MARGAO: The number of sexual abuse cases against migrant children is more then what meets the eye and get reported. The NGOs working for the protection of the children from such crimes feel that there is indeed indifference shown towards children of migrants when it comes to care and compassion. The case of the Canacona rape is one of many cases that may have occurred but never made it to the books.
The NGO Bailancho Saad has touched on the topic that has been mostly ignored by the Goan society as a whole. Auda Viegas has expressed her sadness over the Goan society being indifferent and less sensitive towards the children of migrants who come to Goa, dwell in poor hutments while their parents make a living. A visual survey of the building and construction sites of complexes and also that of the government roads works of Goa reveals a lot about the conditions the labourers and their children living there.
Auda said that the tents provided to the labourers at the Canacona project where a minor was raped, was not suitable for human habitation. She also revealed that there was no toilets seen anywhere nearby for the persons to use. “You are earning from the construction work and the work of the labourers. Other then the wages, can’t you even give the labourers proper facility, including sanitation, for living and?” a disgusted Auda asked.
While the NGO is compassionate towards the labourers, the President of CREDAI Desh Prabhudessai feels that it is unfair to blame the builder/developer outright for the incidents.
He said, “The incident is most untoward and has to be dealt with an iron fist. However, the builder always makes sure all the norms are followed in totality.” He also added that if all including the labour contractor and also the families of the labourers do their bit for safety, then, these incidents can be minimised or even eliminated.
The children roaming on the beaches and tourism spots too are vulnerable to abuse and ills of the society. Several minor girls selling some articles and earning a living have faced situations similar to the Canacona incident, but have gone unreported. “The Society needs to keep an eye and be more compassionate towards these sections of the society,” Auda said.
