from Special Correspondent
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Aug 20: State home minister Ravi Naik on Tuesday August 20 said that commencement of train from Patna will increase the number of beggars in the State

"Mostly all the beggars are from other states and train scheduled from Patna to Goa will add up to the problem," the home minister said participating in the discussion during the ongoing state legislative assembly session.

The figures tabled in the house have revealed that annually more than 300 baggers are prosecuted by the state police under Beggars Act, most of them from the commercial town of Margao in south.

In 2005, 380 cases, 2006 430 and 2007 395 cases were booked under this act.

The opposition benches participating in the session laid scathing attack on the home ministry for adopting lethargic attitude towards getting rid of the beggars, who are causing nuisance for the tourists and locals alike.

The leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar said that the number of beggars is increasing in the capital city of Panaji and police are reluctant to arrest them.