Activists Pratima Coutinho, Rama Kankonkar, Xencor Polgi and Mariano Ferrao speaking to reporters after submitting a petition to the Goa State Commission for Women in Panaji on Monday.
Photo Credits: Manuel Vaz
OLD GOA
A group of activists have petitioned the Goa State Commission for Women, on Monday, seeking its intervention in the recent incident wherein a house on comunidade land at Verna was demolished.
The activists have sought intervention of the Women Commission chairperson in the matter since they said that a three-month pregnant woman, apart from other women from the family, were forced to live in the open due to the demolition.
As the chairperson was not present in the office, the activists later submitted a petition to the office.
Speaking to reporters, activist Pratima Coutinho informed that the incident was really heartbreaking since a three-month pregnant woman was part of the family whose house was demolished.
“How could anyone be so cruel so as to demolish the house of this family and that too, without any notice?” Coutinho questioned and urged that the chairperson should intervene in the matter at the earliest and ensure that the family is rehabilitated.
“This is a Goan family belonging to the ST community and the least the government could do is ensure that they are given an alternate shelter on humanitarian grounds,” Coutinho said while stating that at the moment, the family members, including the women, are forced to put up in a temporary structure.
When questioned by The Goan whether they would also write to the Minister for Women and Child Development, Coutinho stated that if the time came, they would not hesitate to approach CM Pramod Sawant as well so that the affected family gets relief.
“All over Goa, there are illegal houses built on comunidade land. Then, why only this family was targeted and that too when they were living there for over 40 years?” she posed and questioned whether it was political vendetta.
Another activist, Rama Kankonkar, demanded that the government use the ST fund for the rehabilitation of the family.
Activists Xencor Polgi and Mariano Ferrao also demanded rehabilitation of the affected family who are forced to stay in a temporary structure since the past six days.
