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Goa fast becoming a hub of child prostitution Panaji: Once a hot tourist spot, Goa is now witnessing an alarming rise in sexual abuse against children in the 10-16 age group. According to social scientists, more than 10,000 paedophiles visit the coastal state every year and molest children, especially brought for the trade from Jharkhand and Orissa. A study reveals that most paedophiles are foreigners who lure children with nominal gifts and money. International children's organisation, Child Relief and You (CRY), in its recent report said seven children were raped in 2002 and it tripled to 22 cases by 2003. Gregary D'Souza, a researcher, said there was a huge network involving foreign tourists. "There are certain tourists who come here specialy just for this. We believe that they are in a network, they take children to other places. They definitely are a threat to many of the children specially the more vulnerable children in the coastal areas," said D'Souza. The
police, however, refused to comment in front of the camera. India
is not the only Asian nation with a paedophilia problem. Other countries
badly affected include Thailand, Sri Lanka and Cambodia, as poverty
and tourism promotion have combined to create a thriving market. In
India, welfare officials have estimated there are more than 60,000
child prostitutes - many of them street children in the cities. A
recent study by the UNICEF found that the culprits in a third of cases
of child sex abuse in Goa were nationals of European countries. Research
indicated that 70 percent children did not report the abuse and suffered
in silence. "It's because Goa is being portrayed as a place where
you can get children. Children who are vulnerable. There are the people
who come to Goa in search of job, these children do not go to schools
they are on the streets and are easy prey to such paedophiles who
get them very easily," said Burni D'Souza, a social worker. Tribals in Jharkhand hunt in wildlife sanctuary (Go to Top) Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary(Jharkhand): Defying a government ban, tribals in Jharkhand on Tuesday hunted wild animals to please their deity. Hunting is essential to the annual Sendra festival, celebrated by various tribes in states including Orissa and West Bengal. The celebrations conclude with the tribals going on a hunting spree with bows and arrows on the "Vishu Shikaar" day. Scores of animals were reportedly killed by the hunters in the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. Tribals said they were not ready to forgo their traditions despite efforts by the state authorities to reform them. "This hunting ritual is to appease the forest Goddess. If we do not hunt and pray at this time then we will face a lot of problems," said Chaitan Tiu, a tribal. "If we do not hunt then there will be no rain and it rains only if we hunt," said Chandra Murmu, another tribal.
However, officials denied any hunting. "There have been no reports
of any animal being killed, till now," said DK Srivastava, Forest
Conservator of the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. Hunting is a religious
tradition followed by tribal sects like Oraon, Munda and Santhal to
please their deity, "Dolma Baba." Spread over an area of 193 sq km
of west and east Singhbum districts of Jharkhand, the Dalma Wildlife
Sanctuary is mainly inhabited by elephants, sloth bear, python, wild
boar, porcupines and leopards. India banned hunting of wild animals
and trading in articles made from wild animals in 1972. |