PANAJI
While the initiatives were welcomed, several concerns over the intentions of the government were raised.
Activist Sabina Martins of Bailancho Ekvott said that rehabilitation was welcome but the intentions of the government appear only to set up new infrastructure rather than sincerely solve the problem which is multifaceted.
“Spending money and constructing new buildings and centres is the easy part. The government is always looking for big projects because historically that is where much of the money is pilfered,” Martins said.
“At the root of the problem is the problem of human trafficking and the problem of child trafficking especially for the purpose of begging. To stop and prevent, this one doesn’t need to set up huge rehabilitation homes. It can be begun immediately,” she pointed out, adding that women who beg with children are often part of a trafficking ring for begging.
“Using children for begging is an out and out crime and can be acted against immediately,” Martins said, adding that the government seems more keen on looking for big ticket projects in the mistaken view that it will be a one-stop solution for the problem of beggary.
“We had put several proposals in place for the government, especially in view of the prevention of similar crimes like that of a ‘one-stop crisis centre’ for women and children as well as for crisis intervention, none of which have been put in place by the government,” Martins said. She was also of the opinion that the root causes of begging, that is poverty often caused by alcoholism, also needs to be addressed besides other issues like that of mental illness and the like.
On the other hand, however, Calangute PI Jivba Dalvi who has conducted drives against beggars and hawkers said that the setting up such an rehabilitation centres would go a long way in solving the menace.
“There are only two ways of penalising those who beg, that is either through fines or through imprisonment. In most cases, after they are detained, they are produced before a magistrate and let off after a warning. We cannot fine them, as being beggars they do not have money and imprisoning them will lead to the only ‘earning’ member of the family being behind bars,” Dalvi said.
