MARGAO: In the wake of increasing number of assaults on women and children happening in public places, NGOs from Goa, namely Bailancho Saad, ARZ, Goa Women’s Forum (GWF) and Bailancho Ekvott, met in Margao to 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, wherein a woman was brutally assaulted and had her hand broken in a public place near the old railway station in Margao. We also strongly condemned the assault of a woman in Mapusa market by police personnel and left her bleeding. The woman was given nine stitches in hospital,” said Lorna Fernandes, GWF convenor on behalf of the NGOs.
They observed that migrant families come to Goa to earn their livelihood. The women and children are seen sleeping and bathing on the pavements of the Margao Railway Station or near the Old Market Circle, which makes them vulnerable to such assaults.
“Similar circumstances occur outside the railway stations especially at Vasco and Margao, where these families whilst travelling back to their native place gather at the railway station early evening, due to inadequate public transport, given that these areas are surrounded by bars and alcoholics, women and children become particularly vulnerable,” Fernandes added.
“There is no coordinated action between the Goa police, district administration, departments like 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 failure in law and order,” the GWF convenor said.
Director of ARZ, Arun Pandey said, “There is a need to understand the reasons for the increase in the crime against women. Also, there is a need for review of the services being provided by govt and non government service providers.”
