DWCD says applications were submitted years ago
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The Baina Rehabilitation Board’s sixth review meeting has again yielded nothing but blushes, with the board admitting that they have not been able to implement the government rehabilitation scheme for the victims since they have not received any applications for the same even as approximately 900 victims were displaced after the demolition of June 14, 2004.
The Department of Women and Child Development has claimed that the applications of victims ~ sex workers, commercial establishments and residents from the place, were submitted to the concerned authorities years ago.
More so, the Goa State Commission for Women told the meeting chaired by South Goa Collector N D Agrawal that a list of only 10 sex workers could be paid the compensation even though NGO ARZ and a government survey revealed that over 900 victims were displaced after the demolition.
ARZ alleged that among the 10 girls selected, one girl is a brothel keeper and she should not be considered under the scheme and among the 10 girls, five had made various petitions and made visits to the commission for compensation, but to no avail.
Collector suggested that the GSCW should assist ARZ in providing documents to trace the remaining four girls.
Since there was no representation from the Goa State Rehabilitation Board there was no update about the status regarding the victims whose houses were demolished.
According to a survey carried out by ARZ, before and after the demolition, besides the 900 victims, around 3000 people who had nothing to do with flesh trade, but were either residing or had shops in the area were also affected due to the demolition.
A writ petition was filed seeking the High Court’s intervention to ensure that those affected were rehabilitated through a scheme which was pending since 2005 with the government. The court in its final order on January 8, 2013 ordered that rehabilitation be provided within six months.
