PANAJI
The presence of beggars in the State’s capital could soon be a thing of the past, with the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) taking steps to make Panaji a beggar-free city.
The CCP has initiated a drive to warn, act and rehabilitate beggars in the city.
"CCP has initiated a programme to relocate homeless people from streets of Panaji. Some of these people are a nuisance, can become violent and pose a danger to the public, including dirtying areas and harassing locals. The relocation programme will be an ongoing process by CCP,” said CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate in his post on Facebook.
CCP has decided to relocate the homeless in shelter homes at Verna and Mapusa.
Since the last week, CCP officials along with the police have been visiting sites where homeless people have been found.
"The homeless have been advised to either return to their native places or to stay in shelter homes,” said CCP Deputy Mayor Vasant Agashikar.
Many people living on the streets have reportedly preferred to return to their native places.
One such homeless family was living under the Panaji bridge and agreed to return to their native place at Solapur-Maharashtra.
CCP officials and police have been keeping watch of many places which have been identified as sites frequented by beggars. Officials have also confiscated the belongings of these people.
