MARGAO: Recent incidents of stalking and street sexual harassment in Goa have highlighted the challenges women face while commuting, prompting NGO Bailancho Ekvott to question what measures the State was willing to implement to ensure the protection and well-being of women.
The organisation is seeking concrete actions and policies to address the challenges women face, advocating for a safer environment where women can thrive without fear or threat. Auda Viegas,
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President of Bailancho Ekvott, pointed out the proactive measures taken by neighbouring States as examples of progress in women’s safety initiatives. Specifically, she highlighted the provision of free bus travel for women.
Viegas highlighted the prevalent discussions in Goa about envisioning a ‘safe city’, yet emphasises that incidents of stalking, inappropriate touching, and assault persist, undermining this vision.
“A distressing incident occurred on a public bus—a space that should be safe for all commuters. A working woman was stalked by a man who later inappropriately touched her from behind. When she raised an alarm, the situation escalated as the man assaulted her and attempted to assault her minor son. The conductor of the bus is to be praised as he called the police and prevented the man from escaping,” she said.
According to Viegas, this is not an isolated occurrence; such experiences
are all too common for women, regardless of age or marital status. Viegas noted that in recent years, her NGO has also dealt with five cases of sexual assault on minor children that occurred on trains.
“For how much longer will Goa tolerate this status quo? To truly embrace inclusive development and champion women’s economic liberation, we must prioritise enhancing security on our buses.
It is imperative that we initiate reforms within the public transportation system,” she urged.
She also feels that there should be consistent monitoring to ensure that private buses adhere to seating capacity standards and that their operators are adequately trained and sensitised regarding women’s safety concerns.
