MARGAO
Law enforcing agencies, including the police, besides the Margao municipality has an issue at hand “ how to put an end to the menace of begging, including child begging and illegal vending at the Old Market traffic circle?
Reason: The agencies seemed to have run out of ideas to contain the menace as all attempts initiated by the Fatorda police to reign in on the beggars, including child beggars, have failed to put a stop to the illegal activity. Vending at the traffic circle has also not stopped, posing a nuisance and menace to the motorists.
Occasional action by the men-in-uniform has not helped to deter the vendors and beggars from approaching motorists when the traffic comes to a halt at the signals.
In fact, the menace of begging and vending, which had started since the time the traffic signals were installed at the old market circle, has not stopped to date, with concerned authorities unable to nip the illegal activity in the bud.
A couple of months ago, the Fatorda police had rounded up a group of children initiated into begging at the traffic circle. Outgoing Fatorda Police station in-charge, PI Kapil Nayak said after the children were produced before the Child Welfare Committees, they were sent to the children’s home.
"After realizing their children were sent to the Children’s home, their parents had come rushing to the police station”, he recalled.
PI Kapil said the only option left to nip the activity in the bud is to initiate action against the illegal activity of begging and vending regularly, which may force them to leave the town.
Sources pointed out that since there is no beggars' home in the city, beggars rounded up by the police are let off by the courts, only to return to begging at the circle after some time.
While children and adults take advantage of the traffic signals to approach occupants of vehicles for alms, they also display items such as windscreen shields and mobile phone stands to make a quick buck.
