MAPUSA
The Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Mapusa, Gurudas Desai has directed the Mapusa Police and the civic officials to crack down on beggars who create nuisance in the municipal market and surrounding areas.In a meeting held between officials of the Social Welfare Department, Mapusa Police Station and Mapusa Municipal Council, the SDM ordered the police and civic officials to conduct a surprise raid and detain the beggars and immediately deport them to their respective States.
He also said that beggars with mental disabilities should be admitted to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB), Bambolim.
According to the SDM, an officer of the Mapusa municipality will act as a nodal officer who will jot down the schedule for inspection and detaining the beggars.
The SDM also directed the talathi of Mapusa, Keshav Bhagat to coordinate and accompany the Taluka Level Committee members during the inspection drive.
“The administration is serious in curbing the begging menace and this intent should be widely publicised through the means of the media,” Desai said.
The meeting of the officials was held in the wake of a complaint received from GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins on the activities of begging that are affecting the consumers and the merchants in the market.
This daily had raised the menace of begging going on in the Mapusa market, particularly on Friday market day in the town.
The Assistant Director of Social Welfare Department, Pradnya Desai informed that there was no facility or a rehabilitation home in the State to keep such persons/beggars in custody until they are rehabilitated or deported.
As a long-term solution to the problem, the SDM instructed the Social Welfare Department to move a proposal to the government for the construction of a rehabilitation centre for such beggars for their temporary stay until they are deported to their respective States.
The Mapusa PSI Gaurav Naik disclosed that some of these beggars were also involved in illegal and anti-social activities and therefore there was a need to immediately deport them to their respective States.
The PSI also informed that if such a drive was taken up in Bardez then a message would go across the State that action will be taken on such anti-social elements.
