Apropos to the news item ‘Fatorda police arrest 6 for causing annoyance” (The Goan Everyday, December 27, 2021), I have a few observations to make. Due to Covid-19 that made its presence felt in late 2019 and early 2020, lockdown became necessary to contain the rise of Coronavirus.
Livelihoods suffered drastically and lives were also lost. Many daily wage earners and labourers had no work during and after lockdown. They had no money to feed their families. They could not see the plight of their families that included young children and women. They were forced to take to begging for survival. But people had no money to spare for beggars. Almsgiving has, in recent times, reduced considerably. During festive seasons these six beggars thought that they could go all out and make money that lasted them for a few months. But police cracked down on them and have detained these beggars whose plight brings tears to eyes. Poor men and women too have the right to live with dignity. Begging also is no longer an option. Police lathi-charge beggars and stop them from begging. Can we scare beggars away with police batons? How long can we keep them off our streets? After some time they will be back and resume their activities of begging. Police will again lathi-charge them and take them away somewhere. After a few days, they will be back. It will go on and on. We need a permanent solution. Policing is not one of them. In the days leading up to Assembly Elections in Goa, politicians are promising the moon to the voters of Goa. Maybe they will do well to stop by and hear the grievances of beggars. They can promise something to beggars that will help in tackling the problem.
