TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: In a bid to give more teeth to law-enforcement authorities and to effect crackdown on massage parlours and spas that act as fronts for prostitution, the government will table amendments to Goa Public Health Act in the ongoing monsoon session of the Goa Assembly next week
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the House on Wednesday that the draft legislation will be open for legislators to recommend further amendments.
“We will bring the legislation in the House next week…try to make it perfect,” he said responding to a calling attention moved by BJP’s Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. He asked what steps government intends to take to solve the issue by bringing in legislation to amend the present licenses issuing system.
Lobo also spoke about inspecting massage parlour and spa premises, considering that a few of these operate prostitution rackets thus violating the license issued by the Health Department. Parrikar said that while these establishments cannot be closed, their activities can certainly be regulated through the revised Act. “The Bill will get adequate teeth. Powers will be given to rank of deputy superintendent of police and above to inspect the premises. More so, the masseurs will be medically checked and their recruitment will be based on massage therapy certificates,” he said. The owners of these centres will come under the Act as the onus will lie on them to ascertain that there are no illicit activities happening in their premises.
