Goa’s former undeclared ‘red light area’ has come a long way after it witnessed the very controversial demolition of 250-odd cubicles on June 14, 2004.
The razing of the illegal structures, where the illegal sex trade thrived, was welcomed by the people as it was a step to cleanse the image of Goa. The drive, carried out by the then South District Administration, however drew criticisms from the human rights activists and the NGOs for defying the directions of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, to provide appropriate rehabilitation to victims in the event of displacement.
Not only were the commercial sex victims rendered homeless, several inhabitants and legal business operators in the slum community also faced the wrath of the demolition drive.
Details with Herald reveal that an approximately 5,000 people were displaced in the midst of heavy rain and strong gusts of wind. The families had scattered everywhere in search of shelter. The alleged unplanned demolition led to children of these inhabitants, dropping out of the schools.
A year later, the government had drawn the rehabilitation scheme for the people affected with the demolition. As per the scheme, those who lost their shops would be given the shops, houses would be replaced by houses and each of the victims, were assured payment of Rs 1 lakh. Fourteen years later, the situation remains unchanged. Barely a handful of the victims received a cheque of Rs 1 lakh each under the “Rehabilitation scheme for commercially exploited women and other residential and commercial establishments at Baina.” This too, was only given 10 months after the High Court had passed an order in January 2013, instructing the government to pay compensation to the victims within six months.
NGO ARZ, working for women and children, has claimed that victims have not been granted relief despite details of the victims submitted to the Goa State Commission for Women (GSCW) soon after the scheme’s notification.
“It is tragic that even after 15 years of the Baina demolition, the government has failed to provide relief to the victims of Baina demolition as per the direction of the High Court. The delay in providing relief has caused irreversible damage to the victims of Baina demolition, especially, the women in prostitution. It is important to understand that the women in prostitution in Baina, pre-demolition, were victim of trafficking of commercial sexual exploitation. Post demolition, they required protection, psycho-social-legal services and economic support,” ARZ Director Arun Pandey said. He also slammed the manner in which the drive was undertaken.
Minster for Women & Child Development Vishwajit Rane – who has recently changed the Commission panel – was quick to state that he will look into the matter on priority.
Goa State Commission for Women refuses to accept blame; Says they tried but their hands were tied
Herald spoke to a few past Chairpersons of the Goa State Commission for Women (GSCW), who cited various reasons for non disbursal of the amount.
“The funds given to the Commission was in the Fixed Deposit account. We tried to trace the victims but they remained untraceable. The fund remained in the FD until my tenure was complete. It wasn’t misused,” then Chairperson Ezilda Sapeco said.
Advocate Shubhalaxmi Naik, who held the post for one year from March 2018 to March 2019, lamented that the needs of the Commission were sidelined owing to which the scheme could not be implemented at its best. “The Commission premises are cramped and we also needed more staff for the smooth functioning. We sent several reminders to the concerned but it was not heeded to,” she said adding that she had turned down a proposal to shift to new premises as it was smaller in size than the existing space. “How can you expect to work under these circumstances,” she questioned.
Requesting anonymity, another chairperson, who served minimum two tenures, also alleged uncooperativeness from the successive governments. “The governments, be it led by any national party, did not support the initiative. It was only when there was court intervention that some disbursements happened. Our panel would give up on the lackluster attitude of the governments,” she alleged.
Minister Vishwajit Rane promises change; Govt invites applications from NGOS under Ujjawala scheme
With a delay of more than 14 years, Minster for Women & Child Development Vishwajit Rane Rane, while speaking to Herald, assured the delay won’t be prolonged.
He has assured that past mistakes of the Goa State Commission for Women will not be repeated.
Recently, the Goa government once again announced enforcement of Ujjawala scheme in order to give justice to the victims. The State government has invited application from NGOs ~ registered under law and having properly constituted managing body – for the scheme laid down by the central government.
The objectives of the Ujjawala scheme are to prevent trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation through social mobilisation and involvement of local communities, awareness generation programs, generate public discourse through workshops/seminars and such events and any other innovative activity.
“It is to facilitate rescue of victims from the place of their exploitation and place them in safe custody, provide rehabilitation services both immediate and long-term to the victims by giving them basic amenities/needs such as shelter, food, clothing, medical treatment including counseling, legal aid and guidance and vocational training and facilitation of reintegration of the victims into the family and society at large and repatriation of cross-border victims to their country of origin,” the circular states.
