government for help, but there
request for help had been turned down by the government. "In
1997, I had written a letter to then CM Pratpsigh Raoji Rane,
who is incidentally our MLA, to look into these issues, but
there was no reply. Now I am tired of the government lethargy
and inaction and am trying to readjust to the new way of
life, however bad it maybe," he added.
It is not just Balchandra's voice. It is the voice of several
villagers who have been affected by the mining units but
don't have the courage to stand up against the unit, lest
they be troubled or left jobless.
Jayshree Naik, (we are not revealing where she stays because
we don't want her husband rendered jobless) who stays close
to one of the mining units bears a lean look. The roof of her
house appears to be painted red, but a closer look reveals
that it is a film of red dust. She is waiting for the
promised rehabilitation since last five years. Her husband
works in one of the units and she is scared to speak against
the mine owners, lest her husband is rendered jobless.
However, she admits that living close to the mining units is
not easy. "After 7 pm the dust pollution is immense as they
stop sprinkling water. Besides there is lot of noise
pollution as trucks keep on coming and going. Due to this
often we don't even get a good sleep," she complained. The
trucks raise large quantities of dust, which enters their
house and adds to their misery. This is the dust they breathe
everyday.
Gurudas Samanth, a retired school teacher from Honda
recollects how three years back, the whole waddo
(neighborhood) was under water during monsoon. "Around
midnight due to heavy rains, the miming dumps became full
with water and due to pressure the retaining wall broke and
the water entered our fields and home. We were shocked. The
waddo was in complete darkness. Somehow we managed to escape
but our belongings were destroyed," he said.
And did the mining units and government tired to help them?
"The government paid Rs 5000 as compensation to the affected
people. But I am yet to get the compensation. In mid 2004 I
got a cheque of Rs 5000 from the Mamlatdar's office, but I
had to send it back as my surname was spelt wrong. After that
I have never heard from them", he added.
Sixty seven year old Vasant Marathe, Honda in Sattari taluka
recollects the time when his khua ghar (plantation) was rich
with areca nuts, coconuts and spices. At that time he dreamt
of a peaceful and calm life in the village, but now he
complains of sleeplessness and ill-health due to the dust
pollution. This was 15 years back when the mining activity
had not completely destroyed their resources and polluted the
place. Once a mining work started in between the nullah from
which the water came to the fields, the water stopped and
they had to incur huge loss. Now since last 10 years they are
using an unused pit of mining unit to pump water to the
fields. "This year mining companies have refused to fill
diesel in the pumps and we are still waiting for the pump to
start. We are helpless. We went to meet the Chief Minister
this week. He has given us an assurance. Let's see what he
does for us", he says.
As a parting shot, he added, "One day there will be a more
serious and stronger agitation than the one happening at
Saleli. The poor have been oppressed and suppressed since
long by the mine owners with the help of the police,
bureaucracy and politicians. But one day, people will unite
and stand up in revolt. I just hope it is not too late."
Mining
The growth of mining activities is accompanied by
deterioration in quality of environment (air, water and land)
besides life. Mining operation involves drilling, blasting,
ripping, dozing, loading, waste disposal sizing and washing
ores in beneficiation plants.
AIR
Mining dust pollution is a major hurdle in the area. Trucks
carrying huge tons of ore raise large quantities of dust.
Though they are covered it doesn't help and the dust enters
home and people are forced to breathe this dust every moment.
The village during evenings appears to be shrouded in gloomy
pall of ore dust.
WATER
The factors contributing to discharge of water bodies are
discharge of mine pit water, waste water from wet
beneficiation plants, rain run-off from the dumps, effluent
from workshops, pumping out water to rivers and streams from
mines. Soil erosion and run off from mine dumps due to heavy
rains causes siltation of rivers, streams, nallahs and even
agriculture lands. Even the ground water is severely affected
and due this often the river, nallahs and wells in the area
have gone dry.
LAND
The villages which were two decades back completely
agricultural land with rabi and kharif crops have been
completely destroyed. For mining, land is required not only
for mine excavation but also for waste dumping, ore
stockyard, infrastructural facilities etc. Since the over
burden ration in Goa is more than 1:3 enormous waste material
is generated per tonne of iron ore and so huge area outside
the mining lease area is required for the dumping. Mining has
also effected the streams that irrigate the fields and in
certain cases the fields themselves. At some places
agricultural land has been converted to a dumping pit.
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