‘Educating kids on good, bad touch won’t destroy their innocence’

A growing trend in recent times is that of tourists losing themselves in the fun and enjoyment that Goa has to offer, and subjecting their children to neglect in the bargain. Tourists leave their children unattended, sometimes even locking them up in their hotel rooms, just so that they can attend night parties along the beach belt, leaving them vulnerable to serious crimes, said Nishtha Desai, director of Child Rights in Goa. A growing trend in recent times is that of tourists losing themselves in the fun and enjoyment that Goa has to offer, and subjecting their children to neglect in the bargain. Tourists leave their children unattended, sometimes even locking them up in their hotel rooms, just so that they can attend night parties along the beach belt, leaving them vulnerable to serious crimes, said Nishtha Desai, director of Child Rights in Goa.

“Parents should be made more accountable,” she said on Thursday, while speaking at the sensitization programme on ‘Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012’, organized by the national institute of public cooperation and child development, southern regional centre, Bangalore, together with the department of women and child development, Goa, at Porvorim.

Goa has no brothel-based prostitution, but children trafficked into Goa are prostituted in beauty parlours, by escort services, at spas, via the internet and through ‘friendship clubs’, more so, with the large number of single male tourists visiting the state.

Migrant children are more susceptible to sexual exploitation, she said, adding that Goan children are also vulnerable where peddling of drugs is concerned, especially in cases where their parents let out rooms to tourists.

A simple regulation of not serving alcohol to minors is not being enforced in the state, putting young tourists at risk, she said, pointing out that there are hardly any signages to this effect. “Our focus in the state should be to prevent child abuse from taking place. We have to take more protective measures to identify children who are vulnerable and ensure that protection mechanisms are in place through village child committees and other mechanisms,” she added.

Desai asserted that a little alertness from the public can go a long way in ensuring that children are safe.

There should be greater communication between parents and children, where parents shouldn’t shy away from telling children about the difference between a good and bad touch. “It’s not a question of destroying one’s innocence, but strengthening their antennae. For fear of destroying their childhood, you’ can’t not teach them how to keep safe. If you do so, you’re leaving the child defenseless,” she said

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