the goan I network
CANACONA
The beggar, identified as Anoop Kamat, had been living on the streets of Chaudi since the last 15 years.
He was a known face who stayed away from trouble and would survive on alms, which included food and some money. He would also be found scavenging for food in waste dumps in
the town.
Taking on the challenge to give Anoop a new lease of life, CMC former deputy chairperson Dilip Kenkre on Thursday approached Canacona Municipal Council Chief Officer Kedar Naik and sought the assistance 2-4 municipal labourers. Naik readily agreed to the request.
Kenkre clicked a photo of Anoop as a beggar at about 11 am and requested the labourers to give him a bath. After some initial resistance, Anoop allowed the labourers to bathe him thrice to remove dirt all over his body. He was then dressed in clean clothes.
The next stop was at the barber’s shop, where the barber was initially reluctant to attend to Anoop’s unkempt hair and long beard. After some persuasion, the barber undertook the task and gave Anoop a haircut and shave.
Anoop was then taken to a nearby Gumti, where a ‘tika’ was put on his forehead, to make him acceptable in the locality.
Speaking to The Goan, Kenkre, who used his personal resources to persuade the municipal labourers and barber to work on transforming Anoop, said: “Several times in the last 15 years, I had requested previous Canacona MLAs to help me out, but none made any attempt to do so.”
“I watched Anoop for several years and even gave him haircuts and new clothes to wear, but he turned back to his begging activities. I had even advised a former Canacona MLA to employ Anoop at his farm, so that he gets a proper job and accommodation at the workplace.”
“I have tried my best to give Anoop a new lease of life and I request our new Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes to help this man, who is from a respectable background,” Kenkre added.
When contacted, a resident recalled Anoop as an intelligent student of Shri Mallikarjun Vidyalaya, Char-Rasta, who had even passed his SSC with flying colours.
“He is also known to have acquired welding techniques and had been running a workshop successfully,” the resident said.
But no one could explain how a person with welding skills who ran a workshop had turned into a beggar.
When contacted, sources informed that Canacona MLA Fernandes has already spoken to a doctor at the GMC, who has assured to take care of Anoop’s health needs and provide him with suitable shelter.
