TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Claiming that 68% of sexual assaults are committed by juveniles in the State, Principal of Rosary College of Commerce and Arts (Navelim) Fr Simon Diniz has stated that a case of molestation and rape is reported every 18 hours in Goa.
Fr Diniz voiced his concern over the increasing sexual assaults while delivering a keynote address at a one-day seminar on ‘Identifying the Problems of Children and Counselling Techniques’ for teachers at the Carmelite Monastery Hall in Margao.
The seminar was organised by EMMAUS, a counselling centre of the Carmelite Fathers Mapusa in association with the Carmelite Monastery, Margao.
“Every student is different and there is a need to study the background and culture of every child. The child’s mind has been polluted through different materials like CD/VCDs, magazines, television, internet, films etc,” said Fr Diniz.
Expressing his concern over the increasing sexual assaults, Fr Diniz added: “68% of the sexual assaults are committed by juveniles in Goa. Every 18 hours, there is a molestation and rape in Goa.”
He appealed to the teachers to be good identifiers, good counsellors and to be empathetic to sort out problems in students.
In his address as chief guest at the valedictory function of the one-day seminar, Dr Afonso Botelho, associate professor of Rosary College, appealed to the teachers to be optimistic and look ahead to the possibilities and the opportunities in both the present and future.
Fr Albano Fernandes stressed on various psychological disorders, while clinical psychologist Merlyn Fernandes demonstrated some techniques and skills in counselling.
Others who spoke during the seminar included Fr Anthony D’Souza, Superior of Carmelite Monastery (Margao), Fr Diogo Proença, OCD, Catherene Coutinho of St Anthony’s High School (Veroda), Tarkeshwar Naik of St Mary’s High School (Varca), Rajani D’Souza of Shree Damodar Vidyalaya (Loliem), Br John Malvino Alfonso, OCD, and Rose Ann Pereira.
