Although tourism is the lifeline of this coastal state, its grim underbelly has been exposed with rising incidents of atrocities against women and children. Bowing to mounting criticism, the state government has now decided to train its personnel for manning tourist hotspots and equip police stations with more facilities on the lines of the National Capital. That the state government had passed the Goa Children’s Welfare Act in 2003 but was not as enthusiastic in setting up a parallel machinery to implement it has been largely attributed to the fact that the victims belonged to migrant families. Of late, the NGOs have been able to stir the police department into some action. The state police has formed a Women and Child Protection unit. The Panaji PS will now have a special cell to look after women’s complaints, along with a special juvenile unit manned by a helpline. NGOs have been incorporated into this scheme for providing counselling to women in distress.The government, however, is still lagging behind in the formation of a Children’s Assistance Unit. The NGOs have also expressed concern over the fact that the government is attempting to squeeze all relevant problem areas under one head.According to women activists, issues relating to juvenile and sexual abuse of children require an independent approach. Says Sabina Martins of the Bailancho Saad, ‘‘We want this cell to be effective and not a decorative piece of legislation. Earlier, a women’s PS was in existence, which has now been dissolved into the new cell. The NGOs are not consulted nor have our queries been answered as to how this cell will be different from its earlier avtaar. ’’The figures relating to atrocities against women and children for this year are frightening — 68 cases till date, compared to the 103 last year. Among these are 25 rape cases, six abduction, 16 molestation and seven incidents of eve-teasing, 13 cases of cruelty to women, one dowry death, three cases of suicide and one of procurement of minor girls for prostitution. In addition, 19 cases of paedophilia have been registered in the past two years.Rumblings in BJP over ‘Frankenstein’ MonserrateEven as the BJP government celebrates its victory in the Poinguinim by-election, rumblings of discontent are becoming audible over the ambitions of Town and Country Planning Minister Atanasio Monserrate.Monserrate, considered the brain behind BJP candidate Isidore Fernandes’ victory in Poinguinim, is said to be eyeing the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. And sources say that he had spent a fortune in this constituency to get the BJP candidate elected.Poinguinim, located on the southernmost tip of the state, has an electorate of 14,500. The BJP secured 6,963 votes, while the Congress had to remain content with a measly 4,468 votes here. Currently, the strength of the ruling BJP combine is 23, while that of the Congress is 15. The BJP is supported by the lone MGP MLA Sudin Dhavlikar, the UGDP and an Independent.While Monserrate has been quoted by a section of the media, as saying that he is the de-facto Chief Minister, he has rubbished these reports while speaking to The Indian Express. ‘‘Development of my constituency can be undertaken without being the CM of the state. An elected representative needs to have a foresight in this regard,’’ Monserrate said.The Opposition Congress begs to differ. The party alleged that Monserrate spent Rs 2 crore to get Isidore to defect to the BJP and another Rs 2 crore to get him elected. Lok Shakti endorsed the Congress charge. ‘‘After Isidore’s win, Monserrate became more than a minister. Parrikar has created a Frankenstein. One day, this Frankenstein will devour its creator,’’ said Lok Shakti leader Datta Naik.Interestingly, Monserrate has the backing of five MLAs in the BJP Legislative Party. Rumours are rife that Monserrate has plans to hijack the regional outfit, United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP), on whose label he had earlier contested and won the elections.According to sources, Monserrate has plans to get his wife elected as the UGDP chief to make members of the minority community, who are uncomfortable with the BJP, contest under the banner of this outfit for a seat in the State Assembly. With this, Monserrate plans to hit two birds: One, please the CM by erasing the label that BJP is a party of the majority community and two, keep Parrikar under obligation for a bigger slice of the political pie.IFFI makes CM Hero No. 1With the IFFI deadline ticking closer, it’s a mad rush to fix the infrastructure in Goa. The festival has given Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar a perfect opportunity to dress up the Capital, which he represents in the Assembly. With Rs 150 crore sanctioned for the facelift, Panaji will never be the same again.Kala Academy, the cradle of Goan culture, has got a new look, together with the Old Goa Medical Complex. Next to these structures, four multiplexes with ultra-modern facilities are nearing completion. The promenade, running from Patto to Donapaula along the Mandovi river, is being revived as the jewel in the crown for Panaji. Also, gutters are being cleaned, lakes dredged, all old heritage buildings are getting a facelift and traffic islands and landscapes are being beautified.This has also given the Opposition Congress a chance to wag their tongues over the neglect of mofussil areas, which do not even have such basic facilities as power and water. But residents feel the festival, in the long run, would boost the tourism industry of the state.Party with a difference!The BJP is getting increasingly ‘‘desaffronised’’ under Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in Goa. In the recent by-elections to the Poingunim Assembly constituency, the BJP fielded a former Congressman Isidore Fernandes as its candidate. For a party with a Hindutva face, this was a marked departure from its customary cadre-based politics. Fernandes, who as a Congress MLA was charged with harassing the BJP cadre in the Assembly segment, suddenly found himself fielded as a BJP candidate.Conversely, he found the upper-caste sections, who were so far faithful to the BJP, backing the rival Congress candidate. Finally, a comfortable margin saw the BJP candidate triumphant and the Congress humiliated by what its leadership termed ‘‘money and muscle power’’ politics.Incidentally, unlike traditional BJP celebrations with beating of dhols, an open jeep with microphones blared ‘‘It’s the time to disco’’. It’s certainly party time for the BJP, but we can still ask who won anyway? The BJP with a Congressman as its candidate or the party itself?
