MARGAO
The one-stop centre mooted under a central government’s scheme at the district level to lend assistance for women in distress, including sexual assaults, has come under the scanner of Margao citizens in the wake of the controversy surrounding the alleged “rape” of a 25-year-old woman from Karnataka on Sunday.
For, questions are being raised whether any attempt was made to provide shelter to the 25-year-old woman at the one-stop centre, Pajifond-Margao after she first complained of rape by three persons on Sunday evening.
That’s not all. Questions are further raised whether the one-stop centre set up at Margao at the government housing quarters, Pajifond around half-a-decade ago on October 30, 2019 is discharging its functions and responsibilities as per the scheme in question. These questions assume significance and comes against the backdrop of queries raised in city circles where exactly was the 25-year-old victim woman sheltered on the night of March 16, after she complained of rape and again on March 17 night, after she denied of any rape on her.
The one-stop centre opened up at the government housing quarters, Pajifond in October 2019 had a provision for sheltering women in distress, including victims of sexual or physical violence. In fact, the Pajifond centre, when it was opened in 2019, had a provision to shelter around five women at a time, who can stay put at the centre for maximum five days.
Inquiries have revealed that the one-stop centre at Pajifond-Margao has presently no provision for sheltering distressed women since December last year when NGO Bailancho Ekvott had stopped activities at the centre.
If sources are to be believed, a government officer, who is in-charge of the one-stop centre, North Goa is also handling the affairs of the one stop centre at Pajifond. Sources said presently there is no facility for sheltering women in distress at the one-stop centre, Pajifond for want of manpower. “The government has started the process of recruitment of required manpower to man the one-stop centre, Pajifond. Once the manpower assumes office of the Pajifond, sheltering of women in distress will commence,” informed a source.
The official added: “Right now, the one-stop centre, Pajifond is making arrangements for getting the women in distress to lodge complaints and also provided counselling.” Asked how the one stop centre, Pajifond would react to a situation when a woman in distress is in need of shelter, an official said the woman can be housed in a private shelter home or at the home run by the Provedoria.
