Team Herald
MARGAO: NGO Bailancho Saad has condemned the gang rape at Betalbatim beach and has pulled up the government for having no set tourism policy and only organising foreign tours in the name of tourism promotion.
NGO’s convenor Auda Viegas said till now women were free to move on our beaches without fear. Couples flood our beaches on Valentine’s Day but nothing like the Betalbatim incident has taken place. Our warning goes out to the people of Goa, if we keep quiet about this incident it will keep repeating.
She added that we are used to the “maka kiteak podlam” attitude.
Speaking on the Tourism Policy she said there is no set tourism policy in place and the tourism department has been sending people abroad to improve Goa tourism
“We are heavily taxed by the tourism department. However these taxes are not used to improve the infrastructure like safety and protection of the tax payer specially women and children,” she said and alleged that in neighbouring Colva ice-cream vendors who have take up the major parking space were doubling up as pimps marketing children and women.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesaisaid criminals from others states have become tourists in Goa.
“I have always been maintaining that Goa should reorient its tourism from quantity to quality tourists. This vindicates my stand as the quantity attracts some miserable people who are involved in crimes and give bad name to the state,” he said.
