HERALD: What is your take on the lethargic attitude of the past term of the WCD over accepting all the recommendations of the Levinson Martins report?

Vishwajit Rane: I have asked for the report from the department. Rest assured I will accept the report in toto and I will start implementing whatever suggestions have been laid down in the report. If anybody is indicted in the report for the alleged illegalities and/or irregularities, strict action will be taken. I will at the most taken two to three days to examine the report and action will soon follow. 

HERALD:  The report had indicted six caretakers into the unlawful activities but only one faced the axe. The report also highlighted various glaring lapses but nothing much was done. 

Rane: If the persons who were indicted in the report are still with the WCD, I can immediately recommend them for suspension…But I am going to take move this once I read the report. I reiterate I will take action and move a comprehensive note with a copy of the report to the CM for action. I will be visiting Apna Ghar next week and conduct surprise checks on regular basis. 

HERALD: Problems at Apna Ghar continue to haunt the State. While you are new to this portfolio, what will be your strategy to set things right?

Rane:  Problems do not get solved because problems are not addressed in the right perspective. There has to be different options available. Apna Ghar concept seems to have failed totally, so I have to relook at it with an open mind about what are the options available. I will have to speak to the committee members, various other committees and ask for suggestions and views. Some children in Apna Ghar are involved in a lot of illegal activities so I am going back to check for all the views/observations, etc mentioned in the report. These are the problems areas which are there with the department (for many years). I have taken the initiative to resolve it by taking all into confidence. There will also be screening of the NGOs because some are really doing well in this field. I am also in the process to reconstitute Women’s and Child Commission (Goa State Commission for Women and Goa State Commission for Protection for Child Rights). This field needs to be addressed differently and with an open mind. We need to try to have a different overview and not to overlook on how to solve the problem. There has to be enthusiasm and interest from the administration. 

Moreover, in last couple of years nobody has visited the WCD. I will not only visit the department and continue to do on a regular basis, but also hold monthly and review meetings in the department itself. Unless I go there, we cannot put things in order. I have also given the director (Deepak Desai) a free hand to come down heavily on any kind of irregularities in the department. 

HERALD:  Does the department lack funds because it had recently come to the fore that some inmates cannot be repatriated to their native states because of lack of money. 

Rane:  I don’t think there is money issue… I have to be very sensitive in dealing with the issues because this is a sensitive portfolio and I do not have to behave in a high handed manner as far as WCD is concerned. I will be holding a review meeting with the WCD on various related activities and during this course of discussion, there will be a preliminary discussion on the report as well as the repatriation issues. I however doubt there is any issue about lack of funds.