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REHABILITATION OF SEX WORKERS: RIBANDARITES MEET CM A delegation of Ribandar residents led by social activist Adv. Aires Rodrigues today called on Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and submitted a memorandum registering their strong protest against the Goa Government's decision to rehabilitate the Baina-based sex workers at Ribandar in the old Bal Niketan complex on Kadamba Road. The delegation, which was also accompanied by local MLA Mrs. Victoria Fernandes and Municipal Corporator Mr. Domingos Pinto, requested the Chief Minister to ensure that this former Bal Niketan premises being very close to the football ground is made a Community cum Recreation Centre for the benefit of Ribandar and neighboring Sao Pedro and Chimbel residents. The residents told the Chief Minister that they were surprised that premises which the people had sought as a community and recreation centre for the residents was sought to be converted into a hostel for the Baina sex workers and that the residents of Ribandar would have to pay a heavy price for this high-handed decision of the government and further expressed deep anger that the government did not care to take the local MLA, Corporator and the people of Ribandar into confidence in this matter. The delegation told the Chief Minister that the government could not fool the people by saying that the rehabilitation of the sex workers to Ribandar was a temporary arrangement, and made it very clear to the Chief Minister that the government's decision would be opposed tooth and nail, and that the Government would be solely responsible for any situation arising out of the agitation the residents would be forced to launch. The delegation told the Chief Minister that the residents of Ribandar were very disturbed and outraged that the peace of tranquility of the area would be lost by the Government's current move which will only aggravate the resident's woes who are already concerned about the increasing crime on the Kadamba Plateau. Meanwhile, Adv. Rodrigues has strongly denounced the statement of Goa BJP President Mr. Rajendra Arlekar welcoming and expressing happiness over Goa Government's decision to move the Baina sex workers to Ribandar. Adv. Rodrigues wondered as to how the inmates of the red light area, who were a taboo in Baina and bad for the residents of that locality, would be any good for Ribandar, and warned that the government would not be allowed to create another Baina at Ribandar. He has drawn the attention Mr. Arlekar that the people of Ribandar were opposed to the Baina sex workers being rehabilitated at Ribandar for the very reason they are sought to be removed from Baina. Stating that the authorities were misleading the people by saying that the decision of the government was as per a high Court directive Adv. Rodrigues has clarified that no order of the High Court says to rehabilitate the sex workers at Ribandar and that the government amongst other sites could consider using the old Commerce College building at Altinho that has been lying vacant for so many years. * * *
