Social discrimination prevalent in North Goa, says minister

Clusters of villages in North Goa are apparently not yet relieved from social discrimination, a phenomenon that has been debarred by the Indian Constitution.
    
Panchayat Raj minister Manohar Asgaonkar, representing Dhargalim constituency, himself being a Scheduled Caste (SC) community member, told the State Legislative Assembly today that many in his constituency still follows conservative norms, fostering social discrimination.
    
"There are hotels and tea shops in my constituency where SC community people are served in separate cups. I told them that we can complaint about this to the authorities concerned but they fear for the social implications," Asgaonkar told the Assembly today.
    
"They feel that the minister will not be there for ever to protect them so they think it wise to digest the insult and keep mum,” Asgaonkar told the session. Asgaonkar is a three time MLA from this constituency, which is bordering Goa-Maharashtra.
    
The Minister was speaking on the government resolution to ratify the amendment to the Constitution of India falling within the purview of Clause (d) of the provision to clause (2) of article 368, proposed to be made by the Constitution (one hundred and ninth amendment) bill, 2009, as passed by both the Houses of Parliament.

Speaker Pratapsingh Rane, intervening in the discussion, asked the minister to file a formal complaint with the government against those believing in untouchability.

"It’s a serious issue. You must complaint so that action is taken in such cases. This is not accepted,” the Speaker said.

The winter session of the State legislative Assembly began today at Porvorim.