Weekly drives launched as authorities shift homeless persons to shelter
Margao police round up beggars and migrants from the iconic Margao Municipal Garden during a weekend drive.
MARGAO
With no permanent solution in sight to address the growing issue of beggars and migrants using the iconic Margao Municipal Garden as a temporary shelter, the Margao police have started a new initiative by involving the registered NGO, El Shaddai Charitable Trust, to provide accommodation for the homeless.
On Saturday, a team from the Margao police rounded up beggars and others found loitering on garden benches as part of a special drive to shift them to the NGO-run shelter. Around 20 people were detained and taken to the South Goa District Hospital for medical examination.
However, a larger question remains — will this exercise stop beggars and migrants, who have virtually made the garden their second home, from returning?
Police officials admitted that the move is only a temporary measure aimed at clearing the garden of beggars and anti-social elements, whose increasing presence had kept many Madgavkars away from the garden.
Margao Police Station in-charge PI Arun Desai said the drive has two objectives — preventing loitering in the garden and ensuring food and shelter for the homeless through the NGO.
“At the shelter, the NGO tries to verify the background of the beggars, including details of their native states and relatives. If possible, efforts are made to contact their families and help them return home,” Desai said.
He added that the Margao police will conduct weekly drives to keep beggars and migrants away from the Municipal Garden and also support tenant verification work.
However, he admitted that the initiative may not offer a lasting solution, as many could return to the garden after some time.
Sources said police are aware of the complex nature of the issue, especially when the NGO is unable to identify those shifted to the shelter or trace their families.
GARDEN DRAWS ANTI-SOCIALS, MIGRANTS
Sources familiar with the situation said the Municipal Garden is frequented not only by beggars, but also by anti-social elements and migrants who come to Goa in search of jobs without having accommodation.
A municipal employee said afternoons and evenings make it easier to identify anti-social elements, as some openly consume liquor on the garden benches.
“We find empty liquor bottles near the benches almost every other day. Such elements gather there with liquor before NGOs arrive to distribute food,” the employee said.
He added that the garden has also become a common halt for migrants arriving in Goa for work.
“They can be easily identified as they carry bags and luggage. They spend long hours in the garden without work,” he said.
