How safe are women in Goa?

This is just one instance of the harassment faced by women in
public places in Goa. Such cases of harassment are part of the larger picture,
where women in Goa feel there is a lot that still needs to be done in Goa to
change and make Goa safer for women. This could be in terms of mindsets,
prevailing society norms and attitudes against women and even at the police
stations where they have more confidence in getting their concerns and
complaints addressed.

Thus, when a study released by child development NGO Plan India
ranked Goa on top of the Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI) in comparison to
other states in India, there were mixed reactions in Goa. Many have been quick
to praise what the study has stated, that Goa is a far safer place compared to
other states, including the national capital, Delhi, which ranks among the
lowest. Outside Goa too, there are positive reactions with the general
discussions comparing the situation in lower ranked states on the GVI survey to
the situation in Goa.

At the same time, there are opinions about how Goa’s rank as the
safest state in India doesn’t necessary mean Goa is the safest place and how
such surveys should be taken with a pinch of salt. The numerous cases of sexual
assault reported in Goa against the backdrop of rising cases against foreign
tourists have also been pointed out as counter arguments. The plight of young
girls at Apna Ghar also does not paint Goa in the best light.

The other three parameters that were studied were health,
poverty and education. With the exception of education, where the general
consensus is that Goa is indeed faring much better compared to other states,
the reactions to health and poverty are that there is still a lot more that
needs to be done.

The majority of the women who have reacted to the report feel
that women who come from less affluent backgrounds in terms of wealth and
status still face a lot of issues in the state and find it difficult to get
their issues addressed. In the case of health infrastructure, there have been
several calls by NGOS to create better infrastructure for sexual assault
victims.

Overall,
there is a sense that Goa cannot rest on its purported laurels and there needs
to be a sustained effort to ensure Goa becomes safer and moreover, does not
drop its rank on the index list.

Café speaks to women in Goa to gauge their reactions to the survey:

The
report is primarily based on secondary data like records of enrolment in
schools, number of cases filed by married women, etc, across the areas they
have chosen for measurement. Lives and voices of women and girls are not
reflected in this report. Any relevant data that didn’t enter government
records has been excluded, making the survey not adequately representative. The
reality for everyday Goan women is very different from the often one-sided
story of a progressive Goa that gets pushed.

– TANIA DEVAIAH

This
is very positive news and something we Goans should be proud of. We should work
to preserve this image by weeding out the general stereotypes that exist with
regard to women so that Goa can boast of a truly equal society. These
statistics might also be debated upon since numbers should not outweigh even a
single incident of atrocities, but yes, we are certainly a state that can lead
by example due to the many factors. Of course, a lot still needs to be done to
change attitudes when it comes to the role of women.

– ANWESHA SINGBAL

I
agree with the perspective that even though this study talks about how Goa is
comparatively safer than other states, the situation here is not the most
ideal. I do not think Goa can be termed as safe. Maybe the number of incidences
reported are the least amongst other states but even the recent #metoo
revolution gave us a taste of how unsafe women in our home, locality and
society are. The study doesn’t account for the influx of tourists into a state
like Goa, which is predominantly a tourist destination.

-LUANA AGNES MASCARENHAS

I’m
pleasantly surprised as I always thought Mumbai was safer, especially when it
came to travelling late night. Goa is safe in most areas; some pockets are best
to stay away from, but largely, I think it’s definitely women friendly. Goa is
better off than most states in India as there’s no real fear from locals. But
it’s still not ideal as it’s largely a tourist state and perceived as a party
destination by most people in India. The influx of people wanting the wrong
kind of fun is high, which makes it a threat to the safety of girls in the
area. 

-LOURDES SOARES

Goa
may be safer owing to a relatively larger number of educated people, in
comparison to other states, but this doesn’t mean we pat ourselves on the back,
sit back, relax and continue ogling women. I’m still of the strong opinion that
the place has nothing to do with the safety of women; it is the mindset of the
people there that has a bigger role to play. If we had gender equality taught
from childhood, stringent laws, a tougher judicial system, immediate justice
and punishment for gender-based offences, mindsets would be changed for the
better.

FLEUR ANNE DIAS