Team Goemkarponn
CANSAULIM: Marking a milestone in community-driven deaddiction efforts, a dedicated women’s helpline—7972247922—was formally launched on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Cansaulim Group. The helpline, aimed at supporting women suffering from alcoholism, was unveiled at a public awareness programme held on Sunday at the 3 Kings Hall in Cansaulim
Cortalim MLA Anton Vas inaugurated the helpline by symbolically cutting a pop-up poster bearing the slogan “Bailancho Aadhar – Sonsvarak Aadhar,” declaring the helpline live. The initiative, which drew a crowd of over 200 locals from Cansaulim, Arrosim, and Cuelim, was part of AA’s ongoing effort to extend its recovery message to the most marginalised section of society—women silently battling alcoholism.
The event was graced by notable community leaders and “Friends of the AA Goa Fellowship,” including Mormugao DySP Gurudas Kadam, GMC Superintendent Dr Rajesh Patil, Sarpanch of Cansaulim Savio Pereira , psychologist and social worker Fr Clifford Castelino, Class A Trustee of AA Sister Rose Paite, Advocate Chetan Palyekar, and Juliana Lohar of WISH Foundation.
Three key resources were dedicated by the Cansaulim AA Group on this occasion: a weekly women’s-only AA meeting at the group’s Cansaulim room every Saturday at 4:30 pm, the newly launched helpline for confidential support and guidance, and an AA meeting facility with short-term stay for women in distress at Asro, Saligao, run by Sister Rose of SMHC.
Dr Rajesh Patil, who has worked for over three decades in substance abuse recovery in Goa and is a recipient of the President’s Award, emphasised the need to break the stigma around women and alcoholism. “Community participation is key in solving what is essentially a community problem,” he said.
Sister Rose, who has led women’s deaddiction efforts across India, called upon sober AA members across Goa to reach out to women who may be drinking and dying in silence.
Mormugao DySP Gurudas Kadam assured of all help to the AA group and urged the people to bring to the notice of the Police any cases of alcoholism or cases of domestic violence caused due to alcoholism
The evening concluded with music, literature distribution, cake cutting by AA members, and a simple dinner—celebrating not just sobriety, but the community’s commitment to healing.
