The Farce of "Beti Bachao" in Goa : The Capital of "Rape Against Minors" in India.
Only 1 FTSC & POCSO Court in Goa, 156 Cases pending. Only 4 Convictions in past 5 Years in Minor Rape Cases. Stats which Smt Sulkashna Sawant does not know.
The inhuman rape of the Spanish tourist on 1st March of 2024 in Dumka District of Jharkhand, has stricken the conscience of the entire nation.
But conscience of "Beti Bachao" advocates of Goa is still sleeping, which has been christened as "Capital of Rape Against Minors" in the country.
The list not only includes the MLAs (including female MLAs) and Ministers of ruling BJP party in state, who have minor children; but strangely enough, also of those who are supposed to fight for the rights of women, like the State BJP Mahila Prabhari Chief Smt Sulkashna Sawant (wife of CM Pramod Sawant) whose name is now being considered as a probable candidate for South Goa Parliamentary Constituency.
Ironically, and hilariously; The State Power Minister Mr.Sudhin Dhavalikar recently advocated for the need of a 3rd Airport for Goa at Canacona, being totally oblivious of the conditions of girl child in the state. Priorities, right?
Since October 2019, the Department of Justice is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, to set up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including exclusive POCSO Courts across the nation for expeditious trial relating to sexual offences. Each court comprises of 1 Judicial Officer and 7 Staff Members.
The Scheme was initially for a period of one year spread over two Financial Years 2019-20 and 2020-21 at a total outlay of Rs. 767.25 Cr. with Rs. 474 Cr. as Central Share to be met from Nirbhaya Fund.
The Cabinet approved the continuation of the Scheme for two years i.e. up to March, 2023 with a total budgetary outlay of Rs. 1572.86 Cr. with Rs.971.70 Cr. as central share. The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 28.11.2023 has further extended the Scheme for another three years – from 01.04.2023 to 31.03.2026, at a total financial outlay of Rs. 1952.23 Cr. including Rs. 1207.24 Cr. as Central Share to be incurred from Nirbhaya Fund.
As on November 2023, 758 FTSCs including 411 exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts are functional in 30 States / UTs which have disposed of more than 2,08,000 pending cases.
From the onset, there were 2 FTSC & POCSO Courts were sanctioned for the state of Goa, but only 1 is functioning at Panaji, in North Goa.
Also, labelled routinely as the most progressive and development oriented state; Government of Goa took ages to establish just one court; way after when 24 other states had already taken the initiative.
The state of affairs can be gauges by the fact that, 156 Cases pending in the solitary FTSC Court of Goa as on December 2023.
https://doj.gov.in/fast-track-special-court-ftscs/
This is when 76% of all the rape cases being registered in Goa, are those against minors. The highest rate in the country.
https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Beti-bachao-73-women-were-raped-in-Goa-in-2022-of-which-57-were-minor-girls/214823
Ironically, the State BJP President Sadanand Shet Tanawade, who is also now Rajya Sabha Member from Goa, raised a question on the floor of the house on 8th February 2024, regarding the establishment of FTSC Courts in Goa.
The esteemed Law Maker was ignorant of the fact, that it is the State Government of Goa which has to take the initiative, since the Central Government has already further extended the scheme of setting up POCSO and FTSC Courts, under which it releases considerable grant to assist the state.
All this while, prior to becoming the Rajya Sabha member, as State BJP President, he did not influence the state government in this regard at all?
https://sansad.in/getFile/annex/263/AU746.pdf?source=pqars
Why the second FTSC Court has not been established in Goa, where ruling party at Centre is also ruling for past many years, is anybody's guess?
This is despite shocking stats, glaring in the face.
Well, giving the State Government of Goa, benefit of doubt, it could be presumed that only the lack of resources, could be the benign reason.
Lack of more FTSC and Posco Court leads to very poor conviction rate of those who have committed such heinous crimes against girl child.
Only 4 in last 5 Years. Out of a total of 260 cases.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/rape-of-minor-girls-260-cases-but-4-convictions/amp_articleshow/108185688.cms
If this is the affairs, then how can a girl child or for that matter, a woman would expect the justice to prevail in case of an injustice done to her?
How the rule of Law would be expected to be as a deterrent for the future perpetrators of such ghastly and inhuman crimes?
Early February itself showed 3 Rape cases being registered across North Goa Police Stations.
https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Three-rape-cases-reported-in-North-Goa-last-week/217464
The present and sensible need of the hour is to set up a second FTSC & POCSO Court in Goa urgently.
Petty politics of putting up female candidates for Lok Sabha elections and falsely trying to portray themselves as the Messiah of Women and Child Welfare, should cease.
Hy