Goa News Clips
 

Catholics intolerant, Goa mission congress told http://www.ucanews.com/2009/02/10/catholics-intolerant-goa-mission-congress-told/print/ On 2009-2-10 PILAR, India (UCAN) -- Catholics are intolerant and exclusivist, representatives of other religions complained at Goa and Daman archdiocese's mission congress. ia_panaji_goa_state_1.gif Catholic-dominated villages in Goa continue to pass illegal resolutions to ban the sale of land to Muslims, Nissar Mohiddin, a Muslim leader, told about 400 participants at the Feb. 6-8 congress. Roxana Singh, a Zoroastrian married to a Sikh, alleged that Goa's Catholics have become exclusive as they seem to implement a reservation policy. The two were among some 20 people who represented other religions at the gathering in Pilar, a village near the Goa state capital of Panaji. Representatives from 161 parishes in Goa state and 59 in two geographically separate territories under federal administration -- Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli -- attended the congress. Its theme was: "Inflamed by the love of Jesus, spread God's love the world around." Singh recalled participating in her convent school's choirs and Christmas programs. Now, such schools have become exclusive and discourage other students from joining in Church programs, she maintained. "I knew the Our Father and the Hail Mary before I knew my (Zoroastrian) rituals," she told the congress, saying she was exposed to a Christian lifestyle and culture, and had several Catholic boyfriends. Singh also pointed to gender discrimination among Catholics: "It is an accepted way of life, and women are not expected to assert their right lest they be ostracized." Mohiddin, also an alumnus of a Catholic school, said he felt discriminated against during his school days and now often hears Catholics express anti-Muslim sentiments. He also said Catholics never bother to get the Muslim point of view. As an example of ongoing discrimination, the Muslim leader alleged Catholic civic officials have denied his community a burial place in Margao, the state's commercial capital, even after 20 years of pleading. But he also spoke of an internal prejudice. An elderly Catholic once simply declared the "Muslim breed" as cursed, he recalled. "I was aghast. Despite my explanations to the contrary, he merely apologized for the statement but was far from convinced." Mohiddin called it ironic that Catholics hate a religion that respects Catholicism. "I see Islam as a sequel to the Bible. Islam speaks so much of Christianity," he said, adding that he believes in Mary because of the Qur'an. "If I do not believe in Jesus' miraculous birth, it goes against the tenets of my religion," he asserted. Conversely, Madhav Bhide, a Hindu who grew up among Catholic neighbors, said he has never felt discriminated against. "My father's best friends were Catholics, who helped my brother get a scholarship in Europe," he told the congress. Sumitra Sawant Desai, another Hindu who shared at the congress, recalled she was the first Hindu girl to become a bridesmaid at a local Catholic wedding. She said her parents did not mind her friendship with her Catholic neighbors, but warned her not to eat anything from them. Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman attended the congress along with his predecessor, retired Archbishop Raul Nicolau Gonsalves, and Bishop Alwyn Barreto of Sindhudurg, who heads the only other diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Goa and Daman. Archbishop Ferrao, who opened the congress, noted that in 2010 Goa will mark 500 years since receiving the Catholic faith. A Portuguese colony 1510-1961, Goa served as a springboard for missionary activities in Asia.

Vendors to be moved out of Old Goa heritage complex http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4114890,prtpage-1.cms 12 Feb 2009, PANAJI: The thoroughfares at the world heritage complex of Old Goa will soon be decongested as all kiosks and vending activities are to be shifted to designated areas elsewhere. After an order by the collector to remove all kiosks in its jurisdiction, and taking cognisance of complaints from public and church authorities, the Old Goa panchayat has now decided to streamline all vending activities in the well-frequented area. At present, the area has around 30-35 kiosks doing business legally, the rest are illegal, said panch members. The panchayat convened a meeting on Wednesday morning as vendors called for some succour. "We have decided to streamline all vending activities in Old Goa," deputy sarpanch Prakash Amonkar told TOI after the meeting. Taking note that some families are operating two, even three, kiosks the panchayat has decided to bring some parity. "A family may not be allowed to operate more than one kiosk," said Amonkar. After the panchayat's call to bring some order to vending activities, the panchayat office was flooded with over 100 applications. Meanwhile, ward members decided that priority should be given to those vendors already possessing no objection certificates from the panchayat. When asked if the panchayat had an upper limit for the number of kiosks in its jurisdiction, Amonkar replied that it depended on the area made available for rehabilitating the vendors. "As of now, there are three places agreed upon for rehabilitationnear the Gandhi circle, near the fish market and near the Divar ferry. Also, only moving carts will be allowed now," the deputy sarpanch added. Many kiosks have incidentally, put up thatched roofs and made their carts into permanent structures.

Tighter security for Goa carnival http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4109697,prtpage-1.cms 11 Feb 2009 PANAJI: Carnival floats this year will not only be scrutinized for obscenity, political content and liquor promotion, but for explosives too. The men in khaki will join the team inspecting the decorated tableaux with a fine tooth comb looking for hidden explosives. No float will be allowed to roll out at any carnival parade without a green signal from the cops. After a terror free Christmas and New Year, Goa’s cops are bracing themselves to ensure that yet another event passes off peacefully. “Every float will be checked by the police. No floats will be allowed to participate in the parade without a security check and clearance from the cops,” police sources told TOI. Stressing on security, the traffic police are also insisting that the parade route in Panaji be changed to 18th June Road, rather than the Dayanand Bandodkar Road. “In case of any eventuality, D B Road has to be kept open for easy movement of traffic. Even during the international film festival D B Road is not closed,” said sources in the traffic department. The police have also stressed on the need of identity cards to volunteers at Panaji, Mapusa, Margao and Vasco parades and at other events all over the state. “Details of every participant taking part in the floats will also be sought,” sources added. One aspect that the police is looking into is the masked clowns that roam the streets during the parades. “We don’t know what to do about this. It might take away the fun from the festival, if we don’t allow masks,” an official said. Meanwhile, Goa police has asked for separate meetings with all four carnival committees in the state. When contacted by TOI, inspector general of police Kishen Kumar did not specify any of the measures taken, but said, “We’re reviewing the situation.” (With inputs from Preetu Nair)

Two child labourers rescued in South Goa “…. the number of reported cases is just the tip of the iceberg.” 12 Feb 2009 Rajeshree Nagarsekar, TNN http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4114899,prtpage-1.cms MARGAO: Notwithstanding provisions of the State's unique legislation Goa Children's Act, 2003, the commercial town is witnessing growing incidences of child labour in the absence of a child labour vigilance officer as required by the law. In a couple of raids conducted by Margao town police along with Jan Ugahi and Child Line on Wednesday, two child labourers working in commercial establishments at Borda and Arlem were rescued, while a number of business establishments in Margao and Fatorda flouting the law are yet to face action. Inspector Rupa Naik, who conducted the operation, told TOI that both employers were booked under Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986, Shops & Establishments Act, 1973 and Shops & Establishments Rules, 1975. Both the boys, police said, worked for over time and were sent to Apna Ghar. "As per Goa Children’s Act 2003, employment of children under the age of 14 in non-hazardous occupation, like these cases, attracts a fine of Rs 25,000 and simple imprisonment of three months while in domestic labour, a fine of Rs 50,000 is imposed," informed Naik. DySP Umesh Gaonkar indicated that a number of children from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, between the ages of 12-17, constitute the increasing domestic work force in south Goa, especially Margao. "I fear there is a network of traffickers and middlemen who bring these children to the state to work as domestic servants, which has a growing demand. Some time back, a priest from Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) was found trafficking children from Orissa to Candolim and a similar network is feared to be working in South Goa," Gaonkar added. He further informed, "At one church near New Era school, a number of girls from Jharkhand and Orissa can be spotted on Sundays. These are basically converts. After mass they get together at the municipal garden." Jan Ugahi, a Margao based childrens organization, felt that the number of reported cases is just the tip of the iceberg. "There are several unreported cases. From November to January, we have rescued almost 12 children engaged in child labour of various kinds hazardous as well as non-hazardous. Also we have more than a couple of cases which are under investigation," said Berni D'souza, director, Jan Ugahi. Critical of the Act's failure to guarantee rehabilitation, D'souza said, "As per the requirements of the law, children rescued by NGOs are sent to Apna Ghar where there is no provision for any rehabilitation. It is the interest of the NGOs to rehabilitate the child and not to send them back to their employers." While social activists alleged that police fail to shoulder responsibilities despite the act empowering them to arrest offenders, Goankar disagreed, "Many times the NGOs come with a rigid one point programme. As law enforcers, it makes us difficult to accept their demands. Also their approach is not adjustable. Resistance of the society should be considered. Also, proving age of the rescued child becomes difficult as they do not possess birth certificates," he opined.

FOOD-STREET ON CITY MENU PANJIM: If all goes well with the city fathers, the state's capital city may soon boast of a Food Street. Mayor Tony Rodrigues tossed around the proposal on February 9 at the CCP meet. Up for grabs is a Central corpus of Rs.5-crore for a Food Street in Panjim. At the meet, CCP Commissioner Melwyn Vaz was seeking a nod from the Corporation to open an account for kick-starting the process of funds transfer. Although the exact contours of this proposal are still under wraps, Rodrigues felt the Street could prove to be a panacea for the wailing kiosk owners. [GT]

Taxi drivers beg before tourists for alms Anguished by the failure of the government to meet their demands, members of the Federation of Association of Tourist Taxi Owners and Drivers on Monday found a unique way to air their grievances - they begged before tourists for alms on the Benaulim beach with coconut shells. Over 50 taxi drivers and owners gathered at the Benaulim beach and went around the beach begging before the tourists as they claimed that they reached a such a state that they have to beg to make a living. [NT]

Calangute grapples with contaminated water In Goa, there are areas where groundwater resources are contaminated due to mushrooming hotels and housing projects. This contamination of water was confirmed sometime back by a study conducted by the World Health isation stating that water in the wells of coastal villages was unfit for human consumption. Water resources in the entire coastal belt of Bardez have been contaminated due to the discharge of sewage onto the ground. Calangute village has been the worst hit with locals claiming that the well water is unfit for drinking and they have to rely fully on public tap water. [Erwin Fonseca, NT]

Engineers urged to protect nature Nationally acclaimed environmentalist and Chipko movement activist Sundarlal Bahuguna on Monday called upon the future engineers to protect nature and stressed the importance of trees in development of a country. Bahuguna was addressing students of Goa Engineering College at Farmagudi on the importance of nature. "To fight pollution youth should unite people and use the people's power. We should not expect more from government to protect trees," Bahuguna said. [TOI]

Plans to expand road from Pilar to Old Goa draw flak Villagers of Neura opposed the proposed 25-metre broad major district road from Pilar to Old Goa, stating that it would lead to the demolition of around 100 houses and other structures. At a gram sabha meeting chaired by sarpanch Vinod Kamat, the villagers opposed the project. "More than a 100 houses and compound walls, two chapels, a primary school, several shops and restaurants, a bakery, five wells and other structures would be destroyed, Avelino Fernandes, a Neura resident, said. [TOI]

'24x7' water supply by 2012 Goa is the number one state in water supply sector and with the effective maintenance and operation of the system we are sure to achieve the goal of 24x7 water supply on sustainable basis by 2012 to all areas of Goa state. That is the conclusion of a technical paper "Effective Operation and Maintenance of Water Supply System - Goa Experience" submitted by PWD principal chief engineer AM Wachasundar at the 41st annual convention on Water Utility and Security Management held at Hyderabad recently. [TOI]

Karnataka govt committed to enrich Konkani language Acharya: The 19th All India Konkani Sahitya Parishad at Kundapur concluded on Sunday paying rich tributes to the Konkani writers, who passed away during the past four years. "Konkani-speaking people are there all over the world. Konkani people are flexible and are ready to adjust anywhere. There are half a crore Konkani people. They have quality and are in literary, music, sports fields," said Home Minister of Karnataka, Dr V S Acharya, and added that Konkani as a language has been there for the past three years at the primary-level in Karnataka. [NT]

586 cases of foreigners owning property in Goa There have been 586 registrations with the state government as regards the foreigners who own land, flat or house in Goa, as on December 31, 2008. The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, in a written reply to the House has also stated that in all, 313 cases, prima-facie in contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999, have been established and referred to the directorate of enforcement, acting as a quasi-judicial authority, for further investigation and necessary action. [NT]