‘Kids not given chance to reform’
Panaji: Apna Ghar was started to ensure development and rehabilitation of neglected or delinquent juveniles, however, past inquiries have revealed complaints of abuse by inmates.
Snehlata Bhatikar, a member of the juvenile justice board said, “The approach towards children at Apna Ghar is punitive, as if they are in prison. They are treated like thieves and never given an opportunity to improve. The staff often beat the children, misbehave with them and use abusive language, due to which children turn aggressive, beat up others or create a ruckus.”
An inquiry conducted by the JJB in 2007 on a previous complaint of assault by fellow mates at Apna Ghar, revealed that the juvenile was “sodomized by an inmate of the observation home and subjected to oral sex by other inmates”.
The report also stated that “the safety of the child has not been looked into inspite of his repeated complaints about the abuse to the staff of observation home”. Says Bhatikar, “At present kids abuse others at Apna Ghar and if this continues it won’t be long before we hear of juvenile delinquents killing others, or committing suicide. In the last few months several children either escaped from the home or were sent to IPHB for treatment. This needs to be investigated as it defeats the purpose of having a state run home to protect and correct children.”
Women and Child director Sanjiv Gadkar, however, pleads ignorance of such incidents at Apna Ghar. He said, “I have not received any report of any assault by any child at Apna Ghar.”
Staff of Apna Ghar too have been accused of abusing minors. Recently, Children’s Rights in Goa, an NGO working with children in the state moved an application for a magisterial inquiry before the JJB.
The complaint says that during their visit to Apna Ghar on October 4, 2008, they were informed that one of the inmates was admitted at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Bambolim after being assaulted.
“On probing the incident it was revealed that two juveniles were assaulted by the care taker of Apna Ghar with a cricket stump. One was hit on the head and his hands and sustained grievous injuries,” says the complaint.
The NGO’s application states that this happened because the juveniles insisted they wanted to watch TV. So far, no order has been passed.
January 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Monday, January 12, 2009
Inmates’ safety an issue at Apna Ghar
Inmates’ safety an issue at Apna Ghar
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The minor Assamese boy who ran away from Apna Ghar last week claimed he was “assaulted” at the observation home. He is not the first to make such an allegation, and past inquiries have found evidence to confirm such complaints.
The boy had been sent to Apna Ghar for criminal trespass at the naval premises in Bogda, Vasco and intent to commit a criminal offence. The bail application filed by before the juvenile justice board (JJB) on Friday after his rearrest, at the Vasco railway station, states that he was “assaulted” at Apna Ghar. The principal magistrate orally instructed the Apna Ghar staff to ensure that the boy was “given protection”.
Apna Ghar was established with the objective of providing care, protection, treatment, development and rehabilitation of neglected or delinquent juveniles, and for the adjudication of matters relating to children in conflict with the law, but it seems that the goal has not been achieved. ‘Kids not given chance to reform’
Panaji: Apna Ghar was started to ensure development and rehabilitation of neglected or delinquent juveniles, however, past inquiries have revealed complaints of abuse by inmates.
Snehlata Bhatikar, a member of the juvenile justice board said, “The approach towards children at Apna Ghar is punitive, as if they are in prison. They are treated like thieves and never given an opportunity to improve. The staff often beat the children, misbehave with them and use abusive language, due to which children turn aggressive, beat up others or create a ruckus.”
An inquiry conducted by the JJB in 2007 on a previous complaint of assault by fellow mates at Apna Ghar, revealed that the juvenile was “sodomized by an inmate of the observation home and subjected to oral sex by other inmates”.
The report also stated that “the safety of the child has not been looked into inspite of his repeated complaints about the abuse to the staff of observation home”. Says Bhatikar, “At present kids abuse others at Apna Ghar and if this continues it won’t be long before we hear of juvenile delinquents killing others, or committing suicide. In the last few months several children either escaped from the home or were sent to IPHB for treatment. This needs to be investigated as it defeats the purpose of having a state run home to protect and correct children.”
Women and Child director Sanjiv Gadkar, however, pleads ignorance of such incidents at Apna Ghar. He said, “I have not received any report of any assault by any child at Apna Ghar.”
Staff of Apna Ghar too have been accused of abusing minors. Recently, Children’s Rights in Goa, an NGO working with children in the state moved an application for a magisterial inquiry before the JJB.
The complaint says that during their visit to Apna Ghar on October 4, 2008, they were informed that one of the inmates was admitted at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Bambolim after being assaulted.
“On probing the incident it was revealed that two juveniles were assaulted by the care taker of Apna Ghar with a cricket stump. One was hit on the head and his hands and sustained grievous injuries,” says the complaint.
The NGO’s application states that this happened because the juveniles insisted they wanted to watch TV. So far, no order has been passed.
January 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The minor Assamese boy who ran away from Apna Ghar last week claimed he was “assaulted” at the observation home. He is not the first to make such an allegation, and past inquiries have found evidence to confirm such complaints.
The boy had been sent to Apna Ghar for criminal trespass at the naval premises in Bogda, Vasco and intent to commit a criminal offence. The bail application filed by before the juvenile justice board (JJB) on Friday after his rearrest, at the Vasco railway station, states that he was “assaulted” at Apna Ghar. The principal magistrate orally instructed the Apna Ghar staff to ensure that the boy was “given protection”.
Apna Ghar was established with the objective of providing care, protection, treatment, development and rehabilitation of neglected or delinquent juveniles, and for the adjudication of matters relating to children in conflict with the law, but it seems that the goal has not been achieved. ‘Kids not given chance to reform’
Panaji: Apna Ghar was started to ensure development and rehabilitation of neglected or delinquent juveniles, however, past inquiries have revealed complaints of abuse by inmates.
Snehlata Bhatikar, a member of the juvenile justice board said, “The approach towards children at Apna Ghar is punitive, as if they are in prison. They are treated like thieves and never given an opportunity to improve. The staff often beat the children, misbehave with them and use abusive language, due to which children turn aggressive, beat up others or create a ruckus.”
An inquiry conducted by the JJB in 2007 on a previous complaint of assault by fellow mates at Apna Ghar, revealed that the juvenile was “sodomized by an inmate of the observation home and subjected to oral sex by other inmates”.
The report also stated that “the safety of the child has not been looked into inspite of his repeated complaints about the abuse to the staff of observation home”. Says Bhatikar, “At present kids abuse others at Apna Ghar and if this continues it won’t be long before we hear of juvenile delinquents killing others, or committing suicide. In the last few months several children either escaped from the home or were sent to IPHB for treatment. This needs to be investigated as it defeats the purpose of having a state run home to protect and correct children.”
Women and Child director Sanjiv Gadkar, however, pleads ignorance of such incidents at Apna Ghar. He said, “I have not received any report of any assault by any child at Apna Ghar.”
Staff of Apna Ghar too have been accused of abusing minors. Recently, Children’s Rights in Goa, an NGO working with children in the state moved an application for a magisterial inquiry before the JJB.
The complaint says that during their visit to Apna Ghar on October 4, 2008, they were informed that one of the inmates was admitted at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Bambolim after being assaulted.
“On probing the incident it was revealed that two juveniles were assaulted by the care taker of Apna Ghar with a cricket stump. One was hit on the head and his hands and sustained grievous injuries,” says the complaint.
The NGO’s application states that this happened because the juveniles insisted they wanted to watch TV. So far, no order has been passed.
January 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Fiona to visit Goa to take Scarlett’s organs
SCARLETT MURDER CASE
Fiona to visit Goa to take Scarlett’s organs
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: British teenager Scarlett Keeling’s mother Fiona Mackeown will be coming to Goa to collect her daughter’s organs.
Speaking to TOI over the phone from her home in Devon, UK, Fiona said “I will be coming back in February to collect my daughter’s organs. I hope to be in India for the anniversary of Scarlett’s death.”
Scarlett’s body had been found on February 19, 2008 at Anjuna beach, and a case of rape and murder was registered. Fiona had taken her daughter’s body to the UK for a third autopsy after two forensic autopsies at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim. The autopsy at the coroner’s court in Devon had revealed that Scarlett’s kidneys, stomach and uterus were missing. Doctors at GMC’s forensic department had stated that the organs had been preserved for tests.
While Scarlett’s liver and pieces of her lungs were deposited in a sealed envelope by the Goa police with the children’s court, half of the uterus and slides containing tissues were collected from the Goa Medical College and Hospital by the CBI for examination. Some of the organs utilized by the Forensic Science Laboratory, Mumbai, for chemical analysis were preserved for a period of three weeks and thereafter destroyed as per the existing protocol, it being “hazardous” to preserve them.
Fiona, who was initially skeptical of returning to India as a case of negligence was filed against her before the Women and Child department, now aspires to return home with her daughter’s organs to give a decent burial to Scarlett. “The coroner won’t release Scarlett’s body until the investigations are over in India,” she said.
Meanwhile, the CBI is yet to meet Fiona to record her statement. “I haven’t spoken to the CBI yet in person but they have agreed via email to meet them in the second week of January,” she said.
January 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Fiona to visit Goa to take Scarlett’s organs
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: British teenager Scarlett Keeling’s mother Fiona Mackeown will be coming to Goa to collect her daughter’s organs.
Speaking to TOI over the phone from her home in Devon, UK, Fiona said “I will be coming back in February to collect my daughter’s organs. I hope to be in India for the anniversary of Scarlett’s death.”
Scarlett’s body had been found on February 19, 2008 at Anjuna beach, and a case of rape and murder was registered. Fiona had taken her daughter’s body to the UK for a third autopsy after two forensic autopsies at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim. The autopsy at the coroner’s court in Devon had revealed that Scarlett’s kidneys, stomach and uterus were missing. Doctors at GMC’s forensic department had stated that the organs had been preserved for tests.
While Scarlett’s liver and pieces of her lungs were deposited in a sealed envelope by the Goa police with the children’s court, half of the uterus and slides containing tissues were collected from the Goa Medical College and Hospital by the CBI for examination. Some of the organs utilized by the Forensic Science Laboratory, Mumbai, for chemical analysis were preserved for a period of three weeks and thereafter destroyed as per the existing protocol, it being “hazardous” to preserve them.
Fiona, who was initially skeptical of returning to India as a case of negligence was filed against her before the Women and Child department, now aspires to return home with her daughter’s organs to give a decent burial to Scarlett. “The coroner won’t release Scarlett’s body until the investigations are over in India,” she said.
Meanwhile, the CBI is yet to meet Fiona to record her statement. “I haven’t spoken to the CBI yet in person but they have agreed via email to meet them in the second week of January,” she said.
January 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
German girl leaves India for home
German girl leaves India for home
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The minor German girl, at the centre of a controversial rape case, left for Germany with her mother. The girl’s mother had alleged that education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son, Rohit, had sexually abused her daughter.
Highly placed sources said the mother and daughter returned to Germany for “personal” reasons, but will return to answer queries vital for the collection of evidence in the alleged rape.
It may be recalled that on December 5, 2008, the foreigner’s registration office (FRO), Mumbai had written to the FRO, Goa asking whether the latter had any objection to an “exit permit” being issued to the girl. Since the matter was sub judice, the Goa police had replied asking the FRO, Mumbai to seek the high court’s permission.
January 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The minor German girl, at the centre of a controversial rape case, left for Germany with her mother. The girl’s mother had alleged that education minister Atanasio Monserrate’s son, Rohit, had sexually abused her daughter.
Highly placed sources said the mother and daughter returned to Germany for “personal” reasons, but will return to answer queries vital for the collection of evidence in the alleged rape.
It may be recalled that on December 5, 2008, the foreigner’s registration office (FRO), Mumbai had written to the FRO, Goa asking whether the latter had any objection to an “exit permit” being issued to the girl. Since the matter was sub judice, the Goa police had replied asking the FRO, Mumbai to seek the high court’s permission.
January 12,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Family role vital for mental health of young: Study
Family role vital for mental health of young: Study
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: A study has found that strong family support is a critical factor associated with low prevalence of mental disorders among adolescents. Similarly, factors that indicate adoption of a non-traditional lifestyle are associated with increased prevalence of mental disorders among youngsters.
Called “Non-traditional lifestyles and prevalence of mental disorders in adolescents in Goa”, the study was conducted by NGO Sangath and published recently in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
While there is an independent association of mental disorders with an outgoing ‘non-traditional’ lifestyle (frequent partying, going to the cinema, shopping for fun and having a boyfriend or girlfriend), difficulties with studies, lack of safety in the neighbourhood, a history of physical or verbal abuse and tobacco use, having one’s family as the primary source of social support was associated with lower prevalence of mental disorders, revealed the study.
Its results showed that the most common diagnoses were anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, behavioural disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders. It also noted that adolescents from urban areas and girls who faced gender discrimination had a higher prevalence of mental disorders. Similarly, physical or verbal abuse from parents or other family members and peers were independently associated with mental disorders.
Most of the adolescents — 75% — in the study spoke Konkani at homeme and lived with both parents (83.6%). A small proportion (3.7%) livedwith neither parent. Majority (91.6%) were full-time students at the time of the interview, 7.9% had dropped out of school and 0.5% had never had any formal education. Overall, 39.4% of adolescents reported experiencing difficulties with their studies. A total of 157 adolescents reported having worked for pay and among these 53.2% started working before the age of 14.
Sangath conducted the epidemiological study to describe the current prevalence of mental disorders and its correlates among 2,000 plus adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years.
The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders in adolescents. For the same, a population-based survey of all eligible adolescents from six urban wards and four rural communities was randomly selected to diagnose current emotional and behavioural disorders. All adolescents were also interviewed
on socio-economic factors, education, neighbourhood, parental relations, peer and sexual relationships, violence and substance abuse.
The sample for the study was enumerated through two sources: the family registers maintained by the health centres and eligible adolescents residing in the area who were identified during the door-to-door survey.
While in the rural areas,most adolescents were identified from the family health register, in the urban areas, the family registers maintained by the health centre had not been updated for several years and thus they carried out a door-to-door survey to enumerate the adolescents.
January 10, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: A study has found that strong family support is a critical factor associated with low prevalence of mental disorders among adolescents. Similarly, factors that indicate adoption of a non-traditional lifestyle are associated with increased prevalence of mental disorders among youngsters.
Called “Non-traditional lifestyles and prevalence of mental disorders in adolescents in Goa”, the study was conducted by NGO Sangath and published recently in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
While there is an independent association of mental disorders with an outgoing ‘non-traditional’ lifestyle (frequent partying, going to the cinema, shopping for fun and having a boyfriend or girlfriend), difficulties with studies, lack of safety in the neighbourhood, a history of physical or verbal abuse and tobacco use, having one’s family as the primary source of social support was associated with lower prevalence of mental disorders, revealed the study.
Its results showed that the most common diagnoses were anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, behavioural disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders. It also noted that adolescents from urban areas and girls who faced gender discrimination had a higher prevalence of mental disorders. Similarly, physical or verbal abuse from parents or other family members and peers were independently associated with mental disorders.
Most of the adolescents — 75% — in the study spoke Konkani at homeme and lived with both parents (83.6%). A small proportion (3.7%) livedwith neither parent. Majority (91.6%) were full-time students at the time of the interview, 7.9% had dropped out of school and 0.5% had never had any formal education. Overall, 39.4% of adolescents reported experiencing difficulties with their studies. A total of 157 adolescents reported having worked for pay and among these 53.2% started working before the age of 14.
Sangath conducted the epidemiological study to describe the current prevalence of mental disorders and its correlates among 2,000 plus adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years.
The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders in adolescents. For the same, a population-based survey of all eligible adolescents from six urban wards and four rural communities was randomly selected to diagnose current emotional and behavioural disorders. All adolescents were also interviewed
on socio-economic factors, education, neighbourhood, parental relations, peer and sexual relationships, violence and substance abuse.
The sample for the study was enumerated through two sources: the family registers maintained by the health centres and eligible adolescents residing in the area who were identified during the door-to-door survey.
While in the rural areas,most adolescents were identified from the family health register, in the urban areas, the family registers maintained by the health centre had not been updated for several years and thus they carried out a door-to-door survey to enumerate the adolescents.
January 10, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Goa-More cops for netas than coast
More cops for netas than coast
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: There are 74 policemen manning the sandy stretch from Majorda to Mobor at Colva police station. The number of police personnel posted at the sensitive Calangute and Anjuna police stations are 85 and 77 respectively. The number of police personnel guarding the state’s 12 ministers, speaker and deputy speaker touches 164, much more than the number of policemen posted at any single police station in Goa.
Policemen handling the district Police Control Rooms in North and South Goa are 13 and 14 respectively, just above the number of men—12 — guarding home minister Ravi Naik. There are 37 cops manning the state PCR, which is still lower than the number of policemen protecting CM Digambar Kamat.
Goa’s CM and speaker have more police security than the state’s three coastal police stations. While the CM has 38 policemen guarding him, speaker Pratapsingh Rane is guarded by 33 policemen. Incidentally, the number of policemen manning the coastline from Benaulim to Pollem at the Mobor coastal police station is 22, lower than the number of policemen — 23 — guarding health minister Vishwajit Rane.
In other words, the police strength at sensitive police stations in Calangute (85), Anjuna (77), Pernem (82), Colva (74) and Canacona (64), all popular destinations with Israeli, British and American tourists or at the PCR or coastal police stations, important after the Mumbai attacks, is less compared to that given to ministers, former ministers and even parliamentary secretaries. Strength at police stations is just on paper, says ex-SP
Panaji: There are more policemen guarding the politicians in the state than the number of those manning the sensitive stretches of Goa coastal areas.
“The strength at police stations is just on paper. Many policemen from police stations are deployed at other places, including the houses of ruling party leaders. In the last few years it has become a trend amongst politicians, especially from the ruling party, to demand more security personnel than they are entitled to or require,” said former SP Alex Rasquinha.
Incidentally, while most police stations still have vintage .303 rifles, policemen guarding the homes of ministers are armed with 7.62 SLRs.
While the CM has a pilot vehicle and an escort vehicle with men armed with 9mm carbines and pistols or revolvers, the speaker has a flying squad and escort vehicle with policemen armed with pistols and 9mm carbines. The speaker’s son, who is the health minister has two escort vehicles and men armed with pistols and carbines. All ministers have two personal security officers, besides a sentry to guard their home, consisting of one hawaldar and four police constables. Even as politicians in the state continue to ask for, and get, security cover although they face no security threat, the ratio of police to population in the state in July 2008 was 1:339.
“Here security cover is not a matter of threat perception, but of prestige. The more security men you have, the more powerful you appear before the public. Mere cabinet status does not entitle anyone to security and there has to be a genuine threat perception,” said a top police official.
Former ministers Luizinho Faleiro, Wilfred de Souza and Francisco Sardinha (even before he became an MP) continued with their personal security officers long after they ceased to be ministers. MLAs Agnelo Fernandes, Francis Silveira, Nilkanth Halarnkar have managed to get personal security officers. Only education minister Atanasio Monserrate doesn’t have police protection. Incidentally, though the security review panel of the Goa police examines threat perception to politicians with the help of the Intelligence Bureau, most polticians manage to get protection merely on the strength of their political clout and influence.
January 9, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: There are 74 policemen manning the sandy stretch from Majorda to Mobor at Colva police station. The number of police personnel posted at the sensitive Calangute and Anjuna police stations are 85 and 77 respectively. The number of police personnel guarding the state’s 12 ministers, speaker and deputy speaker touches 164, much more than the number of policemen posted at any single police station in Goa.
Policemen handling the district Police Control Rooms in North and South Goa are 13 and 14 respectively, just above the number of men—12 — guarding home minister Ravi Naik. There are 37 cops manning the state PCR, which is still lower than the number of policemen protecting CM Digambar Kamat.
Goa’s CM and speaker have more police security than the state’s three coastal police stations. While the CM has 38 policemen guarding him, speaker Pratapsingh Rane is guarded by 33 policemen. Incidentally, the number of policemen manning the coastline from Benaulim to Pollem at the Mobor coastal police station is 22, lower than the number of policemen — 23 — guarding health minister Vishwajit Rane.
In other words, the police strength at sensitive police stations in Calangute (85), Anjuna (77), Pernem (82), Colva (74) and Canacona (64), all popular destinations with Israeli, British and American tourists or at the PCR or coastal police stations, important after the Mumbai attacks, is less compared to that given to ministers, former ministers and even parliamentary secretaries. Strength at police stations is just on paper, says ex-SP
Panaji: There are more policemen guarding the politicians in the state than the number of those manning the sensitive stretches of Goa coastal areas.
“The strength at police stations is just on paper. Many policemen from police stations are deployed at other places, including the houses of ruling party leaders. In the last few years it has become a trend amongst politicians, especially from the ruling party, to demand more security personnel than they are entitled to or require,” said former SP Alex Rasquinha.
Incidentally, while most police stations still have vintage .303 rifles, policemen guarding the homes of ministers are armed with 7.62 SLRs.
While the CM has a pilot vehicle and an escort vehicle with men armed with 9mm carbines and pistols or revolvers, the speaker has a flying squad and escort vehicle with policemen armed with pistols and 9mm carbines. The speaker’s son, who is the health minister has two escort vehicles and men armed with pistols and carbines. All ministers have two personal security officers, besides a sentry to guard their home, consisting of one hawaldar and four police constables. Even as politicians in the state continue to ask for, and get, security cover although they face no security threat, the ratio of police to population in the state in July 2008 was 1:339.
“Here security cover is not a matter of threat perception, but of prestige. The more security men you have, the more powerful you appear before the public. Mere cabinet status does not entitle anyone to security and there has to be a genuine threat perception,” said a top police official.
Former ministers Luizinho Faleiro, Wilfred de Souza and Francisco Sardinha (even before he became an MP) continued with their personal security officers long after they ceased to be ministers. MLAs Agnelo Fernandes, Francis Silveira, Nilkanth Halarnkar have managed to get personal security officers. Only education minister Atanasio Monserrate doesn’t have police protection. Incidentally, though the security review panel of the Goa police examines threat perception to politicians with the help of the Intelligence Bureau, most polticians manage to get protection merely on the strength of their political clout and influence.
January 9, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Britons seek help from commission
Britons seek help from commission
Foreigners In Goa Unnerved By ED Action, Fear Eviction
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The two British nationals, against whom the Mumbai enforcement directorate (ED) acted for “illegally” purchasing property in Goa, have written to the British high commission for help. The ED action has unnerved other foreigners who fear confiscation of their home or even eviction.
“For the last six months we have been worried about our home being confiscated and us being rendered homeless and bankrupt. We are living a nightmare and the situation is mentally destructive, nerve wrecking and emotionally disturbing,” said 53-year-old British national Jean (name changed), who was issued summons by the ED to present her home registration documents.
Jean bought a 162 sq m apartment in Arpora in 2002 after selling her UK property and “after fulfilling all requirements under law to purchase property in India”.
Another Dutch national, who purchased an apartment in Kevim in 2004, is still awaiting clearance from the investigators. “The impression we get is that the Goa government may like to have us as tourists but not as residents. If that’s the case then I am willing to sell off my property in Goa and I promise never to return here. But it would be wrong to snatch everything away from us when we have spent money on lawyers and paper work to ensure that everything is done legally.”
The Dutch national says she spent time researching local property laws and talking to people who had already bought in Goa. “We have always tried to do what is legal. If our house is snatched and we are wrongfully fined for illegalities we never committed, then we will be literally in the gutter,” she added. They are on a five year X visa.
Meanwhile, the two British nationals — Nicholas Joseph Papa and his friend Michael Denis Cooper — who have a house in Corona, North Goa, have written to the British high commission, Mumbai, seeking intervention and help. “We feel that our government should investigate and intervene to help us as we have not done anything illegal. They should take up the matter with the Indian government as we wouldn’t be investing our life’s savings in something that is illegal,” said Papa.
Papa said that they were on a business visa when they purchased their first house on May 25, 2001, after a stay of 231 days, which they later sold. “We purchased the second house in September 2006 when we were on a five year X visa (permission to reside in a country without employment or business for a longer period) after staying in the country for 339 days. We never purchased property while on a tourist visa,” said Cooper.
Incidentally, even though North Goa additional collector in his letter to the ED on September 23 said that “unless a conversion sanad is obtained, the property continues to be agricultural though it falls under ‘R-zone/settlement zone’ as per zoning under the town and country planning department,” the fact remains that several sale deeds were done by sub-registrars and foreigners were given house number, house tax and provided electricity.
Advocate Vikram Varma dealing with cases of foreigners who have invested in property in Goa said, “The government has misinterpreted the provisions of FEMA. I have examined the documents and find no violation of FEMA in letter or spirit.”
Joint secretary of the state government Anupam Kishore said, “There has been no misinterpretation of FEMA and action has been initiated against foreign nationals who have contravened FEMA regulations. They also have a right to defend themselves. Most of them have given an affidavit before sub-registrars’ that they were residents in India, which was false.”
January 8, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Foreigners In Goa Unnerved By ED Action, Fear Eviction
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The two British nationals, against whom the Mumbai enforcement directorate (ED) acted for “illegally” purchasing property in Goa, have written to the British high commission for help. The ED action has unnerved other foreigners who fear confiscation of their home or even eviction.
“For the last six months we have been worried about our home being confiscated and us being rendered homeless and bankrupt. We are living a nightmare and the situation is mentally destructive, nerve wrecking and emotionally disturbing,” said 53-year-old British national Jean (name changed), who was issued summons by the ED to present her home registration documents.
Jean bought a 162 sq m apartment in Arpora in 2002 after selling her UK property and “after fulfilling all requirements under law to purchase property in India”.
Another Dutch national, who purchased an apartment in Kevim in 2004, is still awaiting clearance from the investigators. “The impression we get is that the Goa government may like to have us as tourists but not as residents. If that’s the case then I am willing to sell off my property in Goa and I promise never to return here. But it would be wrong to snatch everything away from us when we have spent money on lawyers and paper work to ensure that everything is done legally.”
The Dutch national says she spent time researching local property laws and talking to people who had already bought in Goa. “We have always tried to do what is legal. If our house is snatched and we are wrongfully fined for illegalities we never committed, then we will be literally in the gutter,” she added. They are on a five year X visa.
Meanwhile, the two British nationals — Nicholas Joseph Papa and his friend Michael Denis Cooper — who have a house in Corona, North Goa, have written to the British high commission, Mumbai, seeking intervention and help. “We feel that our government should investigate and intervene to help us as we have not done anything illegal. They should take up the matter with the Indian government as we wouldn’t be investing our life’s savings in something that is illegal,” said Papa.
Papa said that they were on a business visa when they purchased their first house on May 25, 2001, after a stay of 231 days, which they later sold. “We purchased the second house in September 2006 when we were on a five year X visa (permission to reside in a country without employment or business for a longer period) after staying in the country for 339 days. We never purchased property while on a tourist visa,” said Cooper.
Incidentally, even though North Goa additional collector in his letter to the ED on September 23 said that “unless a conversion sanad is obtained, the property continues to be agricultural though it falls under ‘R-zone/settlement zone’ as per zoning under the town and country planning department,” the fact remains that several sale deeds were done by sub-registrars and foreigners were given house number, house tax and provided electricity.
Advocate Vikram Varma dealing with cases of foreigners who have invested in property in Goa said, “The government has misinterpreted the provisions of FEMA. I have examined the documents and find no violation of FEMA in letter or spirit.”
Joint secretary of the state government Anupam Kishore said, “There has been no misinterpretation of FEMA and action has been initiated against foreign nationals who have contravened FEMA regulations. They also have a right to defend themselves. Most of them have given an affidavit before sub-registrars’ that they were residents in India, which was false.”
January 8, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Britons get ED notice on Goa property
Britons get ED notice on Goa property
Asked To Explain Why Govt Should Not Confiscate It
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Acting against foreigners “illegally” purchasing property in Goa, the Enforcement Directorate has slapped show a cause notice on two British nationals seeking to know why their property in Corona, North Goa, should not be confiscated.
The notice was based on a complaint filed by the assistant director of DoE under section 16 (3) of FEMA as the duo had failed to establish their status as “persons resident in India” and yet had purchased and sold property in India without obtaining RBI permission.
The notice, issued by K Nageshwar Rao, special director, DoE, on December 11, 2008, asks “why the property which is involved in the contravention of the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (1999) should not be confiscated to the Central government account”.
This is the first time a foreign national who had “illegally” invested in property in Goa has been issued a show cause notice for confiscation of the property by the ED. The state government has sent a list of 482 transactions by foreigners for the ED to investigate.
TOI had reported in June that the ED had come across reports that foreigners have purchased properties in excess of 100-acres in Goa and that of the 400 cases of FEMA violations in Goa referred to RBI, 74 had been forwarded to the ED. Earlier in May, the ED had served notices to foreigners asking them to appear for hearings.
In his complaint, the ED assistant director said he had received information from RBI about the purchase of immovable and agricultural property by foreign nationals, Nicholas Joseph Papa and his friend Michael Dennis Cooper, who “on tourist visa had purchased immovable properties in Goa in contravention of FEMA regulations”.
The complaint states that Nicholas declared that he had stayed in India for a period of more than 182 days, had residential permit visas and funds from abroad to purchase an old house of about 1,125 sq m in 2001 at Aldona, which he sold in 2006. In September 2006, he purchased another property of 928 sq m at Corona. “He had not taken RBI permission to purchase and sell the said properties,” the complaint notes. The value of the land is estimated at Rs 77, 25,000.
The complaint also notes that documents forwarded by the Britishers, including authenticated copies of their passports, visas, certificate of registration, residential permits describe the duo as “retired” and the purpose of their residing in India as “holiday”. However, they had purchased agricultural land in Aldona and declared themselves as “persons resident in India” in the sale deed dated September 7, 2006.
The complaint says that the Britishers had falsely declared themselves as persons “resident in India” and so are “prohibited from the acquisition of any immovable property in the form of agriculture or plantation farm house”.
January 7, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Asked To Explain Why Govt Should Not Confiscate It
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Acting against foreigners “illegally” purchasing property in Goa, the Enforcement Directorate has slapped show a cause notice on two British nationals seeking to know why their property in Corona, North Goa, should not be confiscated.
The notice was based on a complaint filed by the assistant director of DoE under section 16 (3) of FEMA as the duo had failed to establish their status as “persons resident in India” and yet had purchased and sold property in India without obtaining RBI permission.
The notice, issued by K Nageshwar Rao, special director, DoE, on December 11, 2008, asks “why the property which is involved in the contravention of the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (1999) should not be confiscated to the Central government account”.
This is the first time a foreign national who had “illegally” invested in property in Goa has been issued a show cause notice for confiscation of the property by the ED. The state government has sent a list of 482 transactions by foreigners for the ED to investigate.
TOI had reported in June that the ED had come across reports that foreigners have purchased properties in excess of 100-acres in Goa and that of the 400 cases of FEMA violations in Goa referred to RBI, 74 had been forwarded to the ED. Earlier in May, the ED had served notices to foreigners asking them to appear for hearings.
In his complaint, the ED assistant director said he had received information from RBI about the purchase of immovable and agricultural property by foreign nationals, Nicholas Joseph Papa and his friend Michael Dennis Cooper, who “on tourist visa had purchased immovable properties in Goa in contravention of FEMA regulations”.
The complaint states that Nicholas declared that he had stayed in India for a period of more than 182 days, had residential permit visas and funds from abroad to purchase an old house of about 1,125 sq m in 2001 at Aldona, which he sold in 2006. In September 2006, he purchased another property of 928 sq m at Corona. “He had not taken RBI permission to purchase and sell the said properties,” the complaint notes. The value of the land is estimated at Rs 77, 25,000.
The complaint also notes that documents forwarded by the Britishers, including authenticated copies of their passports, visas, certificate of registration, residential permits describe the duo as “retired” and the purpose of their residing in India as “holiday”. However, they had purchased agricultural land in Aldona and declared themselves as “persons resident in India” in the sale deed dated September 7, 2006.
The complaint says that the Britishers had falsely declared themselves as persons “resident in India” and so are “prohibited from the acquisition of any immovable property in the form of agriculture or plantation farm house”.
January 7, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Monday, January 05, 2009
I was drugged, robbed, says Dutch woman
I was drugged, robbed, says Dutch woman
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Acting on a complaint by a Dutch woman, the Anjuna police has registered a case of theft and drugging against unknown persons, suspected to be Nigerians.
Police sources said that a 24-year-old Dutch woman complained that she was escorted by six Nigerian men to a party on new year’s night. Thereafter, she alleged that she was drugged by the Nigerians, who then robbed her of her belongings. As she suspected sexual abuse, she was sent for medical examination by the police. The report, however, didn’t indicate any sort of sexual abuse.
Incidentally, though the incident occured on December 31, the woman approached the police only on January 2. Another major setback, the police explained, is that the woman is not aware where she was taken by the Nigerians for the party on new year’s night.
January 05,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Acting on a complaint by a Dutch woman, the Anjuna police has registered a case of theft and drugging against unknown persons, suspected to be Nigerians.
Police sources said that a 24-year-old Dutch woman complained that she was escorted by six Nigerian men to a party on new year’s night. Thereafter, she alleged that she was drugged by the Nigerians, who then robbed her of her belongings. As she suspected sexual abuse, she was sent for medical examination by the police. The report, however, didn’t indicate any sort of sexual abuse.
Incidentally, though the incident occured on December 31, the woman approached the police only on January 2. Another major setback, the police explained, is that the woman is not aware where she was taken by the Nigerians for the party on new year’s night.
January 05,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Yemeni partners in local institute alarm police
VISA TROUBLE
Yemeni partners in local institute alarm police
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Security agencies in the state are alarmed on discovering that a private teaching institute in Panaji is being funded by two Yemeni nationals on a student visa in India to study in Hyderabad. The matter has been reported to the union ministries of Home affairs and External affairs by the Goa Police and their intervention sought.
Drawing the attention of the ministries to the functioning of “The Nobel English Centre” located in a residential building opposite Don Bosco school, Panaji, the Goa police’s special branch in its latest report submitted that the institute’s Indian proprietor has admitted that he has two Yemeni partners and “there appears to be gross violation of visas by the students and in the documentation of the institute”.
However, Sunil Malvankar, owner of The Nobel English Centre, on December 29 2008, submitted to the police that his two Yemeni partners now desired to withdraw their partnership.
“A foreigner in India on a student visa can’t do business or be a partner in a business enterprise. Since this is in violation of visa rules, we have reported the matter to the ministry of Home Affairs to take appropriate action,” said SP (Foreigner’s Registration Office) Tony Fernandes.
“The Yemeni partners resident permits issued by FRO, Hyderabad, indicate that they have entered India via Hyderabad on the strength of student visas,” states the police report.
During police verification it was also found that most of the foreign students enrolled at The Nobel English Centre didn’t have student visas to study there.
“There are 16 students in the institute, of which, 13 are registered with us. Eleven of them have student visas to study in other English teaching institutes. Besides, one student is on a six month provisional student visa and no institute or state is mentioned, one has a student visa to study BCom at Pune University and another to study spoken English in Pune,” said sources. Foreign students enrolled with incorrect visas
Panaji: A case of Yemeni nationals being partners in a local teaching institute has alarmed Goa police. The duo were apparently on a student visa in India to study in Hyderabad. It has also come to light that most foreign students enrolled at the The Nobel English Centre did not have correct student visas.
Police sources said that though the Central government is clear that when a foreign student moves from a recognised institute to another within or outside the state they have to seek the state Home department’s permission, so far there are no rules to monitor movement of students in private institutes.
However, FRO Goa has decided to take up the matter with the FROs at Hyderabad and Pune. “We will take up the matter with the concerned FROs as foreign students can’t study in Goa without a student visa for a Goan institute,” said Fernandes.
The cops are also concerned about the issue of visas to foreigners to study in non registered institutes.
“We have sent reports to the Central ministries about the issue of grant of student visa to foreign nationals to study in private institutes, which are not recognized by the government and asked them to verify the authenticity of the institutions from the FRO, Goa or the Goa state government before issuing a student visa,” said Fernandes. The issue of foreign students is of concern as two months before the Mumbai attacks, a reconnaissance team under the guise of being Malaysian students had stayed in Colaba.
“There is a need to ensure that unauthorized migration of foreign students is not permitted and unscrupulous institutes which admit such students should be strictly dealt with. We are keeping a watch on such institutes, especially after the Mumbai terror attacks,” said SP (Special branch) Atmaram Deshpande. Police sources reveal that most Arabs on student visas arrive to study in institutes not recognized by any government or university. Even as the number of such institutes has increased in the last year, there is still no mechanism to keep a check on them. Many institutes are run in residential buildings without proper permissions or even an NOC from the society.
January 5, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Yemeni partners in local institute alarm police
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Security agencies in the state are alarmed on discovering that a private teaching institute in Panaji is being funded by two Yemeni nationals on a student visa in India to study in Hyderabad. The matter has been reported to the union ministries of Home affairs and External affairs by the Goa Police and their intervention sought.
Drawing the attention of the ministries to the functioning of “The Nobel English Centre” located in a residential building opposite Don Bosco school, Panaji, the Goa police’s special branch in its latest report submitted that the institute’s Indian proprietor has admitted that he has two Yemeni partners and “there appears to be gross violation of visas by the students and in the documentation of the institute”.
However, Sunil Malvankar, owner of The Nobel English Centre, on December 29 2008, submitted to the police that his two Yemeni partners now desired to withdraw their partnership.
“A foreigner in India on a student visa can’t do business or be a partner in a business enterprise. Since this is in violation of visa rules, we have reported the matter to the ministry of Home Affairs to take appropriate action,” said SP (Foreigner’s Registration Office) Tony Fernandes.
“The Yemeni partners resident permits issued by FRO, Hyderabad, indicate that they have entered India via Hyderabad on the strength of student visas,” states the police report.
During police verification it was also found that most of the foreign students enrolled at The Nobel English Centre didn’t have student visas to study there.
“There are 16 students in the institute, of which, 13 are registered with us. Eleven of them have student visas to study in other English teaching institutes. Besides, one student is on a six month provisional student visa and no institute or state is mentioned, one has a student visa to study BCom at Pune University and another to study spoken English in Pune,” said sources. Foreign students enrolled with incorrect visas
Panaji: A case of Yemeni nationals being partners in a local teaching institute has alarmed Goa police. The duo were apparently on a student visa in India to study in Hyderabad. It has also come to light that most foreign students enrolled at the The Nobel English Centre did not have correct student visas.
Police sources said that though the Central government is clear that when a foreign student moves from a recognised institute to another within or outside the state they have to seek the state Home department’s permission, so far there are no rules to monitor movement of students in private institutes.
However, FRO Goa has decided to take up the matter with the FROs at Hyderabad and Pune. “We will take up the matter with the concerned FROs as foreign students can’t study in Goa without a student visa for a Goan institute,” said Fernandes.
The cops are also concerned about the issue of visas to foreigners to study in non registered institutes.
“We have sent reports to the Central ministries about the issue of grant of student visa to foreign nationals to study in private institutes, which are not recognized by the government and asked them to verify the authenticity of the institutions from the FRO, Goa or the Goa state government before issuing a student visa,” said Fernandes. The issue of foreign students is of concern as two months before the Mumbai attacks, a reconnaissance team under the guise of being Malaysian students had stayed in Colaba.
“There is a need to ensure that unauthorized migration of foreign students is not permitted and unscrupulous institutes which admit such students should be strictly dealt with. We are keeping a watch on such institutes, especially after the Mumbai terror attacks,” said SP (Special branch) Atmaram Deshpande. Police sources reveal that most Arabs on student visas arrive to study in institutes not recognized by any government or university. Even as the number of such institutes has increased in the last year, there is still no mechanism to keep a check on them. Many institutes are run in residential buildings without proper permissions or even an NOC from the society.
January 5, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Spousal feuds affect women’s health: Study
EMOTIONAL DISQUIET
Spousal feuds affect women’s health: Study
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Spousal violence is an independent risk factor for two adverse health problems – sexually transmitted infections and attempted suicide – in Goan women, reveals a latest study on the effect of spousal violence on women’s health.
Besides, there is also an association between violence and a range of self-reported gynaecological complaints, low Body Mass Index and depressive disorders in women.
The study, “Effect of spousal violence on women’s health: Findings from the Stree Arogya Shodh in Goa,” which was conducted by an NGO Sangath and published recently in a medical journal, is based on a population-based longitudinal study of women’s health in Goa and aimed at exploring the relationship between psychosocial factors and reproductive and sexual health.
The study, which is a population-based cohort study of women living in the catchment area of a primary health center in north Goa, is a community-based study of common health problems affecting women aged between 18 to 50 years, conducted over a period of four years.
The overall aim of the study was to describe the burden and determinants of common health problems in women of reproductive age and in doing so to test the hypothesis that social and psychological factors increased the risk of reproductive and sexual health problems.
About 2494 of 3000 randomly selected women were recruited, of whom 1750 married women were included for the study. While out of the 1750 married women, 290 (16.6%) women reported lifetime spousal violence; recent violence was reported by 230 (13%) and the cross-sectional data showed an association between violence and a range of self-reported gynaecological complaints, low Body Mass Index, depressive disorder and attempted suicide. The longitudinal analyses confirmed these associations only for STI and attempted suicide. Majority of them were literate homemakers.
Each participant was assessed at baseline with a structured interview for the assessment of exposure to spousal violence (verbal, p hy s i c a l , sexual) over two time periods: lifetime and recent in the past three months. The interview collected data on gynaecological complaints and the revised clinical interview schedule was used for the diagnosis of depressive disorder. Laboratory tests for anemia and sexually transmitted infections (STI) were carried out.
Longitudinal data was collected after six and 12 months on these outcomes. In addition, baseline measures for nutritional status and menstrual health were also obtained.
Lifetime exposure to any type of violence was associated with increased risk of a range of self-reported gynaecological complaints at baseline, though associations were not consistent with all outcomes. Thus, for example, dysmenorrhea was only associated with lifetime sexual violence and verbal and sexual violence (lifetime and recent) were associated with non-menstrual lower abdominal pain and abnormal vaginal discharge, the report states.
January 5, 2009, The Times of India,Goa edition
Spousal feuds affect women’s health: Study
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Spousal violence is an independent risk factor for two adverse health problems – sexually transmitted infections and attempted suicide – in Goan women, reveals a latest study on the effect of spousal violence on women’s health.
Besides, there is also an association between violence and a range of self-reported gynaecological complaints, low Body Mass Index and depressive disorders in women.
The study, “Effect of spousal violence on women’s health: Findings from the Stree Arogya Shodh in Goa,” which was conducted by an NGO Sangath and published recently in a medical journal, is based on a population-based longitudinal study of women’s health in Goa and aimed at exploring the relationship between psychosocial factors and reproductive and sexual health.
The study, which is a population-based cohort study of women living in the catchment area of a primary health center in north Goa, is a community-based study of common health problems affecting women aged between 18 to 50 years, conducted over a period of four years.
The overall aim of the study was to describe the burden and determinants of common health problems in women of reproductive age and in doing so to test the hypothesis that social and psychological factors increased the risk of reproductive and sexual health problems.
About 2494 of 3000 randomly selected women were recruited, of whom 1750 married women were included for the study. While out of the 1750 married women, 290 (16.6%) women reported lifetime spousal violence; recent violence was reported by 230 (13%) and the cross-sectional data showed an association between violence and a range of self-reported gynaecological complaints, low Body Mass Index, depressive disorder and attempted suicide. The longitudinal analyses confirmed these associations only for STI and attempted suicide. Majority of them were literate homemakers.
Each participant was assessed at baseline with a structured interview for the assessment of exposure to spousal violence (verbal, p hy s i c a l , sexual) over two time periods: lifetime and recent in the past three months. The interview collected data on gynaecological complaints and the revised clinical interview schedule was used for the diagnosis of depressive disorder. Laboratory tests for anemia and sexually transmitted infections (STI) were carried out.
Longitudinal data was collected after six and 12 months on these outcomes. In addition, baseline measures for nutritional status and menstrual health were also obtained.
Lifetime exposure to any type of violence was associated with increased risk of a range of self-reported gynaecological complaints at baseline, though associations were not consistent with all outcomes. Thus, for example, dysmenorrhea was only associated with lifetime sexual violence and verbal and sexual violence (lifetime and recent) were associated with non-menstrual lower abdominal pain and abnormal vaginal discharge, the report states.
January 5, 2009, The Times of India,Goa edition
Why drive when you can fly?
Why drive when you can fly?
Some people simply refuse to tread the beaten path. They make their own road, live life their own way. As we step into the New Year, TOI catches up with a couple of them
Preetu Nair | TNN
Anjuna: It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Goa’s winged Austrian.
Meet Gerhart Lechner, whose fear of drunken drivers on Goa’s narrow roads has forced him to take to the skies.
“There is too much of traffic on Goan roads. If I have to go to a beach I just fly,” says the 44-year-old mechanical engineer who has been coming to Goa for the last 20 years for “sports and yoga”. A few years back, he purchased a house in Assagao, in North Goa.
“I need just three things: roti and dal to live, and petrol to fly,” he says. His 210 cc powered hang glider does about 40 kms an hour. “If the wind is good, the journey is much faster and more fun,” says Gerhart.
It takes Gerhart just about a litre of petrol and 30 minutes to fly from Anjuna to Tiracol—-a distance of about 30 km by road which takes at least an hour to cover, that too if you get the ferry across the Tiracol river immediately when you reach the jetty. “The cost of flying is almost similar to the cost of driving,” he says, adding that it is much safer. “There are too many harsh drivers and the risk of accidents is high. I am scared of drunken drivers,” he says.
For the past few years, he has been lugging his glider along on his annual winter visit. While the glider’s motor is from Germany, the rest of it is from Switzerland.
Though the glider helps him go from place to place as the crow flies, he is not free as a bird. Gerhart can neither fly everywhere, nor can he fly anytime. He can take to the skies only within a designated area and during designated periods.
“I have a six-month permission for para gliding and para motors in Goa from the Flag Officer, Naval Aviation, Vasco,” says Gerhart. The permission allows him to hand glide from Tiracol river in the north to Chapora river in the south, while the Maneri to Banda road acts as the eastern limit and NH-17 as the western limit.
“Within the designated area, my operations are restricted to 1,000 feet above mean sea level and I am permitted to fly only from 5 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. However, before I take off, I have to inform the air traffic control at INS Hansa to ensure that there is no collision with any flying object,” he said.
Though he would like to fly further south, the airport at Dabolim does not permit him to. “I try to be as legal as possible and remain within the designated area of operation, avoid climbing above 1,000 feet above mean sea level and remain clear of clouds.”
January 1, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Some people simply refuse to tread the beaten path. They make their own road, live life their own way. As we step into the New Year, TOI catches up with a couple of them
Preetu Nair | TNN
Anjuna: It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Goa’s winged Austrian.
Meet Gerhart Lechner, whose fear of drunken drivers on Goa’s narrow roads has forced him to take to the skies.
“There is too much of traffic on Goan roads. If I have to go to a beach I just fly,” says the 44-year-old mechanical engineer who has been coming to Goa for the last 20 years for “sports and yoga”. A few years back, he purchased a house in Assagao, in North Goa.
“I need just three things: roti and dal to live, and petrol to fly,” he says. His 210 cc powered hang glider does about 40 kms an hour. “If the wind is good, the journey is much faster and more fun,” says Gerhart.
It takes Gerhart just about a litre of petrol and 30 minutes to fly from Anjuna to Tiracol—-a distance of about 30 km by road which takes at least an hour to cover, that too if you get the ferry across the Tiracol river immediately when you reach the jetty. “The cost of flying is almost similar to the cost of driving,” he says, adding that it is much safer. “There are too many harsh drivers and the risk of accidents is high. I am scared of drunken drivers,” he says.
For the past few years, he has been lugging his glider along on his annual winter visit. While the glider’s motor is from Germany, the rest of it is from Switzerland.
Though the glider helps him go from place to place as the crow flies, he is not free as a bird. Gerhart can neither fly everywhere, nor can he fly anytime. He can take to the skies only within a designated area and during designated periods.
“I have a six-month permission for para gliding and para motors in Goa from the Flag Officer, Naval Aviation, Vasco,” says Gerhart. The permission allows him to hand glide from Tiracol river in the north to Chapora river in the south, while the Maneri to Banda road acts as the eastern limit and NH-17 as the western limit.
“Within the designated area, my operations are restricted to 1,000 feet above mean sea level and I am permitted to fly only from 5 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. However, before I take off, I have to inform the air traffic control at INS Hansa to ensure that there is no collision with any flying object,” he said.
Though he would like to fly further south, the airport at Dabolim does not permit him to. “I try to be as legal as possible and remain within the designated area of operation, avoid climbing above 1,000 feet above mean sea level and remain clear of clouds.”
January 1, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
24x7 ‘operation centre’ set up to counter terror
24x7 ‘operation centre’ set up to counter terror
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: With the lack of co-ordination between the police and state machinery exposed during the terror attacks in Mumbai, the Goa police has set up a 24x7 ‘operation room’ or ‘operation centre’ during the peak tourist season to coordinate and disseminate information in the event of any terror attack.
The operation room, which was set up a day before the Union minister of state for home Sriprakash Jaiswal arrived in the state on December 24 to take stock of the security arrangements in the state, will be manned by a young PI and in several ways replicates a control room. However, it would be a centre to receive and disseminate intelligence, information pertaining to terrorism and other forms of organised violence police sources said.
The room was set up in the police headquarters, Panaji amidst reports that Goa’s beaches were on top of the terrorist attack list due to which security has been strengthened till January 5. There are 2 companies of CISF, 2 of CRPF and 1 of RAF patrolling in the state. While 3 are posted in the South, the rest are in North Goa.
The operation room is linked by internet, telephone, mobile telephone and fax to the offices of the collector and superintendent of police at the two district headquarters.
“Four PIs have been given charge of the operation room and they will be in-charge of the room in shifts. At any given time, there will be one PI at the room to take stock of the situation,” confirmed SP (intelligence) Atmaram Deshpande.
Sources reveal that the centre was set up after Union home minister P Chidambaram suggested, in a letter to chief ministers of all states and union territories, to immediately establish 24x7 control rooms to be manned by a young and energetic officer.
Meanwhile, the police control room which was so far run by police sub-inspectors will now be manned by 4 deputy superintendents of police in shifts.
Besides this, a three-member analysis group has been formed and the group will receive, collate, analyze and link up with previous inputs and disseminate intelligence inputs to the Central agencies and central government. This group is headed by SSP (security) V V Chaudhary, SP Deshpande and SP Omprakash Kurtarkar.
December 31, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: With the lack of co-ordination between the police and state machinery exposed during the terror attacks in Mumbai, the Goa police has set up a 24x7 ‘operation room’ or ‘operation centre’ during the peak tourist season to coordinate and disseminate information in the event of any terror attack.
The operation room, which was set up a day before the Union minister of state for home Sriprakash Jaiswal arrived in the state on December 24 to take stock of the security arrangements in the state, will be manned by a young PI and in several ways replicates a control room. However, it would be a centre to receive and disseminate intelligence, information pertaining to terrorism and other forms of organised violence police sources said.
The room was set up in the police headquarters, Panaji amidst reports that Goa’s beaches were on top of the terrorist attack list due to which security has been strengthened till January 5. There are 2 companies of CISF, 2 of CRPF and 1 of RAF patrolling in the state. While 3 are posted in the South, the rest are in North Goa.
The operation room is linked by internet, telephone, mobile telephone and fax to the offices of the collector and superintendent of police at the two district headquarters.
“Four PIs have been given charge of the operation room and they will be in-charge of the room in shifts. At any given time, there will be one PI at the room to take stock of the situation,” confirmed SP (intelligence) Atmaram Deshpande.
Sources reveal that the centre was set up after Union home minister P Chidambaram suggested, in a letter to chief ministers of all states and union territories, to immediately establish 24x7 control rooms to be manned by a young and energetic officer.
Meanwhile, the police control room which was so far run by police sub-inspectors will now be manned by 4 deputy superintendents of police in shifts.
Besides this, a three-member analysis group has been formed and the group will receive, collate, analyze and link up with previous inputs and disseminate intelligence inputs to the Central agencies and central government. This group is headed by SSP (security) V V Chaudhary, SP Deshpande and SP Omprakash Kurtarkar.
December 31, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
One in 100 women attempted suicide this year in Goa: Study
One in 100 women attempted suicide this year in Goa: Study
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: A study has found that nearly one in every 100 women, aged between 18 and 50 years, attempted suicide in the last 12 months in Goa. The frequency of suicide attempts is higher in young adults aged between 16 and 24 years.
The study on suicidal behaviour in the state was conducted by Sangath, an NGO working in health care. It was recently published in leading international medical journals.
“There are more suicide deaths every year in Goa than due to injuries or health-related problems,” said Dr Vikram Patel, professor of International Mental Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who led the Goan study.
The study found that almost one in 150 young people in Goa attempted suicide during a three month period. If these rates were applied to the state’s population, this would mean that between 1500 and 4000 women aged between 18 and 50 years will attempt suicide over a year’s period, while about 1000 to 2600 young adults will attempt it during any given three month period.
The findings also confirmed those of the National Crime Records Bureau’s latest figures of suicides in the country that reveal that Goa has a reported suicide rate of 16.9, much above the n at i o n a l average of 10.8.
Official f i g u re s available with the Goa police too show that in 2007 about 250 people committed suicide, but the number of people attempting suicide in the state is much higher, said police sources.
“Suicide is the leading cause of unnatural death in the country. Community studies of the cause of death show that actual suicide rates may be five to 10 times higher than reported by the police,” said Patel.
The study revealed that gender disadvantages experienced by women and interpersonal violence are the major social determinants that drive young people and women to commit suicide in Goa. Apart from these social factors, depressive disorders and chronic physical health conditions or disabilities increase the risk of suicidal beh av i o u r, the study noted.
Divided into two segments, the Stree A ro g ya S h o d h study was a longitudinal study of 2494 women aged 18 to 50 years, randomly selected from the catchment area of Aldona primary health centre, while the Yuva Mitr study was a cross-sectional survey of 3664 young adults aged between 16 and 24 years in rural and urban communities in South Goa.
The two studies researched the health of populations who are disadvantaged or who are the focus of national health programs and they addressed a wide range of suicidal behaviours from thinking about ending one’s life to attempting suicide, besides examining roles of indicators of socio-economic disadvantage such as poverty, minority or migrant status, gender violence, mental illness and physical ill-health.
“Our study points to specific actions that should be taken to reduce suicides,” Patel said. Stating that the best way to prevent suicides would be by effective implementation of policies and programs to counter interpersonal violence, the study added, “Individual level interventions for reducing interpersonal violence and treating depression, especially in high-risk groups such as married women and young adults, delivered through health programs targeting young people and women is essential; in addition, services for depression management and crisis intervention should be made available in all primary health centres and other community based agencies in the state.”
December 31, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: A study has found that nearly one in every 100 women, aged between 18 and 50 years, attempted suicide in the last 12 months in Goa. The frequency of suicide attempts is higher in young adults aged between 16 and 24 years.
The study on suicidal behaviour in the state was conducted by Sangath, an NGO working in health care. It was recently published in leading international medical journals.
“There are more suicide deaths every year in Goa than due to injuries or health-related problems,” said Dr Vikram Patel, professor of International Mental Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who led the Goan study.
The study found that almost one in 150 young people in Goa attempted suicide during a three month period. If these rates were applied to the state’s population, this would mean that between 1500 and 4000 women aged between 18 and 50 years will attempt suicide over a year’s period, while about 1000 to 2600 young adults will attempt it during any given three month period.
The findings also confirmed those of the National Crime Records Bureau’s latest figures of suicides in the country that reveal that Goa has a reported suicide rate of 16.9, much above the n at i o n a l average of 10.8.
Official f i g u re s available with the Goa police too show that in 2007 about 250 people committed suicide, but the number of people attempting suicide in the state is much higher, said police sources.
“Suicide is the leading cause of unnatural death in the country. Community studies of the cause of death show that actual suicide rates may be five to 10 times higher than reported by the police,” said Patel.
The study revealed that gender disadvantages experienced by women and interpersonal violence are the major social determinants that drive young people and women to commit suicide in Goa. Apart from these social factors, depressive disorders and chronic physical health conditions or disabilities increase the risk of suicidal beh av i o u r, the study noted.
Divided into two segments, the Stree A ro g ya S h o d h study was a longitudinal study of 2494 women aged 18 to 50 years, randomly selected from the catchment area of Aldona primary health centre, while the Yuva Mitr study was a cross-sectional survey of 3664 young adults aged between 16 and 24 years in rural and urban communities in South Goa.
The two studies researched the health of populations who are disadvantaged or who are the focus of national health programs and they addressed a wide range of suicidal behaviours from thinking about ending one’s life to attempting suicide, besides examining roles of indicators of socio-economic disadvantage such as poverty, minority or migrant status, gender violence, mental illness and physical ill-health.
“Our study points to specific actions that should be taken to reduce suicides,” Patel said. Stating that the best way to prevent suicides would be by effective implementation of policies and programs to counter interpersonal violence, the study added, “Individual level interventions for reducing interpersonal violence and treating depression, especially in high-risk groups such as married women and young adults, delivered through health programs targeting young people and women is essential; in addition, services for depression management and crisis intervention should be made available in all primary health centres and other community based agencies in the state.”
December 31, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Goa-Tourists will party on beach
Tourists will party on beach
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Sonia Kail (29) has come to Goa from wintry Switzerland keen to soak up the sun on the state’s long, sandy beaches and party hard during the year end beach parties.
“In Switzerland, you don’t get to see the sea. I always wanted to welcome the New Year on a beach with music,” says Sonia.
The Goa government ban on “open beach parties” put a damper on her enthusiasm, but Sonia has found a way out. “Though parties are banned, there is no restriction on me going out with my friends to a beach, having a drink and welcoming the New Year by playing music and dancing on the beach by ourselves,” she says.
She’s not the only one who has hit upon this idea. Richard (40) from England has similar plans. “Some 30 or 40 of us have decided to pour in money for drinks, food and firecrackers. We will go and sit on the beach in Vagator, have fun and burst firecrackers at midnight. If we are caught bursting firecrackers, we will either go to a party at a night club or just go home and sleep,” said Richard.
Some 2.6 million tourists visit Goa annually, including about 4 lakh foreigners. “Why come to Goa if you can’t party on the beach. If there are no beach parties to bring in the New Year I will never come back here,” said Sonia.
Tali Levy from Israel came to Goa for its beach parties, but is now bored and plans to leave the state this week, but not before celebrating New Year in Goa. “I am planning to go to a night club for some music and fun. I had heard a lot about Goa and I expected the party scene to be much better but I am really disappointed,” she said.
With no fun in Goa, Levy visited Gokarna in Karnataka for a beach party that was all “music and fun”. “I really enjoyed it. If given a chance I would love to go to Gokarna for a New Year beach party,” said Tali.
Incidentally, a few foreign tourists have left the state for other destinations. Said a Japanese tourist, “We work hard, earn money to come and enjoy on the beaches but now there is a restriction on parties, music and even smoking. This is not our idea of a holiday in Goa.”
December 31, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Sonia Kail (29) has come to Goa from wintry Switzerland keen to soak up the sun on the state’s long, sandy beaches and party hard during the year end beach parties.
“In Switzerland, you don’t get to see the sea. I always wanted to welcome the New Year on a beach with music,” says Sonia.
The Goa government ban on “open beach parties” put a damper on her enthusiasm, but Sonia has found a way out. “Though parties are banned, there is no restriction on me going out with my friends to a beach, having a drink and welcoming the New Year by playing music and dancing on the beach by ourselves,” she says.
She’s not the only one who has hit upon this idea. Richard (40) from England has similar plans. “Some 30 or 40 of us have decided to pour in money for drinks, food and firecrackers. We will go and sit on the beach in Vagator, have fun and burst firecrackers at midnight. If we are caught bursting firecrackers, we will either go to a party at a night club or just go home and sleep,” said Richard.
Some 2.6 million tourists visit Goa annually, including about 4 lakh foreigners. “Why come to Goa if you can’t party on the beach. If there are no beach parties to bring in the New Year I will never come back here,” said Sonia.
Tali Levy from Israel came to Goa for its beach parties, but is now bored and plans to leave the state this week, but not before celebrating New Year in Goa. “I am planning to go to a night club for some music and fun. I had heard a lot about Goa and I expected the party scene to be much better but I am really disappointed,” she said.
With no fun in Goa, Levy visited Gokarna in Karnataka for a beach party that was all “music and fun”. “I really enjoyed it. If given a chance I would love to go to Gokarna for a New Year beach party,” said Tali.
Incidentally, a few foreign tourists have left the state for other destinations. Said a Japanese tourist, “We work hard, earn money to come and enjoy on the beaches but now there is a restriction on parties, music and even smoking. This is not our idea of a holiday in Goa.”
December 31, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Ban or no ban, they are set to party on the beach
Ban or no ban, they are set to party on the beach
Preetu Nair | TNN
Where there’s a will, there’s always a way for party animals. The government’s ban on “open beach parties” may have come as a dampener, but will not prevent many a foreigner from ushering in the New Year with beach parties. Says Sonia Kail, “Though parties are banned, there is no restriction on me going out with my friends to a beach, having a drink and welcoming the New Year by playing music and dancing there by ourselves.” The 29-year-old from Switzerland says, “In my homeland, you don’t get to see the sea. I had always wanted to welcome the New Year on a beach with music.” And she is not alone in this resolve
December 31, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Where there’s a will, there’s always a way for party animals. The government’s ban on “open beach parties” may have come as a dampener, but will not prevent many a foreigner from ushering in the New Year with beach parties. Says Sonia Kail, “Though parties are banned, there is no restriction on me going out with my friends to a beach, having a drink and welcoming the New Year by playing music and dancing there by ourselves.” The 29-year-old from Switzerland says, “In my homeland, you don’t get to see the sea. I had always wanted to welcome the New Year on a beach with music.” And she is not alone in this resolve
December 31, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunburn weathers storm, Rs 1 lakh surety paid
Sunburn weathers storm, Rs 1 lakh surety paid
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Even as the Calangute police lodged a complaint against the organizers of the Sunburn festival at Candolim for playing loud music, the government granted fresh conditional permission to the organizers to carry on with the beach music festival after they paid a surety of Rs 1 lakh.
Chief secretary JP Singh said, “The organizers have made a petition to the collector and they have given a guarantee of Rs 1 lakh and an undertaking that they will not violate the sound levels. As their sound levels on the second day were within the norms, the deputy collector gave them permission to continue the festival. This is conditional. Moreover, the Goa State Pollution Control Board will monitor the sound levels.”
When asked if this is an exception and if others who violate the Noise Pollution Act will be allowed to carry on operations by giving a guarantee amount, Singh said, “This can’t become a trend.”
The 3-day festival which started on Saturday was stopped by the Calangute police on Sunday after Mapusa sub divisional magistrate issued an order cancelling its conditional NOC.
Sources said that due to political pressure from a ruling MLA, the government asked the organizers to apply again for permission. They were then asked to give a surety of Rs 1 lakh and an undertaking that they would strictly abide by the law and if it is violated, penal action would be taken against them, besides them having to forfeit the Rs 1 lakh.
Mapusa SDM Mahesh Khorjuenkar said, “It is a government decision to give fresh permission as the organizers have applied again on Monday. We have given permission with certain conditions.”
Reacting to the conditional permission granted by the government, former additional advocate general Vilas Thali told TOI that the guarantee should not have been accepted at all. “The decision is discriminatory,” he said.
Environmentalist Claude Alvares said the decision of granting permission after taking a guarantee of Rs 1 lakh is “wrong and illegal”. “Goa Foundation will approach the court and see that nobody is allowed to have parties like this in the future,” he said.
Pointing to the amount being “hardly anything” for the organizers to shell out, he said, “Considering the amount, every organizer will be willing to give such a guarantee to organize such parties.”
The police in their complaint said that on December 27, between 12.45pm and 10pm, the organizers of the festival played music ranging from 67.2db to 89.3db. The permitted decibel level is up to 55db. A case had accordingly been registered against the organizer Lyndon Alves from Dona Paula under section 3 and 4 of the Noise Pollution Act.
When contacted, Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes said, “I was fighting to get permissions for Sunburn. Because of this, 48 more shacks have got permission to play music. If you don’t have such parties and music for Christmas, then what is the fun of being in Goa? For the sake of tourism, people need to bear some music that anyway stops by 10pm. Everyone in Calangute and Candolim is happy except people who complain perenially.”
December 30, 2008, The Times of India, Goa Edition
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Even as the Calangute police lodged a complaint against the organizers of the Sunburn festival at Candolim for playing loud music, the government granted fresh conditional permission to the organizers to carry on with the beach music festival after they paid a surety of Rs 1 lakh.
Chief secretary JP Singh said, “The organizers have made a petition to the collector and they have given a guarantee of Rs 1 lakh and an undertaking that they will not violate the sound levels. As their sound levels on the second day were within the norms, the deputy collector gave them permission to continue the festival. This is conditional. Moreover, the Goa State Pollution Control Board will monitor the sound levels.”
When asked if this is an exception and if others who violate the Noise Pollution Act will be allowed to carry on operations by giving a guarantee amount, Singh said, “This can’t become a trend.”
The 3-day festival which started on Saturday was stopped by the Calangute police on Sunday after Mapusa sub divisional magistrate issued an order cancelling its conditional NOC.
Sources said that due to political pressure from a ruling MLA, the government asked the organizers to apply again for permission. They were then asked to give a surety of Rs 1 lakh and an undertaking that they would strictly abide by the law and if it is violated, penal action would be taken against them, besides them having to forfeit the Rs 1 lakh.
Mapusa SDM Mahesh Khorjuenkar said, “It is a government decision to give fresh permission as the organizers have applied again on Monday. We have given permission with certain conditions.”
Reacting to the conditional permission granted by the government, former additional advocate general Vilas Thali told TOI that the guarantee should not have been accepted at all. “The decision is discriminatory,” he said.
Environmentalist Claude Alvares said the decision of granting permission after taking a guarantee of Rs 1 lakh is “wrong and illegal”. “Goa Foundation will approach the court and see that nobody is allowed to have parties like this in the future,” he said.
Pointing to the amount being “hardly anything” for the organizers to shell out, he said, “Considering the amount, every organizer will be willing to give such a guarantee to organize such parties.”
The police in their complaint said that on December 27, between 12.45pm and 10pm, the organizers of the festival played music ranging from 67.2db to 89.3db. The permitted decibel level is up to 55db. A case had accordingly been registered against the organizer Lyndon Alves from Dona Paula under section 3 and 4 of the Noise Pollution Act.
When contacted, Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes said, “I was fighting to get permissions for Sunburn. Because of this, 48 more shacks have got permission to play music. If you don’t have such parties and music for Christmas, then what is the fun of being in Goa? For the sake of tourism, people need to bear some music that anyway stops by 10pm. Everyone in Calangute and Candolim is happy except people who complain perenially.”
December 30, 2008, The Times of India, Goa Edition
SUNBURN 2008 Sun sets early on fest as organizers goof up
SUNBURN 2008
Sun sets early on fest as organizers goof up
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The three-day Sunburn 2008 beach festival that had started on Saturday with conditional permission at Candolim, was stopped by the Calangute police after Mapusa sub-divisional magistrate issued an order cancelling the conditional NOC issued to the organizers.
The SDM in his order to the police said that the Goa Pollution Control Board in its report to him had clearly stated that the organizers had violated the sound decibel level and since it was in violation of the conditional NOC, the premission stands cancelled.
SP (North) Bosco George, confirming that the festival has been stopped said, “Acting on the SDMs order we stopped the festival between 7 and 7.30 pm on Sunday.”
Mapusa SDM Mahesh Khorjuenkar said, “Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) submitted a report on Sunday in which they have stated that the organizers have failed to comply with permissible sound levels and therefore the North Goa collector issued directions to me to ask the police to take action.”
Sources said that GSPCB in its report has said that the organizers were exceeding the music limit and playing at 83 sound decibels on Saturday.
While the permission granted by the SDM was for 55 decibels, the GSPCB maintained that the music could be played upto 65 decibels in Calangute and Candolim as it is a commercial area and this can be extended up to 75 decibels. However, even that was violated.
While in the morning the music remained at 60 decibels, by 3.30 pm the decibel level peaked to 83 near the entrance of the festival which was much above the permissible level.
Meanwhile, highly placed sources said that Central intelligence agencies having examined the arrangements made by the organizers have opined to the Goa police that it is not a secure arrangement, especially from the beach side to prevent any entry of any terror attacks.
While issuing the conditional NOC to the organizers, the SDM and the police had clearly stated that they would have to comply with 22 conditions and if any condition was violated then the order issuing the conditional NOC will be deemed to be revoked.
Meanwhile, villagers said that soon after the cops left, music could be heard.
However, police personnel intervened once again to stop the festival.
December 27, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Sun sets early on fest as organizers goof up
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: The three-day Sunburn 2008 beach festival that had started on Saturday with conditional permission at Candolim, was stopped by the Calangute police after Mapusa sub-divisional magistrate issued an order cancelling the conditional NOC issued to the organizers.
The SDM in his order to the police said that the Goa Pollution Control Board in its report to him had clearly stated that the organizers had violated the sound decibel level and since it was in violation of the conditional NOC, the premission stands cancelled.
SP (North) Bosco George, confirming that the festival has been stopped said, “Acting on the SDMs order we stopped the festival between 7 and 7.30 pm on Sunday.”
Mapusa SDM Mahesh Khorjuenkar said, “Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) submitted a report on Sunday in which they have stated that the organizers have failed to comply with permissible sound levels and therefore the North Goa collector issued directions to me to ask the police to take action.”
Sources said that GSPCB in its report has said that the organizers were exceeding the music limit and playing at 83 sound decibels on Saturday.
While the permission granted by the SDM was for 55 decibels, the GSPCB maintained that the music could be played upto 65 decibels in Calangute and Candolim as it is a commercial area and this can be extended up to 75 decibels. However, even that was violated.
While in the morning the music remained at 60 decibels, by 3.30 pm the decibel level peaked to 83 near the entrance of the festival which was much above the permissible level.
Meanwhile, highly placed sources said that Central intelligence agencies having examined the arrangements made by the organizers have opined to the Goa police that it is not a secure arrangement, especially from the beach side to prevent any entry of any terror attacks.
While issuing the conditional NOC to the organizers, the SDM and the police had clearly stated that they would have to comply with 22 conditions and if any condition was violated then the order issuing the conditional NOC will be deemed to be revoked.
Meanwhile, villagers said that soon after the cops left, music could be heard.
However, police personnel intervened once again to stop the festival.
December 27, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Sunburn 2008 gets green signal
THE PARTY IS ON
Sunburn 2008 gets green signal
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Despite the government declaring that “open” beach festivals are banned, the organizers of the Sunburn 2008 music beach festival managed to get permission to hold the festival at Candolim beach by enclosing the premises with metal sheets.
“The SP (north) and SP (traffic) have both issued a conditional NOC and if any condition is breached, the NOC will be cancelled,” said SP (intelligence) Atmaram Deshpande.
Highly placed sources said that there was immense pressure on the organizers to issue the NOC, due to which the police issued a conditional NOC after the organizers promised to comply with several directions. Sources revealed that the NOC will hold only if the organizers comply with the condition of having armed private guards in uniform, traffic marshals to man vehicles, security men in plain clothes, hand metal detectors, frame metal detectors, sniffer dogs and the entire area enclosed with metal sheets. It is also said that no minor should be allowed and everyone’s I-cards should be checked. “There are about 22 conditions the organizers have to comply with,” sources said
“The NOC also states that there should be no parking in the lane and a separate parking provision should be made. Penal action will be initiated in case the organizers fail to comply with the undertaking they have given us,” said police sources. The police have also asked the organizers to stop all activity by 10 pm.
Incidentally, even when the police were refusing to grant an NOC, Manuj Agarwal, chief operating officer of Percept D’- Mark had declared that the festival is on. “They have been given permission on the technical ground that the festival is going to be held on private property behind the sand dunes at Candolim and not on the beach,” said sources in the government.
The Sunburn festival, dedicated to the promotion of peace and global harmony, aims to attract more than 3000 people and will be held from December 27 to December 29. More than 35 music artists from around the
world will play across 4 stages on the beach, and will have food stalls, fire jugglers, stilt walkers, a flea market and will also promote environmental awareness and education.
Deputy Collector (Mapusa) MV Khorjuenkar said, “Earlier the report was that the festival was on the beach, but as they said that it is being held on private property, the police verified it and gave a report to us that the music permission should be granted as the organizers have given an undertaking.”
“We discussed the matter with the collector and after examining the case granted permission as the festival doesn’t violate the government order banning open beach parties,” he added.
December 27, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Sunburn 2008 gets green signal
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Panaji: Despite the government declaring that “open” beach festivals are banned, the organizers of the Sunburn 2008 music beach festival managed to get permission to hold the festival at Candolim beach by enclosing the premises with metal sheets.
“The SP (north) and SP (traffic) have both issued a conditional NOC and if any condition is breached, the NOC will be cancelled,” said SP (intelligence) Atmaram Deshpande.
Highly placed sources said that there was immense pressure on the organizers to issue the NOC, due to which the police issued a conditional NOC after the organizers promised to comply with several directions. Sources revealed that the NOC will hold only if the organizers comply with the condition of having armed private guards in uniform, traffic marshals to man vehicles, security men in plain clothes, hand metal detectors, frame metal detectors, sniffer dogs and the entire area enclosed with metal sheets. It is also said that no minor should be allowed and everyone’s I-cards should be checked. “There are about 22 conditions the organizers have to comply with,” sources said
“The NOC also states that there should be no parking in the lane and a separate parking provision should be made. Penal action will be initiated in case the organizers fail to comply with the undertaking they have given us,” said police sources. The police have also asked the organizers to stop all activity by 10 pm.
Incidentally, even when the police were refusing to grant an NOC, Manuj Agarwal, chief operating officer of Percept D’- Mark had declared that the festival is on. “They have been given permission on the technical ground that the festival is going to be held on private property behind the sand dunes at Candolim and not on the beach,” said sources in the government.
The Sunburn festival, dedicated to the promotion of peace and global harmony, aims to attract more than 3000 people and will be held from December 27 to December 29. More than 35 music artists from around the
world will play across 4 stages on the beach, and will have food stalls, fire jugglers, stilt walkers, a flea market and will also promote environmental awareness and education.
Deputy Collector (Mapusa) MV Khorjuenkar said, “Earlier the report was that the festival was on the beach, but as they said that it is being held on private property, the police verified it and gave a report to us that the music permission should be granted as the organizers have given an undertaking.”
“We discussed the matter with the collector and after examining the case granted permission as the festival doesn’t violate the government order banning open beach parties,” he added.
December 27, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Goan cops send arms wish list to Centre
Goan cops send arms wish list to Centre
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The Goa government has asked the Centre for advanced arms and ammunition to fight terrorists, better infrastructure and equipment for coastal police, modern surveillance tools and advanced communication technology for the Goa police.
The estimated cost of the equipment sought has been pegged at approximately Rs 100 crore, and would strengthen the Goa police force. The proposal was sent after Union minister of state for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal, at a meeting with the Goa chief minister, Home minister and police officials on December 24 had asked for a list of requirements.
The state government has requested the Centre to provide the infrastructure and equipment during the financial year 2009-10.
IGP Kishan Kumar confirmed that a proposal to improve the police infrastructure and equipment was sent to the Central government. “Through the state government we have moved a proposal to the Centre for more arms and ammunition, better facilities for the coastal police, vehicles for beat constables and improved communication systems,” said Kumar.
Sources said that the list of demands includes guns, 200 each of hybrid weapon Insas and AK-56s, besides more AK-47s and 7.62 SLRs. Most of the weapons the Goa police possesses today are vintage quality .303 rifles. The police have also sought more vehicles — jeeps for the coastal and traffic police, as well as for the police control room staff and about 320 motorcycles for the beat constables, so that each beat will have its own vehicle, sources said.
The police have also proposed the introduction of an advanced communication technology system. Currently, most police communication is done through the wireless.
GUNNING FOR MORE
The list of demands includes guns, 200 each of hybrid weapon Insas and AK-56s, besides more AK-47s and 7.62 SLR
The police have also sought more vehicles —jeeps and about 320 motorcycles Goa police propose better radio network
Panaji: The Goa police propose to introduce TETRA communication and Cipa system in all police stations in the state, sources said.
While Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) communication is a combined version of the modern digital private mobile radio (PMR) and public access mobile radio (PAMR) technology, which heightens security over air for police, the Cipa system will enable police stations to access data and information from other police stations in the country.
The proposal also focuses on improving the coastal police stations by making them better equipped with ammunition, communication systems and speed boats.
At the moment there are three coastal police stations,
but the proposal suggests more of these at the one major and five minor ports, besides creating new sea check posts, to keep an eye on vessels entering the state through the sea.
Currently the coastal police have no high-tech speed boats. While the Central government has promised nine speed boats, the police require about fifteen more to man the 125 km long coastline.
While the necessary equipment and infrastructure would be provided by the Centre, the state government would have to provide the manpower for the new coastal police stations, said sources.
At present the coastal police stations located at Siolim, Betul and harbour are functioning either from existing outposts or police station buildings.
December 29, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The Goa government has asked the Centre for advanced arms and ammunition to fight terrorists, better infrastructure and equipment for coastal police, modern surveillance tools and advanced communication technology for the Goa police.
The estimated cost of the equipment sought has been pegged at approximately Rs 100 crore, and would strengthen the Goa police force. The proposal was sent after Union minister of state for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal, at a meeting with the Goa chief minister, Home minister and police officials on December 24 had asked for a list of requirements.
The state government has requested the Centre to provide the infrastructure and equipment during the financial year 2009-10.
IGP Kishan Kumar confirmed that a proposal to improve the police infrastructure and equipment was sent to the Central government. “Through the state government we have moved a proposal to the Centre for more arms and ammunition, better facilities for the coastal police, vehicles for beat constables and improved communication systems,” said Kumar.
Sources said that the list of demands includes guns, 200 each of hybrid weapon Insas and AK-56s, besides more AK-47s and 7.62 SLRs. Most of the weapons the Goa police possesses today are vintage quality .303 rifles. The police have also sought more vehicles — jeeps for the coastal and traffic police, as well as for the police control room staff and about 320 motorcycles for the beat constables, so that each beat will have its own vehicle, sources said.
The police have also proposed the introduction of an advanced communication technology system. Currently, most police communication is done through the wireless.
GUNNING FOR MORE
The list of demands includes guns, 200 each of hybrid weapon Insas and AK-56s, besides more AK-47s and 7.62 SLR
The police have also sought more vehicles —jeeps and about 320 motorcycles Goa police propose better radio network
Panaji: The Goa police propose to introduce TETRA communication and Cipa system in all police stations in the state, sources said.
While Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) communication is a combined version of the modern digital private mobile radio (PMR) and public access mobile radio (PAMR) technology, which heightens security over air for police, the Cipa system will enable police stations to access data and information from other police stations in the country.
The proposal also focuses on improving the coastal police stations by making them better equipped with ammunition, communication systems and speed boats.
At the moment there are three coastal police stations,
but the proposal suggests more of these at the one major and five minor ports, besides creating new sea check posts, to keep an eye on vessels entering the state through the sea.
Currently the coastal police have no high-tech speed boats. While the Central government has promised nine speed boats, the police require about fifteen more to man the 125 km long coastline.
While the necessary equipment and infrastructure would be provided by the Centre, the state government would have to provide the manpower for the new coastal police stations, said sources.
At present the coastal police stations located at Siolim, Betul and harbour are functioning either from existing outposts or police station buildings.
December 29, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
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