TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: At a time when massage parlours and spas are grabbing headlines for alleged cross massaging and prostitution, the newly-formed Goa Salon and Spa Association (GSSA) has likened the industry to the mining sector, where several players jumped in due to the boom and committed illegalities, thus tainting the entire trade. (See edit page 8)
“We are in the eye of the storm exactly like the mining industry in Goa, where several (persons) plunged into illegality. We would like to work with the police, NGOs and the health department to filter the good and bad elements in the spa industry,” GSSA general secretary Sumit Bhobe told a press conference on Monday.
Bhobe also spelt out some suggestions including the need to verify antecedents of massage and spa industry players and its employees and stated that it intends to share the information with the government in a bid to root out the menace.
In the same breath, the association has objected to demand on ban on cross gender massage referring to the provision in the Goa Public Health (Amendment) Act that does not obligate same sex/gender body massage.
“The authorities are misinterpreting ‘provision’ to impose ‘prohibition,” he said alleging the health officials are harassing legitimate members of the association ‘by insisting on the segregation of male and female areas.’
“We are trying to be gender neutral. Gender segregation means we are encouraging gender discrimination. Most importantly, it will not guarantee the stopping of illegal activities…” the association press release mentions.
GSSA, while pointing our flaws in the Health Act, urged the government to bring the industry under the Tourism Department.
GSSA Treasurer Asha Arondekar said local authorities should carry out stringent monitoring of activities in each centre.
The association will request the government to specify the laws for running this industry.
