Women cell at Margao police station defunct for want of staff

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

MARGAO: The women and child protection cell, attached to Margao police station has been virtually left defunct for want of manpower, after it was set up with much fan fare.

Leave alone any police inspector or a police sub-inspector heading the cell, the unit – constituted to attend to grievances of women and children – is manned by a lone lady head constable. Ever since a lady police constable has been transferred and posted with the Colva police, the affairs of the Cell is presided over by the lady head constable.

Interestingly, the cell has been functioning without a PI or PSI, since the transfer of then PSI Roopa Karde upon promotion. Her successor PSI Vidya Pagi has also proceeded on leave, leaving the functioning of the women and child cell crippled for want of manpower.

Take note, that Margao police station in-charge, PI Sudesh Naik now looks after the affairs of the women cell, but women activists argued that certain sensitive incidents can be confided or narrated with confidence only to a woman police without inhibitions which otherwise would be held back because of woman’s innate sense of modesty or shame in disclosing it.

Says Bailancho Ekvott President, Auda Viegas: “The entire South Goa women and child victims look up with hope at this Margao Women and Child protection Unit for redressal of their complaints. In order to make this unit more effective and efficient in functioning, wherein women and children feel as a safe zone to express their complaints without a sense of fear and hesitation, I am of the opinion that the WCPU should be upgraded on priority with required staff strength under a competent and skilled women police officer on similar lines as the one currently functioning at Panjim.”

Another concern expressed by the activists is that the WCPU has been functioning from a single room and the same is shared by the anti-human trafficking cell.  “The space allotted to this WCPU is one room, whereas it should have a counselling room and for recording the statement, besides a waiting space for those accompanying the complainant or the victim,” Viegas added.

She added that the WCPU can also look into all crimes against women and children in addition to crimes against children under the Juvenile Justice Act 2000 and reported cases of missing children. “The WCPU can also act as an anti-trafficking cell for the South Goa district. It can keep tab on traffickers, coordinate, carry out raids and rescue operations with the assistance of the local police station and NGOs. The raiding party should work on detailed protocols. It has been observed that the raids are now being conducted in a haphazard manner,” she added.