Mahila / Women’s Police Station
Location: Panjim
Mandate: Set up to handle women and child related issuesthat demand sensitivity. Boasts of a Special Counselling Cell
Work Order: Till date only two criminal cases have beenhandled and detected rest have been related to marital and property disputes
Reality Check:
Recently announced 1091 Women Helpline will register thecase at this Police Station but
• ThePolice Station has no vehicle of its own to address a distress call at any tiein the day
• ThePolice Station is at best manned by one lady staff.
• The ladyPI in charge has recently resumed after a two year sabbatical.
• Of itsfive Lad Constable, two are on maternity leave and one on child care leave.
• Of thesanctioned strength of 12 male constables, there are only two present
• PoliceStation is manned by male constables after dark
• TheSpecial Counselling Unit is non-functional as nobody took charge
• Thestation has cabins to provide variousservices through the police station but has no professional handling theseseparate units such as counseling cell, missing cell, anti- trafficking cell etc
• Allcubicles are made of glass and part of a main police station makes theexperience unfriendly as the victim is constantly exposed to public curiosity
Opinion
“After bouts of violence many women often need a space andsome time to get themselves together to decide whether she wants to return homeor to plan for her future course of action. The Station has no such comfortrather its glass and metal ensure that you are identified and shamed by thesystem itself”. - Shanti Fonseca, legaladvisor - National Federation for Indian Women
Goa State Women’s Commission
Location: Panjim
Mandate: Set up to handle different issues related to women,examining cases, suggesting redressal for aggrieved women
Work Order: Till date no case of rape or molestation hasbeen handled by it and handled only domestic violence and family disputesmatters, organizing workshop to creating awareness and visits to homes ofvictims of domestic violence.
Reality Check:
Despite being the constitutional agony aunt for women in theState
• TheCommission has no vehicle of its own to visit a victim if she is immobile
• TheCommission is manned by four staff for a population of over 4.5 lakh women andthey too hold additional charge
Opinion
“The commission only has recommending power. Yetimplementations are yet to happen. Recommendations to police department weremade last year for women policestations, victim assistances unit, counseling facilities. Sadly nothing hashappened”. - Ezilda Sapeco, Chairperson,Goa State Women Commission
