The population of homeless in Goa is alarming, and they need to be shifted from streets to permanent shelters.
Majority of them are children, aged, disabled or mentally ill. But there are only a few NGOs who admit homeless people in their shelter homes. We see homeless people not only in urban areas of the State but also rural areas. Some of the homeless women and children are exploited and it goes unreported.
We see homeless people being temporarily shifted if VVIPs are scheduled to visit the area. These vulnerable homeless survive with many challenges like no access to basic facilities such as health, education, food, water and sanitation, etc.
Homeless are equally entitled to all the human rights and fundamental rights which are available to those who reside in a shelter. The government is duty bound to construct or set up a permanent shelter and shift them and provide them with the basic infrastructure facilities like water supply, food, sanitation, safety and security.
