Goa IndicaGoa IndicaJournalist who works for a local newspaper and is passionate about just one angle to any story The truth Articles
Mining companies in Goa to pay compensation for crop loss
2007-08-05 09:53:00 Mining companies in Goa to pay compensation for crop lossPreetu Nairpreetu.nair@gmail.comPANJIM: The mining companies will deposit compensation of Rs 3.6 croreplus in the Bombay High Court, Panjim bench on or before August 30, 2007. This compensationis for the 761 aggrieved farmers in Surla village,North Goa, whose fields havebeen destroyed due to mining activity.The High Court has appointed Deputy Collector/Sub Divisional Magistrate, Bicholim as CourtCommissioner for the purpose of disbursement of the amount depositedin the Court. If there are farmers whose name do not find mention inthe list, then they would have to approach the Zonal AgriculturalOfficer with an application raising a claim.While M/S VM Salgaonkar & Brothers Pvt Ltd will have to pay acompensation of Rs 85,56,930, M/S Chowgule & Co Pvt Ltd will pay acompensation Rs 85,53,263, M/S Salgaoncar Mining Industries will pay acompensation of Rs 85,53,263, M/S VS Dempo & Co Pvt Ltd will pay acompensation of Rs 85,53,263, M/... More About: Companies , Mining , Loss , Compensation , Crop
What are the German Foundation and its front organization doing with Right
2007-07-13 06:12:00 Regional Seminar on Right to Information organized by Media Information and Communication Centre of India (MICCI), International Centre, Goa and Frederick – Ebert – Stiftung- India. 29 – 30 June 2007A seminar on RTI was organized by Media Information and Communication Centre of India (MICCI), International Centre, Goa and Frederick – Ebert – Stiftung- India. 29 – 30 June 2007.I have a few questions on the role Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES)which I believe is a political foundations funded in German y (Pre USSR regimewas covert foundation for channeling CIA money to India) doing withRight to Information Act in India?1) How do political foundations like Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES)and AMIC and now its Indian avatar Media Information and Communication Centre of India (MICCI) go about setting their agenda?2) What is the agenda of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation, FES and otherfoundations and other German transnational networks active in INDIA?3) Do these foundation... More About: Organization , Front , Doing
Oppurtunities for Change
2007-06-29 13:38:00 Asmi's marriage to Raja is an indication of a new liberation that's sweeping the women who had so far led a life of prolonged violence and self-destructive behaviour as commercial sex workers. Economically rehabilitated, she is the third woman who has changed the rules and her life, reports PREETU NAIR.VASCO: Asmi married Raja in a low profile ceremony in a temple in Vasco on Friday. The wedding ceremony was performed, Raja applied sindoor on Asmi's forehead and they took seven pheras, legitimizing their relationship of last 4 years.Their marriage may have been planned in heaven, but it needed courage and self-belief for the couple to break the shackles of tradition and say "I do" on the big day in their life. With this ceremony, Asmi has broken the age-old cultural taboo that prohibits a "Devdasi" from entering the wedlock.Asmi was dedicated to Goddess Yellama at the age of 12 and forced into prostitution as a Devadasi in Goa. Devadasi is a religious practice, whereby parents ma... More About: Change , Chang , Chan , Unit
DELAYED JUSTICE - Goa's Chidren's Court yet to dispose 56 cases
2007-06-24 06:13:00 DELAYED JUSTICE - Chidren's Court yet to dispose 56 casesby Preetu NairPANJIM: First the figures: Of the 83 cases in the Children's Court, only 27 have been disposed off, while 56 cases are still pending. Of the 27 cases which were disposed off, 11 persons were acquitted, 5 convicted, 7 discharged due to lack of evidence and 4 transferred as it had happened much before the Goa Children's Act 2003 came into force.Now the fact: More than two years after the Children's Court started functioning for the speedy trial and disposal of cases where children are victims, paedophiles, rapists, child killers and kidnappers still roam scot-free.Though the state government under pressure from media and NGOs had started the Children's Court in December 10, 2004 to ensure that every child has his/her childhood, it has not ensured that everything is in place in the Children's Court."The problem of delayed justice continues even now. The whole aim of fast justice in the Children's Court is f... More About: Justice , Cases , Pose
Right to Information Act - Blame Game in Goa
2007-06-24 06:12:00 PANJIM: When faced with an adversity, blame thejuniors! The superiors in Goa police had so fartriumphed over the problems by either passing the buckon their inefficient juniors or the system.Again the same trick was adopted when the South Goapolice failed to provide information under Right toInformation Act to one Samiro Pereira for more thanfive months. South Goa SP Shekhar Prabhudesai who isalso the Public Information Officer (PIO) blamed hisjuniors, SDPO Margao Tony Fernandes and SDPO VascoDinraj Govekar for the delay. In turn, Fernandescontended that Colva PI, his own subordinate haddelayed the submission of information, while Govekarcontended that there was no delay from his side.However, State Chief Information Commissioner AVenkataratnam and State Information Commissioner G GKambli were not impressed by the blame game and madeit clear that they can't accept the pleas of the ofthe police officials that their subordinates and notthey themselves are directly responsible for the... More About: Game , Blame Game , Blame , Lame
A deadly stigma!
2007-04-20 10:37:00 A youth in Sattari in the Western State of Goa, India believes that TB kills and is not curable. In a remote village in Sanguem, an Anganwadi worker has no access to patients, due to the fear that she may spread the news that they have TB in the village. Anil Sawant stopped the magic pills because he had to travel 25 kms to the health centre for his medicines. These are some of the scary cases that plague the inner areas of the state. PREETU NAIR walks into the heart of Goa, into a different world. For the people living there, TB is not just a public health problem, but a social stigma .TB kills. We don't even drink water from a house if there is a TB patient living there. What if I get TB after drinking the water?" asked Shidhu Varak, an 18-year-old literate youth from Dhangarwada, Poriem in Sattari. His friend, Dilip Gaonkar from Gholwada, Poriem added, "We don't even get married into a family if we know that anyone in the family had TB. It is a contagious disease and no medici... More About: Stigma , Deadly
No DOT(ted) lines for them…HIV vs TB
2007-04-20 10:36:00 Not just homes, but hopes were razed on June 14, 2004. Further pushed into a life of poverty, added with their high risk behaviour, have made commercial sex workers fall easy prey to TB and HIV. PREETU NAIR walks through the narrow lanes of Baina to understand the extent of the problem.When earthmovers and bulldozers tore through, brutally and indiscriminately obliterating Shenaz's home in Baina in the western state of Goa, India on June 14, 2004, she didn't breakdown. She didn't cry even when she had to push her minor daughter into commercial sex work to pay the house rent. After all, she had learnt to tackle poverty and live with the little opportunities and choices that life bestowed on her.Now, Shenaz is in total despair. She finds herself in a vicious circle of stigma, economic hardship and discrimination, aggravated by the fact that she was detected with TB in February. "Life has changed for me. I have lost weight, feel weak and easily tired," said Shenaz. Being detected w... More About: Lines
CURBING IGNORANCE- TUBERCULOSIS IN GOA
2007-04-07 12:38:00 Incidentally, has a high prevalence of tuberculosis as compared to other states. “The annual risk of TB infection is 1.5 per cent in rest of , while in the Western region, especially , the risk of TB infection is 1. 9 per cent,” revealed Dr VR Muralidharan, District TB Officer, . Yet, reliable sources in the Health Services department inform that not much attention has been paid by the health authorities to eradicate the disease. It is estimated that 20 lakh people in are at present suffering from pulmonary TB, of which nearly 5000 are infectious. An average 2,100 new TB cases are detected every year, of which 50 per cent are sputum positive. “In terms of numbers, the number of sputum cases that are investigated has increased. We are now getting cases from the remote areas even without holding medical camps or door-to-door medical check-ups. This shows that people are becoming more and more aware of the possibility of them having TB,” said Dr Muralidharan. He however added, ... More About: Tuberculosis , Ignorance , Bing , Tuber
FROM BANGLADESH TO GOA: A HELPLESS SEX VICTIM’S SAGA
2007-02-03 19:49:00 FROM BANGLADESH TO GOA: A HELPLESS SEX VICTIM’S SAGA What happens in the terribly painful life of a child-trafficking victim? What are the horrors she has to go through beginning with a late night border crossing to regular rape by clients? PETER D’SOUZA and PREETU NAIR investigate further and piece together a 16-year-old girl’s nightmare that ended with her returning home last week. This is a true story. PANAJI: It is a story of extraordinary pain! A poverty-stricken Bangladesh i family is approached by an apparently well-meaning woman, who offers their daughter a lucrative job with the promise of a fortune. That was the innocuous beginning to an eight-month nightmare that had all the elements of deceit, hatred, lucre and lust. When Parvin (one of the three women) first visited their home in a village in Coomilla district, which is almost eight hours drive from Dhaka, the 16-year-old Mumtaz (name changed) saw a ray of hope for the family because Parvin came with a promise of... More About: Saga , Victim , Glad
Is Goa really a paedophiles paradise?
2007-01-15 04:59:00 Is Goa really a paedophiles paradise? PREETU NAIR spoke to Women and Child Minister SUBHASH SHIRODKAR and Children's Rights in Goa president NISHTHA DESAI to know the truth. While Desai believes that there are 'not less than 100' paedophiles operating in Goa, Shirodkar asks where is the data to prove this? “Tracking paedophiles is not an NGO’s job but of investigating agencies”: Desai. Interview with Nishta Desai, President , Children’s Rights Goa (CRG), INDIAQ. In your book See the Evil you state, "there are not less than 'hundreds' of paedophiles operating in Goa in each tourist season". How do you arrive at this figure? A. It is 'not less than 100'. This estimate was arrived at on the basis of a survey conducted; work in the field, cases reported to us, what community members say etc. Q. In your recent book Child Sexual Abuse in Goa, you state that many paedophiles still come to Goa. With this knowledge in hand, what are you doing to track down the paedophiles? ... More About: Paradise , Ally
Trafficking comparitively low in Goa: Dr PM Nair
2007-01-10 16:19:00 Trafficking comparitively low in Goa: Dr PM Nair Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Goa Edition, IndiaGoa is considered to have the highest levels of inter-statetrafficking of persons compared to other states, thanks to an NHRCstudy. The man behind the report was an IPS officer Dr PM Nair, whowas the Principal investigator-Researcher for the project and thepresent Project Coordinator of Anti Human Trafficking, UNODC, which istraining Goa police. PREETU NAIR catches up with Dr Nair, who revealsthat it is wrong to say that Goa has highest inter-state traffickingcompared to the other states. Besides, he candidly admits that someNGO's working on the issue of trafficking in Goa, don't know the basicdifference between trafficking and prostitution.Excerpts from the interview:Q. How did you arrive at a conclusion that Goa has the highest levelsof inter-state trafficking in the country?A. For the study, random sampling of 4006 persons across the countrywas done. In Baina, we went around 15...
‘OUTSOURCING’- GOA STYLE
2007-01-05 13:30:00 ‘OUTSOURCING’- GOA STYLEPETER DE SOUZA & PREETU NAIRThis is a stuff mafia thrillers are made up of. And it’s all happening in Goa…We looks into the whole business of drug ‘outsourcing’ an investigates the entire modus operandi of Goa drug lords who use ‘carbonised’ suitcases and minor drug carriers to export the stuff out of Goa. Pressure to sell drugs outside has increased following a major crackdown on rave parties and drug syndicated in the state.THE MEN: Israeli drug lord Agai and his middleman Amir. (there are other smaller kingpins)THE METHODS: Lock kiya Jaye: The suitcases used to transport drugs through carriers are bought from a shop in Panjim by an employee of that very shop for about Rs 6000 and delivered it to a former Sarpanch of Anjuna, who stays near Starco. He puts carbonized compartments in the suitcase and sells it to another at Monkey Valley for Rs 25,000. This person neatly packs the suitcase for Israeli drug middleman Amir who hands it over to th... More About: Style
No bar on bar girls this Christmas season-Dance you blues away in Goa with
2006-12-29 09:07:00 GOA SEASON OF WINE AND WOMENPREETU NAIR & PETER DE SOUZAPANJIM: This may well be even more 'grand' than International Film Festival of India-2006, (IFFI-06), which was termed as the greatest show of the year. And why not, when it 'cheers' the hearts of thousands who have 'invaded' Goa this Christmas season.The show is on. The 'damsels' of the Mumbai dance bars with their jhatkas are here to sizzle Goa.With hundreds of single, rich men, both Indians and foreigners, coming down to Goa during the peak season, there is a high demand for girls to accompany these men to the night clubs and rave parties. And this demand is being fulfilled by the bar girls from Mumbai who flock to Goa in a group of 10 or 15. The money is good and the girls believe that it is better to be on home turf rather than be trapped in an unknown country.Varsha Kale, president, Bharatiya Bar Girls Union agrees, "We have found that there is a huge demand for bar girls in Goa since December 15. Girls prefer to... More About: Blues , Dance , Season
Villagers of Saleli in Goa yearn for support, but there is none coming now.
2006-12-28 09:59:00 They are fighting a lone battle-Villa gers of Saleli in Goa yearn for support, but there is none coming now.PREETU NAIRpreetu.nair@gmail.com(Article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panjim edition , Goa dated 29 December,2006)SALELI: When the villagers rose in revolt on December 28, 2005 against their Khase (landlord) and the stone crusher operators, they had a reason to be angry. But now a year later, the attitudes here are complex and results stark.After the initial hue and cry, for many, the pain of Saleli villagers stayed largely invisible, rarely touching the consciousness. Even the Saleli Anyay Nivaran Kruti Samiti established to give villagers justice and comprising of "popular" human rights activists have failed to support them, leave aside ensuring justice. With the initial euphoria over, the hapless villagers are now fighting a lonely battle. "Now, we are fighting a lonely battle, with very few people to help and support us," said a villager N Gaonkar.Still theirs is a tale of l... More About: Support , Ager
Bloody Lords: In the heart of the Khase kingdom-GOA INDIA
2006-12-28 09:57:00 PREETU NAIRpreetu.nair@gmail.com(Article appeared in Gomantak Times,Panjim edition, India )In the 18th century, the Ranes became the proprietors of the land and the villagers came under their domination. The Portuguese left but the villagers continued to be ruled by the Ranes. The ages of suppression and oppression finally raised the revolt against the Rane clan in Saleli village. Preetu Nair tries to find out why a 'God' fell off the pedestal.SALELI: The young Krishnarao Rane, pioneer leader of Azad Gomantak Dal, was a man who appealed to his fellowmen and rarely disappointed them. He was their King, their "God". As a freedom fighter, he had secured for himself the love and attachment of his people, sought gratitude and won respect. He had a tender place in their hearts and was welcomed into their homes with open arms.The villagers are still filled with tales of the young Khase, who used to hide in their homes and eat ordinary bhakri (chapatti) prepared by the village folk, during... More About: Kingdom , Heart , Lords , The Heart
So you don't to want pre-marriage HIV test done because you want privacy…
2006-12-26 13:29:00 While an unnecessary debate, whether HIV/AIDS test should be mandatory or not raises, we ask the doubting Thomases to talk to these four women who got HIV becasue their husband's married them with the infection. Now they are about to take their wife's life, even after they are dead.PANJIM: * Arti never knew what HIV/AIDS was until her husband fell seriously ill. Test s revealed that he was HIV positive. She was also advised to go for HIV/AIDS test. This was four years back. In 2002, she lost her husband. Even Arti's elder daughter was found positive. From then life has become an unending struggle: struggle to live, earn and lead a healthy life. Living with HIV/AIDS, Arti is trying hard to ensure that two of her children who were tested HIV negative have a secure future.* Sheela's was a child marriage. At the age of four, her parents got her married to a person much older to her. At the age of 12, she came to live in Goa. She had five kids. Four years ago her husband died of HIV/A... More About: Marriage , Riva , Done
Gulliver's Travel: A voyage to Goa
2006-12-26 13:28:00 Peter de Souza and Preetu NairPANJIM: If someone were to write a sequel to Jonathan Swift's Gulliver 's Travel s: A Voyage to Brobdingnag; it would be called Gulliver's Travel: A voyage to Goa. However, Swift's Gulliver, the surgeon, would be replaced by very many Russian, European, Nigerian and Israeli Gullivers'.Just like the friendly creatures welcomed Gulliver into their land, in the same manner Goans would have also welcomed travellers from all over the world to Goa. However, unlike Gulliver who after spending two years in Brobdingnag wants to return home, the Gulliver's in Goa have no will or inclination to return home.The urge to explore and discover Goa is so high for the Russian, European, Nigerian and Israeli Gullivers' that they find very many reasons to stay in Goa. Of course the Goa police and the politicians, often help them in their endeavours and ensure that these Gullivers' find a safe haven in the state. And they continue to live, earn and flourish in Goa, ev... More About: Liver
RUSSIAN ROULETTE
2006-12-26 13:27:00 Ruling the roost?PETER DE SOUZA & PREETU NAIR * "Sound" man: Provider of imported sound systems from Singapore for Rave parties. "Sound" man protected the Israelis from police and also ensured that the Israelis got political patronage, essential for hassle-free trade in the coastal belt. Later, he brokered a truce between the warring Israelis and Russian s. * Baba: A man with long hair running up to his waist, which appears as a bun over his head, he portrays himself as a hermit. He sits near the sound system and gives dakshina to the public in the form of drugs at rave parties, ensures quick compromise when a drug dealer is in trouble. * Aspee: A Russian, believed to be the King of Coke, he is also one of the best DJs in the world. In the international market he charges $ 2000 per hour to play. * Baba brothers: They were partners in crime with the alleged Russian drug lord Alexis, who was recently deported from the country. They helped the Russians reach a truce with t...
Save Goa
More articles from this author:2006-12-23 18:16:00 BAMBOLIM: At the age of 80, Dulu Andrade, can barely walk. But she is determined to fight for her family and home. Her house is in middle of a development project and if the builders lobby has its way then she, her children and grandchildren would be soon evicted from their home. Welcome to a new Goa: where development matters but people don't. The builders lobby may be excited about development of Goa, but for Dulu development is a strategy of deceit. Her wells have been sealed, they have been cordoned off from going anywhere near the beach, her coconut palms have been cut and now she fears displacement. Their agony started few months back when the powerful and influential people from Goa Real Estate and Construction Pvt. Ltd with the help of the local politicians and police started harassing them. When they fought back they were threatened and police sent to their house. "Do we have a voice? When we raise our voice, we are threatened and harassed," said Dulu. When the irate villa... More About: Save 1, 2, 3 |
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