MARGAO: The menace of begging is growing in almost all the towns of Goa including the capital Panjim. Margao however is dogged with numerous beggars. Herald Media asked people of Margao whether it is time police act against begging and beggars in Margao.
There is an NGO which feeds these beggars. Some of them eat the food, others take it away and still others leave it in the garden itself. The Margao garden was such a beautiful garden where senior citizens used to relax. Now after looking at the swollen faces with bottles in their hands, the senior citizens have given up coming to the garden. They have even stopped taking evening walks in the garden due to the beggars. The municipality and the police should take action against these beggars. The police say they take action, but once evicted, the beggars return to the place. Even on the station road there are frequent deaths of beggars. This may start happening in the municipal garden too.
Dinesh Kakodkar Resident, Margao
There was a fight infront of the Margao Municipality between migrants. The Margao MLA had made a statement that he had given instructions to ensure that henceforth nobody will be allowed to sleep in the garden or do any nefarious activities. He also said that nobody would be allowed to sleep on the pavement of the comunidade building. One day we saw people chasing away beggars. But now the situation is back to normal. So was it only for one day? So this is playing on the minds of the people of Margao. Also those hawker and migrants are back near the communidade building. So is this only tall talk, or will see some action against the beggars.
Savio Coutinho Former Chairperson MMC
This work (of chasing the beggars) has to be done by the Margao municipality by appointing an agency. They have to detain these beggars and make provisions to rehabilitate them. Only then will this problem be solved. This is the only solution. Going to Municipal garden was like going to the Bangalore garden. The garden was so beautiful with fountains, lights and huge roses. There were also small bridges with water under it with fish. Even match making would be done in the garden since those days people could not afford to go to hotels. If the police show them some fear, the beggars will stop sitting in the garden. The police are negligent. I have never seen the police going to the garden to shoo beggars.
Mahesh Nayak Social Worker