News Clips from Goa
 

October 2009 Floods in South Goa Photos sent by Salus Corriea - saluscorreia@optusnet.com.au   Click to enlarge

CM to submit report on losses to centre Chief Minister Digambar Kamat yesterday said, he would submit a detail assessment report of the flood-related damage in Canacona and other parts of Goa to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in Delhi today (Thursday). Kamat returned from Delhi yesterday after meeting Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who sanctioned Rs 5 crore as interim relief for the floods. [GT]

Rs 164 cr loss in Canacona The cumulative losses in the Canacona floods, including destruction of houses and personal belongings and damage to state infrastructure, is around Rs 164-crore, according to an estimate prepared by various state government departments and agencies. Thirty-eight bandharas were damaged, which according to Water Resource Department (WRD) would cost Rs 48-lakh to repair. The damage to the National Highway is assessed at Rs 48-crore, and various teams from the South Goa Collectorate have reported other losses to the tune of over Rs 40-crore. [GT]

North Goa losses estimated at Rs 33.5 lakh As per the preliminary estimates, North Goa district has suffered an estimated loss of Rs 33.5 lakh due to the recent incessant rains. The losses were primarily due collapsed houses and water logging. Bardez taluka has suffered the maximum loss of about Rs 20 lakh with Pirna and Assonora villages being worst hit While, Pernem taluka suffered a loss of Rs 15 lakh. [GT]

Ravi stresses on hassle-free vacation for tourists The Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik has said that the state police officials have already taken steps to ensure free movements to the foreign as well as domestic tourists arriving in the state, even as the police force has been geared up to prevent any law and order situation in the state. Mr Naik told The Navhind Times on Wednesday evening that it would be in the interest of the state that tourists were not harassed while visiting Goa and that all concerned including the tour and travel agents, hoteliers, transport operators (including taxi drivers), traders and others made all-out efforts to ensure a pleasant stay and holiday for the tourists. [NT]

Salcete students turn away from mid-day meal A survey is being conducted by the education department to assess the number of students eating food items provided under the mid-day meal scheme. The survey is being carried out in the light of the reported decline in the number of students eating the meal, especially in schools of coastal belt of Salcete taluka. A headmistress of a school from the coastal belt, a headmaster of another school and some teachers disclosed that most of the students are not inclined to have the mid-day meal due to lack of taste for the food items. [NT]

1/10 Goans hit by anxiety, depression, results reveal One in 10 adults suffer from depression and anxiety in Goa as per the Manashanti Sudhar Shodh (MANAS) programme of Sangath which is the biggest ever trial undertaken for identifying stress-related mental health problems in the developing countries. According to co-founder of Sangath Dr Vikram Patel, who is monitoring the project, “The one in 10 figure is what seems very evident in Goa, but the final evaluation of the programme will be made in April 2010. So far, over 2,700 patients with depression are involved with the MANAS programme.” [H]

Seven inches of rain disrupts rail, air traffic in Goa http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/460601.aspx Torrential rains since Wednesday have forced closure of Goa's Dabolim airport and disrupted train services in the state, and one person is feared drowned, officials said on Friday. State Chief Secretary Sanjiv Srivastava told reporters that the army's help could be sought to rescue residents in 100-odd houses in the Canacona region in south Goa, trapped due to the flooding of the area. "The entire state machinery has been galvanised. We are also trying to involve the army in the flood-control and rescue operation," Srivastava said. "We have already put rescue boats and other measures into action to rescue the marooned people to safer locations. The South Goa collector is monitoring the operation," Srivastava said, adding that the state's disaster management plan has already been put into action. Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials said that 16 flights were diverted mid-air from Dabolim airport to the nearest airport, because of poor visibility and heavy rains. Goa recorded nearly seven inches of rain since Thursday evening. Meanwhile, rail traffic along the Konkan Railway route continues to be paralysed with the tracks south of Karwar completely submerged by the rains. Four trains, including the Delhi-bound Thiruvananthpuram Rajdhani Express, have been halted at the Bhatkal railway station in Karnataka, Konkan Railway officials said.

Racial discrimination has been one of Goa's worst kept secrets Andrew Pereira, TOI Crest 3 October 2009, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-5083772,prtpage-1.cms Vincent Fernandes, a guest house owner at Chapora-Anjuna , has the last word on this. "The code is clear. Your skin should be white. It doesn't matter whether you sell vegetables in Europe for a living." A group of waiters surrounds a man with dark skin, an Indian certainly, and possibly a local Goan. They block the entrance to the beachside restaurant in Calangute and imperceptibly nudge him out into the darkness. A show of politeness is maintained, but the disdain on their faces is unmistakable. Through the gaps between their bodies, the brown man gets a quick glimpse of the scene inside . A group of raucous diners are dancing the night away. All are foreigners, mostly white. Racial discrimination has been one of Goa's worst kept secrets. The funny thing, though, is that almost everyone in Goa seems to be guilty - Goans keep Goans and Indians out, Gujarati businessmen drive away large families of fellow Gujaratis, and Bihari chefs despise desi clients, both local residents and tourists from India. Incidentally, almost 90 per cent of the staff employed by beach shacks and coastal restaurants is non-Goan , drawn from Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, the North-East and Nepal. "Indian tourists drink themselves silly and don't know how to behave when they see white women,'' says a restaurant manager by way of defence. "They ogle, make passes, and even attempt to molest and proposition them. It is a disgrace and an embarrassment ." Others are more aggressive in their contempt for the Indian customer. "Indians lack manners and harass our white guests who want a peaceful holiday. We call them behind the shack and our staff thrash them up in the alley," says Subhash Deep, a chef from Bihar who has a Finnish girlfriend and boasts he can conjure up the best chicken dish on Baga beach. Dormant resentment against years of racial discrimination flared up recently when a Goa University professor claimed he was treated shabbily in a wellknown restaurant at Calangute beach. "We were physically stopped by two persons at the entrance. We wanted to sit inside but were told to sit on the porch despite there being empty tables inside. Foreigners who arrived after us were welcomed with open arms," the professor said, not wishing to be named. There are loud and angry echoes of this sentiment everywhere. "Goans have been getting second-class treatment in restaurants," says Bush Miranda, managing director, Cicerone Air Transport, and member of Goa Travel and Tourism Association. Not that the ugly Indian hasn't played a part in the increasingly unpleasant saga of what many are calling 'in-house apartheid' . In August, a foreigner was at a restaurant at Miramar with his family when a dozen tourists from Maharashtra at a nearby table began to make lewd comments directed at his daughter. The foreigner confronted them. He was beaten up by nine tourists, who broke beer bottles on his head and left him bleeding. A few weeks ago, the Taj Vivanta at Panaji had a stand-up comedian perform at a sold-out show at one of its restaurants. Barely ten minutes into the performance , when the comic made a few cracks about gays and lesbians, a loud voice from among the audience asked him to watch his language. An Indian family was objecting to the content, and soon, they and their friends turned the place into a wrestling ring. Such behaviour, say many in the tourism business, has led to unwritten laws that give silent sanction to racial discrimination. Moreover, say restaurateurs, it is not just about colour but also money. "Often, waiters decide who can enter and who cannot," a restaurateur said. "Some of them have become arrogant after making a killing from tips that foreign guests lavish on them. We don't know what's happening because we're not always on the premises." Other proprietors candidly say they encourage such behaviour. "Foreigners give us stable business. A foreigner is here for at least two weeks and may even stay for months. It makes business sense to protect them," an Anjuna shack owner says. The government has now decided to wade in with a law that threatens to turn the issue into a political hot potato. Goa's tourism department will add a new clause to its 'shack policy' for the coming season, stating that racial profiling of customers is reason enough to warrant the cancellation of a licence. "Such cases have now started to come out in the open," tourism director Swapnil Naik says. But Fritzie Moraes Lobo, president of the Citizen's Rapid Action Committee, says the racial discrimination cases that get reported are just the tip of the iceberg . "In Palolem, there are places run by Irish, British and Russian nationals who don't allow us in," says Lobo. "If they don't allow Indians to enter, the government should shut them down. They are running them in our country. Even decent local families who go there are told to leave." On certain beaches, there are clear lines that Indians cannot cross. "I was chased away by a Gujarati restaurant owner from a corner of Baga beach," says Anoop Nair, an IT manager from Bangalore. "He said it was private property and meant only for whites." Vincent Fernandes, a guest house owner at Chapora-Anjuna , has the last word on this. "The code is clear. Your skin should be white. It doesn't matter whether you sell vegetables in Europe for a living." Michael Jackson would have been disappointed. In Goa, it does matter whether you are black or white.

Concern Raised Over Growing Number Of Senior Citizens Facing Isolation Written by NT Network Saturday, 03 October 2009 http://www.navhindtimes.in/news/goa-news/3722-concern-raised-over-growing PANAJI: While the government is looking to protect the senior citizens through various policies and schemes, there has been increasing concern over the growing number of cases of senior citizens facing isolation. Studies have revealed that three in every 25 senior citizens in Goa are facing isolation, which is as high as 12 per cent and concerns have been raised over the rising number of cases. It is also learnt that there are various factors leading to high number of isolation cases in the state, and one among them high level of migration to the other countries. Sadly there are no schemes to keep the senior citizens occupied in some kind of activity post-retirement even as the studies have shown that occupational therapy plays an important role in maintaining the social physical and mental health of the senior citizens. Isolation could also have an adverse effect on the senior citizens suffering from dementia. It is learnt that the number of people suffering from dementia is particularly high with 3 per cent of Goans in the age group of 60-80 while the figure doubles for the age group of 80 and above When contacted, the secretary of the Dementia Society of Goa and faculty at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Dr Amit Dias stated that isolation of senior citizens with dementia could also further deteriorate their condition as it could lead to neglect in health care. He also said that isolation of senior citizens could lead to depression besides psyhosomapic problems like complaints of body pains, etc.  Dr Dias suggested that a good way to prevent isolation is to create day care centers where the senior citizens can socialise, play games, etc, while those interested could also get involved in soft skills, however, those should be optional. When contacted, the senior executive of HelpAge India for Goa and Sindhudurga region, Mr Dattaprasad Pawaskar said, “It is unfortunate that the government has not considered any schemes which will keep the senior citizens occupied. The senior citizens could be involved in jobs requiring soft skills like paper bags, candles and even baby sitting.” Mr Pawaskar suggested that creches could be set up in old age homes. “This will help the senior citizens remain pre-occupied playing with the children at the same time enjoying themselves. Secondly, this could also be a long term solution to the problem of working parents,” he observed.

Loutolim Locals Call For Survey Of ‘Migrant-Inhabited’ Houses HERALD REPORTER | MARGAO, OCT 4 http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=28206&cid=26 From: wagoa@yahoogroups.com Loutolim villagers on Sunday called for a survey of residential houses which have let out their premises for migrants in view of the emerging problem of sanitation facing the village. At the gram sabha meeting, members also demanded that the multinational and other companies, which have set up shop at the Verna Industrial Estate in the jurisdiction of Loutolim be levied trade and commercial taxes. At the meeting, agitated villagers called for a survey of the entire village to ascertain the number of households, which have let their premises for migrants, working in the shipyards and the nearby Verna industrial estate. A gram sabha member Franky Monteiro pointed out that it has come to light that even 7-8 migrants are being put in a single room without any facilities for sanitation. “This has forced the tenants to answer nature’s call in the open, causing a nuisance and a health hazard to the neighbouring residents. A demand was made to levy taxes on the households which has let their premises on rent. The gram sabha also discussed the issue of de-notification of the Verna Industrial Estate since the area has been declared a notified area by the government. The villagers demanded that the village panchayat write to the Goa Industrial Development Corporation about the status of the multinational companies for the purpose of taxes. Sarpanch Jose Fernandes told Herald after the meeting that the letters would be made to the IDC on the issues raised by the gram sabha members. He further said the panchayat would conduct a survey in the village to ascertain the number of migrants putting up in rented premises and the provision for sanitation facilities. Gram sabha member Franky Monteiro said the villagers drew attention of the Panchayat to the rampant violations in the village by the industries in the Verna industrial unit. He said that the units are disposing off their waste in the Loutolim Panchayat jurisdiction taking advantage that the Verna Industrial Estate is a notified area. “The villagers have asked the Panchayat body to take up the question of garbage disposal with the police as well as the IDC”, he added. He demanded that the multinational companies in the industrial unit be levied taxes in the form of trade and house tax. “Even a small kiosk in the village is paying a trade tax of Rs 150, but these multinational companies pay nothing to the village panchayat”, he added Another member Joaquim Gracias demanded to know from the Sarpanch whether the village panchayat is aware of the proposal to acquire vast areas from Loutolim village for expansion of the Industrial estate, even as the gram sabha members unanimously opposed further expansion of the Industrial Estate.