The doors of Sanskruti Bhavan, the Art and Culture Centre at Panjim, were thrown open to the students and staff of 24 higher secondary schools in North Goa as they participated in the first ever debate competition on anti-human trafficking. These young excited students had come to participate in the debate as well as a poster competition on the issue of anti-trafficking. This was painstakingly organised by a new NGO, Mukti Kiran, devoted exclusively to the issue of Trafficking of Persons, in association with MOG Foundation, who also have the issue of trafficking as one of their objectives. The organisers were overwhelmed with the huge response that they received from the schools. The programme began with the lighting of the Samai.
The chief guest was Suchita Desai SP of Training of Goa Police. Goa Police were invited for the occasion and also assured of their active collaboration in the work of the organization. They were well represented by PI Rahul Parab of the Siolim Police station, PI Reema Naik of the Women’s Police station at Panjim and about six other police officers. The chief guest, other guests, and judges were each welcomed with a flower as they joined the programme, and given a memento in appreciation for their support.
The issue of Trafficking of Persons was well brought out in the different speeches given by Suchita Desai, who challenged the young students in many ways but especially in the constant use of social media which is interfering with their studies and has led to a lot of unfortunate incidents in their lives. PI Rahul Parab from the Siolim Police station spoke of his excellent work in apprehending not only the smaller fry involved in trafficking, but also a few of the top men who head big traffic rings spread across many states. The honourable Judge of the Children’s Court, Sayonara Telles Laad spoke about Children’s Rights, and the workings of the Children’s Courts.
As there were 24 schools who registered for the debate, there was a qualifying round of 25 multiple choice questions to determine the four teams that would actually debate on the question, ‘Who is Responsible For Tackling the issue of Human Trafficking in Goa? The Police alone OR the Police along with Civil Society?’ The four teams that got the highest scoring marks sat at the four tables, and hotly debated the topic. They are to be complimented for all the effort they put into this as they had to study two reports on human trafficking, the first done by ARZ, Anyay Rahit Zindagi, an NGO in South Goa involved in this issue for the past 25 years, and the second by TISS, Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
Apart from these reports, they also did their own personal study and research from the internet. It was very interesting to listen to them, as well as to the responses to the questions, some of them tricky, that the audience raised to them. Mushtifund Higher Secondary School, Cujira and Dempo Higher Secondary School of Science, Miramar, won the first and second prizes respectively. The third prize went to St Francis Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Siolim. All the participants received certificates of participation, for joining the debate and the effort put into the study of the topic.
The poster competition held at the same time, was a delight of artistic creations by 24 budding young artists. Given a limited time, they rose to the occasion and produced a variety of creative art pieces. Each art piece was unique carrying the signature of the artist. The judges had a difficult time judging who would be the winner. The final vote was cast in favour of Diago Vaz Higher Secondary School, Colvale getting the first place and St Michael’s Higher Secondary School, Taleigao, getting the second place. The young artist from the Sanjay School for Special Children got a special Achievement Reward for his work of art.
With the completion of the prize distribution, the vote of thanks and the singing of the National Anthem, the curtain came down on a wonderful and exciting day of debating and painting on the issue of Human Trafficking of Persons. Our hope is that civil society, especially the younger generation, will become more proactive and engaged in this issue before it goes beyond the limits of decency and the destruction of Human Rights and dignity in Goa.
