PANAJI
NGO ARZ (Anyay Rahit Zindagi) has appealed to the Member Secretary, Goa State Legal Services Authority (GSLSA), for a full-time protection officer and one-stop crisis centre in each taluka across Goa to provide services and relief to the victims of domestic violence in Goa.
ARZ Director Arun Pandey claims that in the last 25 years during its intervention in Goa, the NGO felt that domestic violence was common and a large number of these victims did not receive proper services, as a result of which not only the victims but her family suffers socially, psychologically, financially and legally.
“The impact of the victim is not limited only to the victim of the domestic violence, but impacts the second generation, and makes them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation,” he said while addressing the issue at a workshop titled “Domestic Violence: Impact and Legal Provisions”, organised in collaboration with the Protection Officer, Mormugao.
The workshop, attended by more than 150 persons, which included victims of domestic violence, NGOs, service providers, panchayat members, counsellors, etc also had the presence of Member Secretary, GSLSA and Protection officer, Mormugao.
Presently, Block Development Officers under “The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act” are holding the charge of “Protection Officer” in each taluka. However, ARZ said that “Due to the nature of their role and responsibilities as BDO, the Protection Officers are unable to provide time to the victims of domestic violence to handle their cases as a result the victims of domestic violence are suffering in Goa.”
As per the National Family Health Survey, India Goa Chapter, in Goa, 20 per cent of women aged 18-49 have experienced physical violence and 4 per cent sexual violence. In all, 20 per cent of women experienced physical or sexual violence and 3 per cent experienced both physical and sexual violence.
