GUILHERME ALMEIDA
MARGAO
It was a Sunday when the homeless struggled to comply with Narendra Modi’s Janata Curfew as citizens by and large stayed indoors in response to the Prime Minister’s call to stay indoors.
These homeless people, ranging from porters to coolies, vagabonds and migrant daily wage workers, who have no roof over their head, had to go without food as the markets and restaurants in the commercial capital all downed their shutters.
These people were seen sleeping on the footpaths around the Gandhi Market and New Market areas.
The Goan team came across a group of persons literally begging for food. They were heard saying they neither had breakfast nor tea or lunch. “We have no shelter in Margao. These footpaths, open spaces around the markets have been our shelter for years now. We eke out a living by working as porters and doing menial jobs. We have nowhere to go except these footpaths,” a labourer said when asked whether they were aware of the Prime Minister’s Janata Curfew.
Sources in the know pointed out that local NGOs make arrangements for food for the poor and the downtrodden, and they all appeared anxiously awaiting for these people to come with the lunch packets.
A drive around the Margao Municipal Council garden also brought to the fore how people without a roof on their head have literally made benches around the garden their home.
A group of migrants, who are engaged in small-time business of selling balloons and other plastic items were found at the SGPDA ground. Taking advantage of a pandal erected for an exhibition, these migrants,
including men, women and children were found seated together.
When Fatorda Police station in-charge PI Kapil Nayak descended on the PDA ground, the group claimed they had nowhere to go as they were homeless. “We tried to take shelter in the adjoining SGPDA complex, but someone down there drove us out. Left with no option, we are taking shelter on the ground,” a woman explained
Realizing that driving the group will serve no purpose, PI Kapil advised the group to make sure they all maintain the one-meter safe distance as a precautionary measure.
