PANJIM: In what could spark a controversy, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Saturday said that “religion conversion forces” have made their way into Goa and appealed to citizens to be alert.
Speaking at the inaugural of Nossa Senhora Da Ajuda Church Hall at Ribandar, Sawant said that Goa is the only State where people live in peace and harmony.
“Mahatma Gandhi believed all great religions were fundamentally equal and that there should be innate respect for them. We Goans have been followers of this,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister said that except Goa, almost every State in the country has faced riots over caste and religion. “In Goa, whether, Hindu, Catholic or Muslim… all live in peace and harmony. But off late, some religion conversion forces have entered the State and we Goans need to be alert,” he said.
Sawant said that Goans are known for maintaining equality and need to continue with it.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the much-awaited Health and Wellness Centre at Ribandar. The old GMC building at Ribandar has been converted into Primary health centre.
Sawant said that this is going to be the first health centre to be integrated with Goa Medical College, Dental College and Directorate of Health Services. He said that cardiac facilities have also been made available at the centre.
He announced that soon telemedicine services through Directorate of Health Services would be started.
Stating that telemedicine is the practice of medicine using technology to deliver care at a distance, the Chief Minister said that the facility will reduce hospital visits. “We are starting with GMC in the first phase,” he said.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that the centre has been sanctioned as a Primary Health Centre (PHC) and will be ultimately converted on lines of a PHC with advanced healthcare facilities. The centre will be equipped with a 24/7 Emergency Care Centre, STEMI program, General OPD, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Swabbing facility for RTPCR & Antigen testing, Dental OPD and ambulances will also be stationed. “We shall further upgrade the centre in a phased manner,” Rane said.