Team Herald
PANJIM: Devadasis residing in the State on Sunday resolved that no new girl is dedicated as Devadasi in Goa and that no one will engage in any commercial sexual activities and will seek rehabilitation and employment at WISH (Women’s Initiative For Self Help), an initiative of Arz (AnyayRahitZindagi), an organisation working in Goa since last 25 years towards combating sex trafficking.
Around 35 Devadasis besides, members of NGOs and Devadasis Sangha from Karnataka attended a consultation programme organised by Arz for Devadasis residing in the State to “Prevent, Protect and Rehabilitate Devadasis” on Sunday.
“Devadasis” are girls who are dedicated ‘in the name of god’ and are sexually exploited. They are stripped off their rights to marry any mortal man, inheritance rights, and the other fundamental rights that are guaranteed under the Constitution of India. The Devadasi system, a practice has been a part of Karnataka. One of the states where the minor girls from Karnataka after being dedicated as Devadasis where trafficked was Goa. Also, many of the migrants from Karnataka residing in Goa, dedicated minor girls as Devadasis and then trafficked them for commercial sexual activities. The red-light area of Baina, was one of the major centres for the commercial sexual exploitation of the Devadasis originally from Karnataka.
During the consultation, Arz presented findings of its study titled, “Situation of Devadasi practice in Goa and benefits received by the Devadasis under the schemes announced by Karnataka government. The organisation also interviewed 55 Devadasis residing in Goa and all belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) communities.
The other resolutions passed were that Devadasis who are born and brought up in Goa and have been residing in the State and do not have property or relatives in Karnataka, appealed to the Goa government to provide pension and house as provided by the Karnataka Devadasis or be included in the pension scheme for housewife and widow.
A delegation of Devadasi Sangha from Goa will visit Karnataka along with Arz to submit the copy of research report, list of Devadasis and demand for benefits under the different schemes for Devadasis in Karnataka.
Director of Arz Arun Pandey appreciated that Devadasis have resolved to fight the exploitative practice of dedication of women as Devadasis and to reach out to the government for rehabilitation.
