Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Minister for Women and Child Development Vishwajit Rane informed that House that number of child pregnancies reported in the State annually for the last five years are 86.
“The number of child pregnancies reported in the State annually for the last five years are 86. No data is available of child pregnancies among girls from migrant families,” said Rane.
He further said that Victim Assistance Unit is established, Child Helpline set up in Mapusa Bus Stand and Margao Railways Station, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Child Welfare Committees are constituted and effectively functioning in the State.
“Information, Education and Communication activities and awareness sessions are conducted to the general public through all the peripheral health centres and hospitals,” he added.
Over the past two years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of beggars on Goa’s streets. According to cases filed in Goa under the Beggars Act, there were only 16 instances filed in 2021, 101 cases filed in 2022, and 103 cases filed in the first half of this year as of June 30.
In answer to a non-starred question put forth by Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira from Aldona, the chief minister Pramod Sawant revealed the worrisome figures during the current legislative assembly session in a written reply.
Ferreira also proposed a question on the traffic signals in Fatorda, where hawking and beggaring occur, as well as specifics about the steps taken to stop beggaring.
Two young boys and two young girls were saved while panhandling or beggaring in the year 2022 near the ancient market circle traffic light in Fatorda, and they were kept in Apna Char, Merces.
A baby was also housed at ASRO, Street Providence, Cavelossim. Additionally, three men and three women were charged for violating the Beggars Act and appeared before the JMFC, Margao; they were later discharged by the court,” Sawant said in the LAQ.
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