No open kissing, liquor or loud music in Goa village

The Salvador do Mundo village panchayat, located near state capital Panaji, passed a resolution recently banning kissing in public along with consumption of liquor and playing loud music openly.

“We adopted the resolution since we have been getting several complaints from the local people about the obscene behaviour (of some couples and holidayers). We had to control it,” said Reena Fernandes, deputy sarpanch of Salvador do Mundo.

According to civic authorities, villagers were also concerned over the obscene behaviour of those on picnic to the sylvan settings of the coastal hamlet. "It is casting a bad influence on our children and youngsters," says Reena adding that it was becoming difficult to get good brides and grooms for their children in view of bad publicity about their place.

After adopting the resolution, the civic body has put up banners urging the public as well as visitors to cooperate and observe compliance with the order. Goa has, of late, witnessed a debate on moral policing with state directorate of art and culture banning jeans, sleeveless top and other informal dresses at work place and also increasing number of no-smoke zones in public.