Team Goemkarponn
CANSAULEM: The Cansaulim Group of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) celebrated its 49th anniversary and family get-together on Sunday evening at Three Kings Hall, Cansaulim Highway, with public representatives, medical professionals and social workers extending support towards expanding recovery and counselling facilities for people battling alcohol addiction.
Cortalim MLA Antonio Vaz attended the function as the chief guest, while Director of the Department of New and Renewable Energy Ajit Panchwadkar was the guest of honour. The event brought together members of the A.A. fellowship, recovering individuals, families and guests from different parts of Goa.
Among those present were IMA Goa State President Dr Shrada Mulgaonkar Patil, GMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rajesh Patil, Vasco PI Vaibhav Naik, Verna PI Anand Shirodkar, Vasco MMC Chairperson Girish Borkar, Cansaulim Sarpanch Xavier Savio Pereira, Quelossim Sarpanch Swoosie De Souza, Cortalim Sarpanch Ujwala Rajesh Naik, ZP member Merciana Vaz and social worker Roquezinho D’Souza.
Addressing the gathering, Antonio Vaz praised the efforts of Alcoholics Anonymous in helping individuals return to normal life with dignity and confidence. He assured continued support for initiatives linked to rehabilitation and awareness programmes.
“Alcohol addiction affects not only an individual but entire families. Organisations like A.A. are silently transforming lives through counselling, discipline and emotional support. Whenever required, we will support efforts to provide suitable space for conducting meetings and opening more recovery centres in the constituency,” Vaz said.
MMC Chairperson Girish Borkar also assured support from the civic body for social initiatives connected with addiction recovery and counselling. He stated that local bodies should stand with organisations working for public welfare and social reform.
“If organisations like A.A. require assistance or space for activities that help people overcome addiction, we will positively consider extending cooperation. Such groups are doing valuable service to society,” Borkar said.
IMA Goa State President Dr Shrada Mulgaonkar Patil and GMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rajesh Patil also appreciated the work carried out by A.A. members over the decades and stressed the need for greater awareness about alcoholism and mental health support systems.
The programme featured interaction sessions and sharing of recovery journeys by members, highlighting the contribution of the Cansaulim A.A. Group in Goa since the mid-1970s. Organisers recalled that the movement in Goa began after late Walfrido Antao of Cansaulim returned from Pune and started spreading awareness among people struggling with alcohol addiction.
Social worker Roquezinho D’Souza appealed to society to encourage people undergoing recovery instead of isolating them.
“People fighting addiction need support, understanding and encouragement from society. Recovery becomes easier when families and communities stand together with them instead of judging them,” D’Souza said.
