the goan I network
MAPUSA
After the giant wheel fiasco at the Shree Dev Bodgeshwar fair in Mapusa, the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) on Wednesday said the threat to vulnerable children at the fair could bring a bad name to the image of Bodgeshwar fair.
Acting on a complaint of GSCPCR, Mapusa Police rescued a minor child from the Shree Bodgeshwar Temple site, even as the commission chairperson alleged that police were not cooperating with it in rescuing vulnerable children at the temple fair site.
After receiving a complaint from an NGO, the commission chairperson, Sushma Mandrekar along with Child Welfare Committee member and Childline 1098 visited
the Bodgeshwar temple fair site on Wednesday afternoon and cam across around 50 vulnerable children loitering and selling articles, performing acrobatics and also begging.
“These children if not rescued may be forced into illegal activities or may be kidnapped and used for such activities,” Mandrekar said in a letter to the President of the Bodgeshwar Devasthan Committee.
She alleged the Commission had brought the incident to the attention of the police personnel at the temple fair site, but failed to get any cooperation from police.
“The police were reluctant in cooperating with us and started giving several excuses. We fear any untoward
incident may occur which may malign the image of Shree Dev Bodgeshwar fair,” she said.
The Commission chairperson further said that when she approached the Mapusa Police Inspector, he assured them cooperation and even ordered the staff on duty to do the needful.
“Acting on the complaint, we gave necessary assistance to the commission and rescued a child. When we have taken steps to rescue a minor child, there is no question of non-cooperation from police,” PI Tushar Lotlikar replied.
Attempts to contact the Devasthan President Anand Bhaidkar were futile as he did not answer his cellphone.
