PANAJI
Incidents of brutal attacks, daylight robberies, thefts and dacoity are rising at an alarming rate across Goa. In many cases, the suspected culprits are not locals but outsiders who come from different states with criminal intentions. Some pockets in cities provide shelter to these people, where they can live without much effort, beg on the streets, identify vulnerable areas, commit crimes and then escape easily by train or bus.
Such patterns are common in metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Goa has seen crimes in the past as well, but the situation today is very different. Just two or three decades ago, Goa was known as a peaceful holiday destination with friendly and welcoming locals. Today, that image has changed. Locals live in fear and suspicion, especially towards outsiders. Even walking on the streets feels unsafe due to frequent incidents of chain snatching and hit-and-run cases.
Senior citizens living alone
With the rise of nuclear families, many elderly parents are left alone when their only child moves out for higher studies, jobs abroad or business commitments. As a result, many senior citizens prefer spending time at day-care centres or old-age homes instead of staying alone at home. It is now common to find elderly persons living alone in large houses, with their children settled abroad. This is seen not only in villages but also in busy towns.
Senior citizens living alone are the most vulnerable section of society. They can be easily threatened, assaulted or robbed. In more than 80 per cent of such incidents, criminals target elderly persons living alone.
A recent and shocking example is that of Cony Pacheco, an elderly resident of Comba in Margao. She was living alone in her house, barely a kilometre away from the Margao city police station. In a midnight attack, a stranger slit her throat with a sharp cutter, tried to suffocate her with a bedsheet, robbed her of a laptop and mobile phone, and even waited outside to watch her bleed. The attacker told her she would die within half an hour.
Despite severe injuries, Cony managed to lock the front door and escape through the back door to seek help from a neighbour. Her presence of mind saved her life. However, many elderly people are not as fortunate.
Safety concerns
“We feel unsafe in our own homes because we do not know who is living next door. Apart from locals, there is a floating population. Many houses and flats are rented through Airbnb, so new people keep coming every few days or weeks. Do these temporary residents undergo police verification?” asked an elderly couple living alone, as both their children work in Bengaluru.
Goa sees a large inflow of tourists, workers from other states, businesspersons, patients from Karnataka and Maharashtra seeking treatment at GMC, labourers and students pursuing higher studies. This puts pressure on the State’s infrastructure and affects the safety and peace of locals. Many residents complain about hostile behaviour from some tourists, who get into arguments with locals over small issues, leaving people unsure about where to seek help.
‘Elder Line 14567’
A national helpline for senior citizens, Elder Line 14567, is operational under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The toll-free number provides support, guidance and assistance to senior citizens in need.
The helpline offers four types of services:
Guidance: Information on doctors, hospitals, old-age homes and activity centres
Information: Legal matters, maintenance laws, Acts and pension-related queries
Support: Emotional support, help with anxiety, relationships and loneliness
Intervention: Direct help in cases of elder abuse and rescue of abandoned elders, and indirect support through system-building
A call made by The Goan to the helpline was answered by a person speaking Marathi, who first asked about the type of help required and the location. He explained that the helpline started in 2021 and functions from 8 am to 8 pm. Calls received after 8 pm are recorded, and callers are contacted later to check whether the issue has been resolved or if further help is needed.
He added that currently three services are active for senior citizens aged 60 and above. The fourth service, related to direct intervention, is temporarily on hold. “We provide guidance on hospitals and old-age homes, legal information, and emotional support to lonely elders under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. Calls from Goa are currently linked to the Maharashtra region,” he said, without disclosing his location.
“This is a big relief. More awareness is needed so that senior citizens can access help through an authentic government source,” said Siddhesh Shinkre, a marine engineer who spends months at sea while his retired parents live alone in Ponda.
