PANAJI
A chronic shortage of women police personnel is becoming increasingly evident at police stations tasked with handling crimes against women and children, with Panaji police station emerging as a stark example of a wider staffing crisis. Official sources indicated the situation has worsened by transfer orders that remain unimplemented despite repeated directives from the higher-ups.
The Panaji police station, considered the largest, has a women's help desk that is frequently left unattended because of a shortage of women staff. The situation persists despite sanctioned posts on paper and repeated efforts by the department to fill vacancies through transfers.
Sources said that two women constables attached to the Anti Human Trafficking Unit under the Women Police Station were transferred to Panaji police station on June 13, 2025, but nearly a year later, continue to serve in their previous assignment.
Their continued retention has raised concerns within the department, especially as Panaji police station struggles with manpower shortages while the anti-trafficking unit has allegedly not conducted a rescue operation during the same period.
The problem extends beyond those two constables, as sources further said that three other women constables posted at Valpoi police station, the Mapusa Escort Cell and Mapusa police station are also yet to be relieved despite transfer orders directing their posting to Panaji.
Staffing shortages are even more pronounced at supervisory levels. Sources revealed that four women police sub-inspectors transferred to Panaji police station are effectively unavailable. Two proceeded on child care leave after reporting to the station, while two others have not reported for duty. The station also has no woman assistant sub-inspector, creating further gaps in a force increasingly required to handle cases involving women, children and vulnerable victims.
Internal communications highlighting these shortages have been circulated repeatedly within the department, sources said, but have produced little change on the ground.
At Porvorim police station, both sanctioned posts of women assistant sub-inspectors remain vacant, according to departmental records. The station also has no women head constables and only eight women constables against a sanctioned strength of 12.
Records available with The Goan show shortages of women personnel at nearly every rank across North Goa. Panaji, Old Goa, Porvorim, Mapusa and Calangute police stations are all stated to require women police inspectors. The district's overall shortfall is understood to include around five inspectors, 14 sub-inspectors, three ASIs, 10 head constables and 10 constables.
South Goa faces a similar situation, with departmental figures indicating shortages of one woman police inspector, 22 women PSIs, four ASIs, two head constables and 37 constables.
“At many police stations, because of the shortage of women staff, male personnel are often compelled to accompany women victims to police stations, crime scenes and even for medical examinations,” a police source said.
Police sources said the staffing crisis is being aggravated by a widespread failure to implement transfer orders affecting both women and male personnel across the force.
Senior officers acknowledged that transfer directives continue to be ignored by many, despite repeated warnings by Director General of Police Alok Kumar of disciplinary action, salary freezes and strict compliance measures.
During a review meeting held on April 4 last year, senior officers directed that all pending transfers be implemented within 48 hours.
When compliance remained poor, a department-wide order issued on April 11, 2025 instructed the immediate relieving of personnel transferred between 2020 and 2025. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had also publicly warned that non-compliance with transfer orders would attract strict action.
Yet, according to police sources, hundreds of personnel continue to remain at their existing postings.
