The stray cattle issue has been troubling St Michael’s Convent School (SMCS), Vagator for months now. Worried about students’ safety, the school management wrote to the Anjuna-Caisua panchayat and also raised the issue at the gram sabha. While the students’ parents are having sleepless nights, Anjuna-Caisua locals seem to be divided on the cattle issue.
When SMCS management raised the issue at the recent gram sabha, the panchayat expressed helplessness in the matter. The school nuns explained to the gram sabha that their children would suffer the most if the issue was not resolved.
A nun representing SMCS management said, “The cattle menace is affecting your children more. Cattle sit in front of the school gate, and your child could be hurt while crossing the road to enter the school. That is why we are taking up the issue. We are not doing it for our own good, but for the safety of your children studying in our school. We should not mix up issues when it concerns them.”
“The panchayat has a big cattle pound. Why can’t the cattle be impounded there? The problem will be resolved and our children studying in the school will also be safe,” said Sanju, a local.
Local Uday Lingudkar called for an amicable solution to the issue and added, “We should come out with a solution rather than simply debating the issue to no conclusion and satisfaction.”
Meanwhile, Anjuna-Caisua Dy Sarpanch Savio Almeida stated, “We advertised in newspapers seeking somebody to get rid of the cattle menace in Anjuna-Caisua, but unfortunately there was no response. Nobody is willing to take the responsibility.”
“The only solution to the cattle menace could be to ask cattle owners to either tie up their cattle in sheds or face a penalty. If we don’t take care of our cattle, we will not be safe while driving or riding, besides risking the lives of our children while crossing the roads, etc. As citizens of this village, we need to be more responsible while dealing with our cattle and stop blaming the authorities,” said a local who did not wish to be named.
