Goan women delicate, not safe for them to work at night: Ex CM

Former Goa chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Churchill Alemao courted controversy after making apparent sexist remarks in the state assembly. Alemao said that Goan women were ‘decent and delicate’ and it is not safe for them to work at night.

Panaji: Goan women and girls are decent and delicate, and hence it is not safe for them to work till late in the night, former Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Churchill Alemao told the state Assembly on Thursday.

He was speaking during a discussion on the amendment to Goa Factories (Amendment) Bill which enables women to work in factories during the night shift.

Urging Deputy Chief Minister and Labour Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar to rethink the amendment, Alemao said that women who work in casinos (at night) know karate, but women from Goa are decent.

"This bill should be passed after discussing it at a meeting with women in Goa. Then you will know what the reality is. Goan women are delicate, girls are delicate, but the rest are fast. It is works for them," Alemao told the state Assembly.

"In this House an MLA asked, 'don't women work in casinos?' I think he has not been to casinos. Women do work in casinos, but they are not from Goa. They are from outside. They know karate and all that. Our women are decent," Alemao said, evoking laughter among some MLAs.

Former CM and Congress MLA Pratapsingh Rane also demanded that the bill be sent to the Assembly's select committee for discussion.

"In the interest of decency, it is not right to allow ladies of the state to work in night. In the interest of their safety, the bill should be sent to the select committee," Rane said.

The amendment bill was, however, passed following the debate.

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