The Hindu : National : Package for Baina area evacuees

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 22, 2004

National

National

Package for Baina area evacuees

By Our Staff Reporter

PANAJI, JUNE 21. The Goa Government announced on Monday a rehabilitation package for about 70 families who were not connected to the commercial sex trade but become homeless following the demolition of cubicles in the Baina red light area on last Sunday near Vasco-da-Gama.

Announcing a package on "humanitarian grounds" at a press conference here this evening, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar termed reports appearing in some sections of the press in Karnataka as attempts to create strife between people of two States.

He said the Government had taken a bold step to cleanse the area that was a major HIV breeding ground, which no other government in the country dared to have done for political reasons.

While majority of the affected families hailed from neighbouring Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, there were around 10 families from Goa also.

Mr. Parrikar said 10 families, which were residing in cubicles as small as five square metres, would be provided Rs. 25,000 and the Government could not provide them alternative accommodation.

Some 50 families, which were living in cubicles ranging from 10 to 25 square metres, would either be provided with Rs. 35,000 or an alternative accommodation with an area of 15 square metres.

The rest who were living in cubicles measuring more than 25 square metres would either be provided with Rs. 45,000 or an alternative accommodation of 25 square metres.

Responding to the criticism by opposition parties and NGOs on the demolition, Mr. Parrikar said some NGOs, which were living from the income of commercial sex workers (CSWs), had prevented CSWs from opting for the rehabilitation package announced by the Government and women's commissions.

Former Minister Leeladevi R. Prasad and former MLC Praphulla Madhukar visited Baina evacuees and led the evacuees in a peaceful demonstration at Vasco-da-Gama on Monday.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National