---------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Plight of Margao's street children --------------------------------- The law says that children aged between 5 to 12 years should be in schools, but in Margao's commercial centre young children are learning the 'begging' trade.
With an increase in commercial activities in Margao due to Ganesh, the sight of small children begging in public places appears to have increased. One can see children wearing torn clothes asking for alms. A few people shout at them and rudely shoo them away, while others take pity on their plight and place a few coins on their extended palms. A visit to some of Margao's markets, reveals the vast difference between the legal provisions found in law books and the actual state of affairs. According to information available, these children are mostly found at the South Goa Planning and Development Authority market, at old market and in the heart of the city. They can also be seen near petrol pumps. These tiny tots, mostly from slum areas do various types of work to earn their living. Some of them sell peanuts, while others clean cars, work as waiters, sell plastic bags in the fish market and also assist fish vendors. People feel that some steps have to be taken by the concerned authorities to put an end to this. One owner of the car said that these street children have become nuisance. "They will approach with a packet of peanuts, insisting that we buy it. Once they know that you do not want to buy peanuts, they will request you to at least to give some money," he complained. Even as is on, the police claim that there has been an effective implementation of the Goa Prevention of Begging Act. They stress that the activities of organised gangs has reduced considerably. To support their argument, they proudly exhibit their statistics. However, some social workers rebut these claims made by the police. They say that the arrests by the police are only an eyewash and no serious attempt is being made to curb the menace. The police routinely round up a few beggars and takes them away. A few days later these same beggars are found back on the streets. Nothing has changed, they claim. ----------------------------- The Navhind Times 27/8/06 ----------------------------- ====================================== GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ====================================== _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
