PANAJI, August 17: Raising serious concerns over law and order, women and child safety, narcotics, unemployment, senior citizens’ welfare and the growing pressure on Goa’s land and environment, senior citizen and anti-corruption activist Johnson D’Silva has accused the BJP government led by Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant of failing to adequately protect Goa and its people.

D’Silva said that while the government may highlight individual achievements and high crime-detection rates, governance must ultimately be judged by whether ordinary citizens feel safe, protected and respected.

Since Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also holds the crucial Home portfolio, D’Silva said the Chief Minister must take responsibility for the overall functioning of the Home Department and answer questions concerning crime, missing children, police accountability and public safety.

Rape Cases and Crime Figures Raise Concern

Referring to figures presented in the Goa Legislative Assembly, D’Silva said 27 murders were reported in 2025, compared with 26 in 2021 and 44 in 2022.

He also pointed to figures showing that rape cases increased from 26 in 2021 to 75 in 2022, 97 in 2023, 109 in 2024 and 102 in 2025.

Citing NCRB data for 2024, D’Silva said Goa recorded 105 registered rape cases, with a reported rape crime rate of 13.3 per lakh population.

“These are not merely statistics. Behind every number is a victim, a family and a life affected,” he said.

150 Missing Children Still Untraced, Claims D’Silva

D’Silva described the issue of missing children as one of the most disturbing concerns facing the State.

Citing data reportedly placed before Parliament, he said 256 children went missing in Goa between 2020 and 2024, of whom 150 remained untraced.

He demanded that the government provide a detailed status of the cases while protecting the identities of the children.

D’Silva sought information on how many children had subsequently been traced, how many cases resulted in chargesheets and convictions, and whether possible links to human trafficking networks had been investigated.

“A missing child is not a statistic. Every missing child is somebody’s son or daughter,” he said.

Government Must Publish Data on Custodial Assaults

D’Silva also raised the issue of alleged police brutality, custodial assault and misuse of authority.

Referring to Union Home Ministry data, he said Goa recorded one custodial death in 2021-22, two in 2022-23 and one in 2023-24, while no such death was recorded in 2024-25 and up to March 15, 2026.

He, however, stressed that custodial assault and custodial death are different categories.

D’Silva demanded that the State government publish consolidated figures on complaints of custodial assault and alleged police misconduct, along with details of disciplinary or legal action taken.

“Police power must never become a licence for brutality,” he said.

Drug Arrests Alone Cannot Define Success

Expressing concern over the narcotics problem, D’Silva referred to the Chief Minister’s statement that the Anti-Narcotics Cell registered 163 drug-related cases and arrested 212 persons in 2025.

He argued that arrests alone cannot be treated as a measure of success in combating the drug trade.

The government, he said, must disclose what action has been taken against major suppliers and financiers of drug networks, how many major traffickers have been convicted and what rehabilitation facilities are available for youngsters battling addiction.

“Goa cannot allow its tourism economy to become dependent on a reputation for drugs, nightlife and criminal networks,” D’Silva said.

Where Are Quality Jobs for Goan Youth?

Unemployment among Goan youth was another major concern raised by D’Silva.

Referring to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for July 2023-June 2024, he said Goa’s unemployment rate stood at 8.7 per cent for all age groups and 19.1 per cent among youth aged 15-29.

“Where are the quality jobs for Goan youth?” he asked.

D’Silva said government employment cannot be the only solution and called for greater investment in manufacturing, technology, renewable energy, skilled trades, agriculture, fisheries and responsible tourism to generate stable and dignified employment.

Senior Citizens Need More Protection

D’Silva also urged the government to strengthen support systems for Goa’s senior citizens.

He said elderly citizens require accessible government services, affordable healthcare, protection against financial fraud and property-related exploitation, safe public transport, prompt police assistance and adequate social security.

Government schemes have little meaning if elderly citizens struggle to navigate bureaucracy, access healthcare or secure justice when victimised, he said.

Casinos Changing Goa’s Tourism Identity?

D’Silva also questioned Goa’s increasing association with casinos, nightlife and uncontrolled commercialisation.

He said Goa’s tourism identity should primarily be built around its beaches, villages, culture, heritage, natural environment, cuisine and hospitality.

“The question is not merely whether casinos are legally permitted. The larger question is what kind of Goa we want to leave for our children,” he said.

Tourism, according to D’Silva, should create sustainable employment while protecting Goa’s social and cultural fabric.

Section 39A and Land Conversion Under Fire

D’Silva expressed serious concern over land conversion and the controversial use of Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act.

He referred to reports indicating that by early 2026 applications covering around 68.62 lakh square metres had been received, while approximately 9.29 lakh square metres had undergone zoning changes.

He also referred to an analysis suggesting that nearly 60 lakh square metres had been proposed for change of zone between October 2024 and March 2026.

“Is Goa being planned for Goans, or is Goa being converted into a giant real-estate market?” D’Silva asked.

Agricultural land, orchards, paddy fields, natural slopes and no-development areas should not be viewed merely as real estate, he said, stressing that these areas form part of Goa’s ecological security and cultural heritage.

‘Destruction Is Not Development’

Warning against indiscriminate development of Goa’s hills, D’Silva said hills serve as natural water catchments, biodiversity zones and ecological buffers.

“Once a hill is cut, it cannot simply be recreated. Once an orchard disappears, concrete cannot replace its ecological value. Once paddy fields are destroyed, Goa loses part of its food security and traditional landscape,” he said.

Development is necessary, he added, but “destruction is not development.”

Crime Detection Rate Cannot Be the Only Benchmark

D’Silva acknowledged the Chief Minister’s reference to Goa’s high crime-detection rate, including an 86 per cent figure cited in the Assembly, saying genuine achievements deserve recognition.

However, he maintained that crime detection is only one component of effective policing.

The government should also disclose how many crimes were prevented, how many cases resulted in convictions, how many victims secured justice, how many missing children were traced and how many complaints of police misconduct resulted in disciplinary action, he said.

Direct Questions to Chief Minister Sawant

D’Silva said that since Dr. Pramod Sawant is both Chief Minister and Home Minister, Goans have the right to demand answers on why children remain missing, why rape cases continue to remain in triple digits, why allegations of police brutality persist and why the narcotics problem continues despite repeated enforcement action.

He also sought answers on unemployment among Goan youth and what he described as unprecedented development pressure on Goa’s land, hills, orchards and other natural areas.

“What kind of Goa are we leaving for the next generation?” he asked.

D’Silva maintained that questioning the government should not be portrayed as an attack on Goa or the State.

“This is not an attack on Goa. It is a demand for accountability. A citizen questioning the government is not an enemy of the State. Democracy requires questions, accountability requires answers, and Goa deserves both,”