Panaji
The State Victim Assistance Unit has developed an app called “SOS Women & Child-Goa”, which is available for download on phones for people.
The app, which is an initiative to help women and children who are victims of offences, has six main icons: The ‘Call Police’ icon, through which the police (100) can be contacted, the ‘Call Ambulance’ icon, through which the ambulance (108) can be contacted, and the ‘Child’ and ‘Woman’ icons, through which childline (1098), and the Women & Child Protection Police Unit (08322428992) can be contacted. There is also the ‘Whistle’ icon, which when tapped immediately sounds a loud whistle for help, and the ‘Torch’ icon, which when tapped, makes the torch on your phone come on.
Besides this, the ‘Child’ and ‘Women’ icons have a list of government authorities in the State responsible for the welfare of women and children, along with a description of the authorities and linked contact numbers. Some of the authorities listed are the ‘Goa State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR), the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and the Juvenile Justice Boards for North and South Goa, the Goa State Commission for Women (GSCW), and the Block Development Officers (BDOs) in each Taluka. Linked contact numbers allow one to tap the number and call immediately.
Besides this, the app also has laws and High Court and Supreme Court judgements pertaining to women and children, for awareness of the public.
Even though the app is yet to be officially launched, Adv Emidio Pinho, who conceptualised it along with Audrey Pinto, said feedback from users was welcome to improve the app before the official launch sometime next month. Adv Pinho is the coordinator of the Victim Assistance Unit and one of the founders of the NGO Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN- Goa.) Speaking at a police sensitization programme in Altinho on Friday, Pinho encouraged the 100 odd police personnel at the programme to download the app so that they could be more aware of laws and judgements related to women and children, and be better equipped to handle cases that come to them.
He also said that the app would be useful to heads of schools who would know whom to contact at once when there is an office pertaining to a child. The Victim Assistance Unit at the GMC is looking to give consolidated support to every victim under one roof: medical aid, police, counseling, recording of statements, and rehabilitation. Over the past four years, the unit has handled more than 1200 cases. It collaborates with the Department of Women and Child Development.
