In the wake of the increasing number of assaults on women and children happening in public places, NGOs from Goa, namely Bailancho Saad, ARZ, Goa Women’s Forum and Bailancho Ekvott, met in Margao to take stock and discuss the disappointing response of the law-enforcement officials and the statutory bodies constituted by the government to stop crime and take steps to deal with such matters.
The organisations strongly condemned the reported incident from Margao, where a woman was brutally assaulted and had her hand broken in a public area near the old railway station in Margao.
The assault on a woman in Mapusa market by police personnel was also highlighted. The woman was left to bleed and only received care in the hospital where she received nine stitches.
There was concern expressed over the numerous assaults on women reported from various public places in Goa, such as outside railway stations, bus stands, tourist places like a hotel or a restaurant and on the streets.
The organisations said this upsurge in violence against women has made them feel insecure and unsafe. This pertains not only to marginalised women and domestic and foreign female tourists, but also Goan women, they said.
Women and children from migrant families that come to Goa to earn their livelihood are seen sleeping and bathing on the pavements of the new railway station in Margao and also near the old market circle. These circumstances make them vulnerable to such assaults, they pointed out.
The organisations said this upsurge in violence against women has made them feel insecure and unsafe. This pertains not only to marginalised women and domestic and foreign female tourists, but also Goan women, they said.
They lamented that there was no coordinated action between the Goa Police, district administration, government departments such as the Department of Women and Child and statutory bodies such as the Goa State Commission for Women, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Child Welfare Committees.
Each state body blames the other when crime takes place, and there is a failure of law and order, they added.
They said despite knowing that the old Margao railway station incident assailants had a criminal background, the district administration failed to take cognisance.
Some of the demands put forth by the organisations are:
1) Speedy investigation of the Margao and Mapusa assault cases, and they should be monitored by a DySP-level police officer.
2) Victims of violence in the Margao and Mapusa cases be paid compensation for their medical expenses and loss of earnings due to injury.
A demand has been made to compensate the assualted women of violence in the Margao and Mapusa cases be paid compensation for their medical expenses and loss of earnings due to injury.
3) The government must put in place preventive measures to stop crimes against women.
4) The government must prepare a plan of action for preventing crime against women and children after consulting the vulnerable population and voluntary organisations working for the welfare of women and children.
5) Police and other authorities concerned, such as the district administration, need to identify and map areas by enlisting the help of local NGOs to pinpoint locations unsafe for women and children and take appropriate steps, including patrolling in those areas.
6) The bodies/agencies set up to provide redressal to the victims of violence such as the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, the Women and Child Protection Unit, the Child Welfare Committee and the One Stop Crisis Center must be proactive in addressing the complaints of the victims and providing care, protection, rehabilitation and compensation.
5) A review should be done of the government and non-government services in Goa for the victims of violence and necessary action be taken on the findings of the report to ensure that the victims receive quality services in Goa.