Goanet next meets in Goa: January 7, 4 pm (meeting point: Kala Academy canteen). Goanet founder Herman Carneiro will be there. See you there! ------------------------------
On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 15:32:22 +0000 (GMT), "President\(sgpiag\)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: In the coming year 2004 we at SOUTH GOA PUBLIC INTEREST ACTION GROUP a regd NGO based in Margao with jurisdiction in the entire South Goa Parliamentary Constituency plead to the Government of Goa to ensure that from this Year onwards, let the Goa Excise Duty Act & Rules 1964 be implemented in letter and spirit with a view to ensure that the youth and able bodied citizens do not fall prey to the ill-effects of consuming alcohol. The Government should put a ban on opening new Bars who take licences as Restaurant and Bars but conduct no activities of Restaurants. If there is a need to plug this loop-hole the Government should whet the Rules or alternatively the Government should consider separate taxation to those whose turnover shows that they vend alcohol exclusively though having a licence of a Restaurant. The amendments carried out in 2001 enhancing the fines are welcome and so also the other measures to plug tax evasion. It should also review the functioning of Bars near religious places of worship and educational institutions. In the past three years we have visited almost every village in South Goa and found that alcohol consumption has become rampant among youth and men. This is the complaint of several women and men as well. It is most unfortunate that in underveloped Talukas the problem is grave. and also among the tribals and middle class. The proliferation of Tavernas and Bars specially where migrant workers are found has also led to the ruination of families. On every street and corner one finds drunken men fallen on the street this gives a bad name to this State . Though we accept that drinking is not a taboo it has been imbibed in moderation since pre- Liberation. One of the major violation observed is that though: No licenced vendor or manufacturer and no person in the employ of a vendor or a manufacturer and acting on his behalf shall sell or deliver any "excisable article" or foreign liquor a) to any person apparently under the age of 21 years or b) to any person of unsound mind. and there is also a provision that liquor outlets are are not permitted to vend alcohol before 11.00 a.m. and after 11.00 p.m. and on days when they are notified as prohibited the licenced vendor can also restrict the sale of liqour to those that consume beyond the limits Yet one sees gross violation of the above rules. It would therefore be advisable that the Chief Minister of Goa directs the Excise Officials to conduct stringent checks within their jurisdiction and check the menance. One way for the public to detect Bars or liquour outlets violating the laws would be to ensure that the Excise Licence be prominently displayed on the hoardings. The CM could also provide a Helpline to women who are victims of the alcohol malaise, as often it is the cumbersome procedure to book an offender that has been the cause of rampant violations. We also desire that all liquour advertisments be removed forthwith and advertising in any form specially for sports , educational and cultural functions be banned. We at SGPIAG will extend our full co-operation in achieving this objective to UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW & IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOA. Let those who vend liquor also realise their social responsibility to Society. WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR. 2004 Terence Mazarelo PRESIDENT (SGPIAG) [EMAIL PROTECTED] visit our weblink http://Mumbai.sancharnet.in/manojnd Happy holidays to Goanetters headed HOME !! ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
