Awareness Meeting Organized in Panaji on Tuesday

Citizens of Panaji have begun raising awareness against the proposed entry of a giant casino ship on the Mandovi River, capable of accommodating nearly 2,000 people. To broaden this movement, anti-casino activists have called for an important awareness meeting. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, and a large turnout is expected.

The government justifies casinos by citing revenue, employment, and business opportunities. However, the growing number of casinos is polluting the Mandovi River, with serious consequences for residents living nearby. Local fishermen face threats to their livelihood, and the overall environment of Panaji is deteriorating. Despite the glitter and crowds at night, the city has seen a sharp rise in migrant workers. Reckless driving, drunken behavior, and people sleeping on roads and footpaths at night have become common.
The increasing number of massage parlors and spas in Panaji are being linked to prostitution. A recent report revealed that hundreds of women were rescued from such establishments. If this situation continues, Panaji’s reputation and dignity as the state capital will be completely tarnished, warned members of Ponjekar Against Casino.

No to Casinos

Claims that casinos provide jobs and business opportunities to Goans or Panaji residents are baseless, with no concrete data available from the government. The social and economic consequences of casinos are already visible among locals, though many hesitate to speak openly out of shame. Silence from Panaji residents should not be mistaken as approval. Former corporator Menino D’Cruz expressed confidence that if a strong anti-casino movement emerges, Panaji residents will surely support it.

Seeking Support from Religious Institutions

The Ponjekar Against Casino organization announced that they will approach church bodies and Hindu religious institutions to seek support for the movement. The social impact of casinos is alarming. If a ship catering to 250 customers is now being converted into one serving 2,000, the consequences will be unimaginable. The burden of this crowd will fall heavily on Panaji city.
At night, police reportedly give casino operators a free hand, with little patrolling or monitoring. Activist Sabina Martins warned that such a ship could prove to be a curse for the capital, and therefore must not be allowed entry under any circumstances.