MAPUSA
Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira’s demand for action against those responsible for filming and circulating a viral video of a 22-year-old Mapusa youth has drawn attention to remarks he made just a month ago supporting a “name and shame” campaign against people caught dumping garbage in public places.
On Saturday, Ferreira strongly condemned the recording and circulation of the video, which showed the youth allegedly dumping waste in the open. The youth later died by suicide after the video was widely shared on social media. The MLA alleged that the youth was unlawfully restrained, threatened and publicly humiliated. He called for action against the person who filmed the incident, as well as against the police personnel involved in registering the FIR and summoning the youth to the police station.
Ferreira also criticised the public disclosure of the youth’s identity, saying people accused of offences are generally entitled to privacy protections. However, his current position contrasts with statements he made during a cleanliness drive in Nachinola last month. At the time, while expressing frustration over repeated garbage dumping, Ferreira supported publicly identifying those responsible.
During the clean-up drive, volunteers reportedly found wrappers and receipts carrying the names and addresses of individuals whose waste had allegedly been dumped at the site. Ferreira announced plans to publish the details and appealed to residents to help identify those named. He also proposed creating a Facebook page called “Hall of Shame”, where the names and photographs of alleged offenders could be displayed. “We can showcase these names with their photos on the Hall of Shame and give them credit for littering and spoiling the image of Goa,” Ferreira had said, adding that public shaming might be necessary to instil discipline among repeat offenders.
The contrast between Ferreira’s earlier support for publicly exposing alleged litterers and his criticism of the viral video has sparked debate over privacy, accountability and the risks of public shaming in dealing with civic offences.
