the goan I network
MARGAO
Victims of sexual assault or other forms of violence and abuse from South Goa need no longer run from pillar to post to get support and justice.
They need not go to the police station to lodge their complaint, but can just drop in at the “One Stop Centre” -- a centre which will provide support by way of emergency and non-emergency access to a range of services, including medical, legal, psychological and counseling under one roof to fight against any form of violence against women.
Opened at the government quarters at Pajifond in quarter No C-3-6 on Wednesday at the hands of District Collector, Ajit Roy, the ‘One Stop Centre’ is a scheme under the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India, which is being implemented at the district level across the country.
Women and children’s NGO, Bailancho Ekvott has been granted the permission to run the One Stop Centre at Margao, activist Auda Viegas saying the centre is a dream come true for all the women in need in South Goa.
“The One Stop Centre is a new dawn for the women affected by violence and abuse, physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic, irrespective of age, class, caste, religion, education, marital status, race, culture, region and sexual orientation. Any aggrieved women, including a girl below 18 years of age, can seek assistance from the One Stop Centre,” Auda added.
Under the scheme, any victim of sexual or physical violence can approach the One Stop Centre and seek redressal of her grievances. The centre has a provision to accommodate around five women at a time, who can stay put in the centre for maximum five days, during which time she can complete her formalities, including lodging of complaint, etc.
The NGO manning the One Stop Centre, in the present case, Bailancho Ekvott, will assist the victim by intimating the incident to the police station and getting the officer to the centre to record her statement. “Arrangements will be made to transport the victim to the Hospicio hospital to undergo medical examination. The victim will not go to the police station to lodge her complaint, but the men-in-uniform will come to the centre to record the victim’s statement. We will also arrange counseling for the victims and extend all other support,” Auda said.
Director of Women and Child Development Deepali Naik said the One Stop Centre would help save women from the ordeal of travelling to the hospital medical examination and then to the police stations to give their statement.
District Collector Ajit Roy urged the women to avail the services at the One Stop Centre, and made a fervent plea to popularise the centre before the benefit of the victims.
