I am glad these issues are now being discussed after the initial reluctance. The first responses were dismissive, but we moved on. The second round of defensiveness is to pick at the boundaries of an issue and hope to muddy clear waters. To start picking at the boundaries between corporal punishment and abuse is completely disingenuous. These are not unexplored areas. There are always individual cases that fall in the grey area but they have first to be reported. Only then can they be sensitively dealt with. By definition such cases are not serious. The key to most of these cases is 'Repetitive behaviour'. A child with a slap mark on his face is not necessarily abused. But if it happens repetitively, there's a problem.
We're not reinventing any wheels. We are, I hope, replacing a broken wheel with one that works. One that is outside the embrace of any organisation that has authority and power over children. One that includes expertise in the subject. So lets not focus on the boundaries between abuse and corporal punishment now that the matter is being discussed. Lets also not focus on any corporate organisations, discredited as some of them might be. This issue is ONLY about our children. They need to be able to 'complain' without fear. Our responses must always reflect the interests of the child. Grey areas are dealt with on an individual, constructive basis as and when they arise, taking into consideration the wealth of literature on the subject. [email protected] > Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 23:47:00 +0530 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [SALIGAONET] Saligao-related issues > > Dear Saligaonettekars, > > Quentin Coelho wrote: > > > In my little way I contribute to the > > Catholic Church which is a geared to do the very same things. So why > > reinvent the wheel ? just hone it. > > Correct approach! We will work with anyone in the village, > who is already working in this direction. > > On another note, we are very aware that there are many > Saligaokars/Goans > who because they cannot be 'active' and 'on-the-street', > contribute in their own unique and silent ways > to much of the village and state's development. > We take this opportunity to salute all you unsung and unheralded > heroines and heroes > who silently make things happen, behind the scenes. > > Many of us who play visible roles would not be able to do so, > if it were not for the invisible roles that you play. > Ours, with the house that shelters us, is a case in point > ...but a separate post on that, a little later. > > > Do you think starting another organisation which will grow into a > > corporation with indulgences and cover ups is a good idea. > > Right again...it is not a good idea. We do not need to duplicate > efforts > and have multiple organisations doing the same thing. In a > previous post, > we had suggested strengthening the efforts of the existing 'child > rights' groups, > with any one of them with really secular credentials taking over > the Childline 1098 hotline. > > > Unless the > > plan is just for children in Saligao and not the rest of the world > > (every situation is global today). > > Yes, just for the village...an awareness campaign, with the help > of other like minded Saligaokars. > A small, informal, village based effort. And if possible, a > local, child-guidance counsellor > to whom troubled children in Saligao could go to/phone in when > they need help. > The counsellor could be supported with a stipend, if needed. > > > Mario if you know of any organisation which is helping to see that every > > child is getting at least one wholesome meal a day, let me know I would > > like to work with them. > > Because there is no stark, naked poverty in Goa, every child in > the state, > most probably gets that one square meal per day. But there are > NGOs working with > street/rag-picking/beach-vending/plastic-bag-selling/destitute > children > and those of commercial sex workers. In Goa, there are more > disadvantaged children, > working-children, children-at-risk than hungry or starving children. > > But may be in other poverty-stricken areas in India, > there may be organisations providing a meal, > without religious conversion or other strings attached. > > Quentin, would you like something specifically in Goa, or would > elsewhere in India do? > > Warm regards and solidarity. > > M&M. > > -- > ................................................................ > there *is* anOTHERgoa > at <http://www.anothergoa.blogspot.com> > & <http://www.youtube.com/anothergoa> > ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' > muriel & mario, > c/o "FULKAR", > 6/22, sonarbhatt, saligao. > bardez. goa. 403511. > tel: 0832-2278276 / 2409999 > <anothergoa AT gmail.com> > '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' > > -- > This message comes via the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net?hl=en > Please post regularly to keep the e-village active! _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. https://signup.live.com/signup.aspx?id=60969 -- This message comes via the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net?hl=en Please post regularly to keep the e-village active!
