Beggary is an old social problem. Of late, the problem of begging by children has assumed an alarming proportion in Mapusa. The beggars, especially children in dirty rags, who roam in the Mapusa market, have become a nuisance to society. They sleep wherever they want, eat whatever they find in dustbins, and have not bathed for months
Neither the government nor NGOs seem to be bothered about the beggars, who are left to live in unhygienic and miserable conditions. Since Goa is a tourist destination and many foreign and domestic tourists visit Mapusa market, they will carry with them a wrong impression of Goa on seeing the pitiable condition of these beggars.
Beggars stand at the entrances of restaurants, chemists, supermarkets, banks and ATMs. On spotting tourists, a female beggar pinches her child that is in her arms and makes the child cry loudly to draw the attention of the tourists. When the tourists notice the crying child, the other gimmicks of pleading and begging follows. The beggars often follow the tourists a good distance and pester them until they receive alms.
Foreign tourists are a favourite target of alms-seekers. The sight of the aged, diseased and child beggars is a heartrending scene for many in this commercial town. The implementation of the Goa Prevention of Begging Act has not succeeded in curbing the menace.
It was also learnt that people are involved in rackets of exploitation, and they have made a lucrative profession out of forcing children to camp on pavements and roadsides to seek alms.
In 2015, North Goa police stations booked only 25 cases of begging: 12 in Panjim, 5 in Calangute, 4 in Bicholim, 3 in Anjuna, and 1 in Old Goa. Surprisingly, Mapusa Police did not book a single case that year despite the prevalence of beggars in the town.
North Superintendent of Police Umesh Gaonkar stated, “The police detain beggars and produce them before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, who impose fines on them. The beggars pay the fines and start begging again. Crippled beggars are sent to a shelter in Chimbel. Beggars are found mostly in coastal areas, where there are more tourists. Studies have revealed that migrant laborers become alcoholics, due to which they become crippled in the course of time and then start begging on footpaths. The police had once detained all beggars and deported them back to their homes, but they returned eventually. The police are helpless in curbing this beggar menace.”
Social worker Madhuker Bhonsale stated, “There has to be proper implementation of the Prevention of Begging Act. The government should make arrangements for the rehabilitation of child beggars, and the public should refrain from encouraging beggars by giving alms.”
