WHILE
the government authorities conveniently overlook the burgeoning
rate of sexual crimes against children and women, some NGOs and
the concerned public seriously are really worried about it.
Recently a foreigner was found with three minor boys from Nepal at
the Maria Guest House in Benaulim. He was booked under section 377
of the Indian Penal Code for unnatural sex.
For the
police, it was just another crime case but the disturbed Parish
Priest of Benaulim's Holy Trinity Church called a meeting of the
Parish Council and Panchayat members on April 28 to take stock of
the serious situation. The laudable meeting addressed the problem
and various people set an example to create awareness, monitor the
happenings and wipe out such menacing crimes in their areas. The
Parish Bulletin reprinted the report from a local English daily in
a move to inform and sensitize the people on the issue. Middleton
took offence at this and approached the Sarpanch and Parish Priest
to prove his innocence. But, he was informed that the people of
Benaulim new the position better.
Dr. Sapeco, a
member of the village, and presently Head of Forensic Dept., GMC,
Bambolim, pointed out that people get taken up by the gifts doled
out or income generated by playing hosts to tourists, little
knowing that sometimes they pay a heavy price by way of children's
or young girls' sexual abuse. He referred to different
paedophiles, whom he had medically examined, and noted that none
of them ever regretted their acts. Dr Sapeco emphasised that the
nature of these sexual acts, whether by 'consent' (as in the case
of young girls below the marriagable age) or force, they are
criminal because they involve children and it is our moral
responsibility to check and report such acts.
Bernardette
D'Souza of Jan Ugahi, Margao, the complainant in the Middleton
Colin John case, commended the efforts of the Parish Priest and
the vigilant citizens of Benaulim, for bringing awareness among
the people in the area regarding tourism-related paedophilia. She
said that her comanisation has built a network with shack and shop
owners around Colva Beach to fight the menace of sexual abuse. Jan
Ugahi plans to extend its reach to other beach areas in South Goa.
They have also set up an open school for poor beach children,
whose vulnerability makes them easy targets of
paedophiles.
The
seriousness of the situation calls for joint and consorted efforts
to eliminate paedophilia and all other forms of sexual abuse. A
resolution was passed to this effect.
