Women no longer safe on the streets of Goa: Capt Viriato

Women no longer safe on the streets of Goa: Capt Viriato

VASCO: South Goa Congress MP Viriato Fernandes hit out at the government for failing to ensure the safety of women in Goa alleging that today women are afraid to step out of their homes even during the day.

“There was a time in Goa, when women were safe even at night. If they were delayed due to work or a bus breakdown, no woman would have to worry about her safety. Today even if a woman leaves the house during the day, people at home are restive until they return home in the evening,” Fernandes said.

“Today if you walk in Panjim in the evening along the Panjim waterfront on your way home, where all the casino jetties are lined up, people from Delhi and around the country are asking our women and girls how much they are available for. Is this what our women have to endure?” the Captain asked.

The Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress (GPMC) held a block strengthening meeting in Vasco, bringing together four blocks — Mormugao, Vasco, Cortalim, and Dabolim — to discuss grassroots organisation and strategies ahead of the 2027 elections.

South Goa MP, Captain Viriato Fernandes, was the Chief Guest at the meeting. During the gathering, four new Mahila Block Presidents were nominated: Shradha Kalangutkar (Vasco), Akshada Wadekar (Dabolim), Vinika Arolkar (Mormugao), and Lata Naik (Cortalim).

Prominent leaders present included Beena Naik (former GPMC President), Sneha Fondekar and Liberata Madeira (Vice Presidents), Adv. Shabnam Khan (General Secretary), Mamta Maben and Mollie Da Gama Silva (District Presidents), Sangeeta Naik (South District Vice President) and Seema Behre (Executive Member).

Addressing the gathering, Beena Naik criticised the current government’s misgovernance and rising inflation, highlighting its adverse impact on women across Goa.

Mamta Maben emphasised the need for unity among Mahila Congress workers to defeat the present dispensation. She guided the members on forming effective block and booth committees to further strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level.

State Mahila Congress President Dr. Pratiksha Khalap expressed grave concern over the rising crime against women in Goa. “Today, no woman is safe — whether it’s a child, minor, Dalit, senior citizen, nurse, doctor, teacher, pregnant woman or a mentally challenged lady. The law and order situation has completely collapsed under this government. It is time for every Mahila to unite and throw this corrupt and criminal government out in 2027,” Dr. Khalap said.

She also raised issues such as inflation, corruption, unemployment, rise in crimes, gundagardi (hooliganism), etc.

Chief Guest Captain Viriato alo stressed that Mahila Shakti is pivotal to bringing about positive change in society. He criticised the government’s failed Operation Sindoor and its inefficiency in tackling terrorist threats such as the recent attack on tourists in Pahalgam. “It is the Mahilas who will unite and bring the much-needed change in 2027,” he added.

He also spoke of how corruption has reached such a level that government posts are being sold for lakhs of Rupees. He cited an instance narrated to him by a lawyer from Vasco, who told him that his son who had applied for a GPSC post and cleared the exam, was asked Rs 80-lakh if he wanted to get the job, when the lawyer told the seeker that it would not be possible, the job then went to the son of an RTO officer.

“If the RTO officers paid that money, then imagine how much he must be making and since his son now knows that money has been paid for him to get the job, what is he going to do now? This cycle needs to break,” the Captain added.

The meeting concluded with a renewed resolve to strengthen the Mahila Congress at the block level and to work tirelessly towards safeguarding women’s rights and restoring good governance in the state.