Here's a byte by Editor Arun Sinha in 2004, perhaps he spoke a bit too soon...

FLASHBACK
(Operative part in Italics)

Goa: Authorities in Goa are worried about the increase of paedophilic activities during tourist seasons. A hike in tourist inflow in recent years has brought up this problem before the local authorities. Arun Sinha, editor of Navhind Times, says it is an international racket and administrators will not be able to stop it. He added that Goa authorities must seek help and co-operation from national and international agencies to put an end to the crime. "It's an international racket and unless and until both the administration and the local people do not co-operate with each other it will be difficult to wipe out the menace," said Sinha. The children who fall prey to paedophile activities come from poor families. Most of these children work as vendors on the beaches and are lured by people with sinister designs. Albertina Almeida, an advocate and a social worker, says that the government is not doing enough to tackle this problem. "Paedophilia is prevalent in Goa and its statistics are hard to count. The persons who're paedphile range from local people to foreign tourists to domestic tourists," said Alemeida. But, the police say it is geared up to take on the problem. The tourist police force has been revamped to make it more effective. Goa DGP Amod Kanth, however, admits that the size of the tourist police force is numerically small and to tackle the problem of paedophilia they need help from other forces. "Police has to have special teams for that, but Goa police on its own cannot do because it is an international network. So, Indian police, CBI Interpol must assist Goa police," says Kanth. (Oct 20, 2004)
-- excerpted from www.goanvoice.org


REALITY-CHECK (less than a year later)

Editor accused of molesting a minor

PANAJI: The hearing of the anticipatory bail application filed before the sessions court in Panaji by Arun Sinha, the editor of Navhind Times, Goa's largest circulated daily, after being charged with molestation by his 11-year-old domestic help, has been postponed to Saturday.

Sinha reportedly remained underground in Vasco for the second straight day since the child fled to his neighbours on Thursday morning, complaining that she had been molested by Sinha.

The neighbours took the child to Women and Child Protection police station and the case was later transferred to the CID crime branch for investigation.

Sinha has been charged under section 8(2) for sexual abuse, section 354 (for molestation) and section 7 (5) C for child labour.

The 11-year-old had come to work with the Sinhas about two months ago. At the time of the alleged incident, Sinha's wife and daughters were out of town b cause the editor's mother-in-law died recently.

The 11-year-old from Bihar has been kept at Apna Ghar, the state government-run children's home at Merces.
(Oct 14, 2005)

INPUTS REQUIRED

Hi, any credible and newsworthy Goan media related input welcome from Margao, Ponda, Mapusa and else where in the state.

TAKING NOTE OF... PRESS CONFERENCES

Elections are bounty time not only for the gullible voters, but for journalists too.
Offers pour in from all over. From a seasoned politicians to novices, who enter the fray with an intention to make a `kill' and dont mind sparing a pound of meat for black and white column inches.
PR journalism is nothing new to Goan scribes, I suppose. Some or most of them literally make a living out of it?
Recently a legislator from the coastal belt invited some journalists for a press conference.
The intention was to tom-tom about his list of achievements and portray an immaculate perfomance chart, for the term ending in June.
Some six journalists -- mostly vernacular press correspondents -- from Mapusa who attended the PC, were supplied with all the facts and figures. After the farcical affair, the journos were treated to spirits and a sumptuous dinner.
Well, perhaps keeping in sync with the DRINK AND DONT DRIVE dictum, they were even ferried to their homes after the `event'.
As if that was not enough, the `gentleman' legislator pushed six envelopes onto each of the six scribes. Uh yes, you guessed it. Each envelope had a crisp note of `Thousand' in it. Amazed? Thousand bucks, only to write about a legitimate press conference. The same press conferences which we publish day in and day out.
None... none from the group of six winced. `That's the in thing. We all get gifts for press conferences. So what if its money' was the common refrain.
Well, one of the six couldn't digest it though. Gifts to a certain extent is, OK. Tolerable. But money??
The next day the scribe met the toad of a legislator and promptly and politely returned the envelope.
The legislator tried to cajole the scribe and even had the gall to say: `This is only the beginning, more will come. I need your help ……'
Well the scribe turned all offers and temptations of the legislator, but left a worried man.
Are we not the ones, who write and editorialise about corruption and injustice happening in the government and private enterprise.
Surely, it's difficult to practise what we preach, uh?

PENPRICKS -- Guys please send in more personal accounts, if you have ever been confronted with such a situation in your respective careers. And write back anyways....

THE SEASON'S BEGUN

Elections announced, its time for Jeckyl to don the robes of Hyde. Read in a couple of days bout the innocuous Rs 1,000 tips to journos by an elected representative in return for a constituency development news report.

WWWW & H

W (WHEN) -- As of today
W (WHERE) -- Over a sticky piece of Kitkat and a spiked lime soda
W (WHY) -- Frustrated at the way we are and what we appear to be.
W (WHAT) -- Moderated by two Goan journos. Forum for placing issues on record, which are otherwise only discussed.
H (HOW) -- Readers and journalists (if at all there are any visiting this blog), pls write to penpricks@gmail.com any Goa media related wrongs, grievances, ills and praise, where need be.