Team Herald
MARGAO: GOACAN, an organisation that works towards social change, has expressed serious concern over the issue of beggars and migrants creating a nuisance in the Old Market and other areas of the commercial town of Margao. Roland Martins, the convenor of GOACAN, informed reporters that his organization has already raised this issue with the concerned authorities and is now submitting an official memorandum.
The issue has been highlighted by OHeraldo over the last few days, revealing that the action plan to address the problem is yet to be implemented at the district level. Despite action from the police department, the nuisance continues to grow, with citizens suspecting the involvement of a Rajasthani gang in the crimes committed by beggars and migrants.
Martins added that he will be officially writing to the South Goa District Collector and Deputy Collector, as his organisation had done in Mapusa, where several meetings were held to address the issue. He also raised concerns over the absence of ‘beggars’ homes’, which poses a problem as once the police release the beggars, they come back to the same spots.
In his opinion, the Margao Municipal Council, the neighbouring village panchayats, and the Collector’s office should discuss the issue at a joint-meeting and prepare a time-bound programme to resolve the issue. Martins suggested that authorities need to separate genuinely needy people seeking assistance, from those who are part of the begging racket.
According to citizens and business owners of the Old Market, there are a few beggars who are unable to sit up or walk and are lying on the roadside, raising questions as to who transports them to these spots, and who collects the money from them.
