HERALD: You initially took up the Rivona molestation case, waking up the Goa State Commission for Women and Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to act in the case. How you want to pursue the matter now?
Satish Sonak: We can only continue to pressurize the police and commissions to ensure that the bail or anticipatory bail granted to the accused teacher is challenged. Through the media, we are trying to appeal to the authorities that it is very serious matter and cannot be forgotten. We want the Governor, who is a lady, Chief Minister and Minister for Women and Child to take up this matter seriously and act. The police have to file an appeal against the bail granted to the accused. They have to go to the root of the incident. Even the school management or the Commissions should have filed the caveat.
HERALD: Many accused have got anticipatory bail in such serious charges. Do you think the police failed in their duty or that there is political protection to the accused?
Sonak: It is a fact that police or prosecution did not put up the fact before the court that it was not one girl but nine to ten other girls who went through same harassment from the accused. The court was unaware about this fact while hearing the matter. Also there was no information provided on the pressure and terror unleashed by the accused supporters in the school, village and to the victim. Terror-like situation was created, and all this would not happen without political backing. There are rumors that the accused’s wife is related to a BJP MLA. Looking at entire incident the question is: Is the government trying to protect someone? Or is it indifferent to the case?
HERALD: This is not the first incident where a minor has been molested by a teacher or molested in a school premises, there have been many such cases. Do you feel that the Child Right’s Commission is insensitive towards such cases or has succumbed to political pressures?
Sonak: The Women’s Commission and Child Right’s Commission are the watchdogs but today the biggest challenge before the society is who will watch the watchdogs. There are a lot of rules and regulations that these commissions need to follow, but unfortunately they have remained on paper. When the commissions are run by the government or have politically affiliated people on it, it is obvious they will succumb to political pressures. You take the incidents that were reported in Vasco, Siolim and the recent one in Quepem, what have these commissions done? Have the minor victims got justice?
HERALD: The sexual harassment or molestation cases against school children in the education premises or by teachers seem to be on rise in recent past. How are social activists looking at this scenario?
Sonak: The thing that comes to the mind of a social activist, or any citizen is that lust is increasing in educational campuses. Looks like lust is the syllabus that is been taught in the classrooms. Teachers need to be educated on safety or how to behave with girl students. Don’t be surprised if society tomorrow starts demanding that girls and boys should not be taught in the same school or class or that only female teachers should teach girl students. The authorities “care a damn” attitude will take society back to 15th century causing one to wonder whether the girl child is safe or whether the girl should be sent to school or are they meant to be in kitchen.
HERALD: Are there enough laws for safety or protection of girl child?
Sonak: Yes there are but, they are not effectively implemented or not at all implemented. The Goa Children’s Act (amendment) 2005 speaks about many important issues like training to police to handle such case, village level child committees, municipal corporation level committees to protect the interest of girl child, etc.
