Revive sakhi one stop centres: Oppn leader

Porvorim: Opposition leader Yuri Alemao on Tuesday said crimes against women are increasing and urged govt to activate the non-functional ‘sakhi one stop centres’.

Alemao, in his Zero Hour mention, said, “The attention of the House is drawn to the initiatives of the department of women and child development, running two sakhi one stop centres and sakhi shelter homes in South and North Goa to provide

all support to women affected by violence from 2019 to 2024.” He said both initiatives have almost become inactive due to a lack of dedicated staff, and the shelters are non-operational.

Women and child development minister Vishwajit Rane said he has called for a review meeting on the matter.

Both centres are managed by one official at apna ghar shelter, and immediate support to women affected by violence is a crying need, he said.

The opposition leader said he wants to know “the action/steps govt intends to take in this regard.”

He added that the aftermath of the Nirbhaya case was the mandatory establishment of one stop centre (OSC) in every district of the country.

“In Goa too, we got these centres, but they are nonfunctional due to a lack of support and the required human resources,” Alemao said. “OSCs play a vital role because they can provide several kinds of assistance needed in the case of spousal violence, and women facing physical, emotional, psychological, and economic abuse.”