Karnataka   

Panchayat-level campaign against gambling planned in Goa

PANAJI: People and the organisations that have rallied under the banner of Aam Aurat Admi Against Gambling (AAAAG) to oppose gambling and casinos in Goa have demanded that the State Government restore Goa Gambling Act, 1976, to its original status and remove all provisions that enable operations of the onshore and offshore casinos.

At a public meeting here early this week, the AAAAG also resolved that casino licences should not be issued anymore and that all licences given to date should be withdrawn with immediate effect.

The meeting decided to take the campaign against gambling to the panchayat level and also compel MLAs to decide whether they stand by the people or the casinos.

Aries Rodrigues of Utt Goenkara proposed that the Government convene all-party meeting to discuss the issue. Sabina Martins, convener of Bailancho Saad, women’s collective at the forefront of the action against casinos, argued that social costs of gambling outweighed the benefits the State exchequer reaped. At the meeting, State unit president of the All India Milli Council, the Catholic Association of Goa and the Parampoojya Shree Padhmanabh Siksha Sampradaya, Tapabhoomi, Ponda, also pledged their support to movement against casinos.

Arvind Bhattikar of Nitoll Jinn, a non-governmental organisation, underlined the need for urgent remedial steps to change the branding of Goa as a drug, sex and gambling destination to that of clean tourism destination. Chairperson of the Goa State Commission for Women Pramod Salgaokar emphasised on the commission’s consistent opposition to all forms of gambling in the State.

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