VASCO: Taking serious note 

of the increasing menace of 

begging in the port town, 

the vice chairperson of 

Mormugao Municipal council, 

Tara Kerkar has sought 

help from the office of 

Deputy Collector Mormugao 

Sabaji Shetye as well as 

the Vasco Police seeking action 

to curb the menace.

 

“Begging is a common 

sight especially in the city of 

Vasco wherein it would be a 

rare exception if you were 

not approached for alms by 

shabbily dressed women 

with an infant in their arms 

in order to attract attention 

and gain sympathy. Some 

beggars are a nuisance, as 

they occupy the corridors of 

Mormugao Municipality 

building as well as the garden 

in front of the building 

and they are making the 

whole area a complete 

mess,” Kerkar told Herald. 

She further informed saying, 

“Although we are witnessing 

beggar menace 

throughout the year, the 

menace has increased as we 

are all set to celebrate the 

annual Damodar Bhajani 

Saptha. The inflow of beggars 

in town has extensively 

increased and it is possible 

that there are gangs involved 

in this trade. Also many beggars  

are from outside the  

State and should be booked 

under the provisions of the 

anti-begging  law. Giving 

alms to the poor is a good  

gesture, but one never 

knows if the money really 

reaches the needy,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the citizens of 

the port town too have 

raised serious concern on 

increasing beggar menace i

n the city and especially the  

surrounding of Mormugao 

Municipality.