I'm not quite sure where I heard this (or if it is true!!), but the 1st cause of death in Goa is liver disease due to alcoholism, and the 2nd falling out of coconut trees whilst p*ssed!!

I do not and will not give to beggars in Goa; I've no idea if they're genuine or not

according to roxy, my favorite taxi driver, most of the beggers are not even goan. he says they are from outside of goa and go there to beg for the richer pickings from the tourist's.
he also says that true goans are too proud to beg, they would rather starve!!
BOB

I think something else we as tourists need to remember is that Goa has a huge influx of 'outside' state Indians who make a living from us directly or indirectly - I do not believe the true Goans have it in them to beg particularly if it involves kids - I may be wrong, I believe that the majority of the beggars come from out of state.
cheers Lyn x

Hi Lyn, I was told the same thing by a couple of Goan taxi drivers. They said that the beggars come from other parts of India for the holiday period for the rich pickings and give true Goans a bad name, they wanted us to tell our fellow hotel guests to not give money to them.

A few years ago we were shopping in Panjim, I suddenly realised I kept seeing a little boy around 7 years old, bare feet and carrying a sack. He never spoke or looked directly at us, but everytime we went in a shop he was waiting, we bought him a drink and with a big grin he ran off, I felt really guilty that he'd followed us for so long and all he wanted was a drink.
A Goan would never beg, it is always out of staters, a bus brings women, babies, children and "cripples" every morning to Calangute during the tourist season, then picks them up again at the end of the day. Alcoholism is a big problem here, thats why no alcohol is served during the elections. The only people we give money to are the amputees who can't work, then it's only a few rupees.
We are having some building work done and the lads work from 8:30am to 6:30pm they get Rs 180 per day and they really do graft, makes you realise what rich pickings the beggars are on when just 1 person gives them Rs100.
Julie

does this mean the out of town beggers have money or dont. when it comes down to it they dont just have to live in goa to need help. Or are they just taken the mickey out of us kind hearted people who have worked very long and hard for this two weeks of luxury

back on topic Last season when we arrived at the airport we hadn't eaten our breakfast packs so we gave them to two young lads who were begging outside (one quite small with deformed arms we've seen him a couple of times) there faces lit up as they tucked in to there food whilst no more than 20 yards away a man just stared and scowled I guess the press-gang leader
p.s. Tony I am and also the only Scottish and first British team to have won it too

I guess I was a lucky first time visitor to Goa as I had friends who had been there several times who told me about all the s***s, including the begging, so I knew what to expect and how to deal with it. Our taxi driver, Jacinto(ryan) told us, as Arpora Julie said, beggars are out of staters praying on the tourist season who they never see during the off season I personally never give to any beggar, but do take clothes, food, books etc to a slum village in Varca between the Sun and Moon shack and the beach, they are all so grateful for the things and really enjoy being with them.

I do not and will not give to beggars, got caught by a couple of kids on my first day in goa the first time we went there.
Will however give a few rupees to entertainers as they are just like buskers we get at home and if you feel there good then 20 rupees is not much cash too you.
Have to gree that most of the beggars and beach sellars are not goan.

were off to Delhi and Agra during our spell in Goa in December so that will be intersesting.

I take little bags of sweets out for the children begging. They are well happy. the old people I do give money to, cant help[ it I feel sorry for them, a couple of quid to me on holiday is neither here nor there, its a drink or two but can buy them a decent meal. I do have favourite beach sellers but I have known them for years and is my choice to give them something, I certainly don't feel bad about it. At the end of the day do whatever you feel

we sponsor a child with el shaddai take a look at childrescue.net i,m about to post a slideshow to

roxey - I think I've said this on another thread but Sweets really aren't the best thing to give children... I know I sound like a mean guy but if you saw the number of rotten teach I have with the children we help, you'd think twice! - Just this week we took a little one (4 years old) to the dentist, had a large hole filled and he has to go back in a month for another, the same boy has also already had root canal! - I have to say he's probably the best dental patient I know (for behaviour, he just sits there with is mouth wide open!
It might sound weird but giving them toothpaste or soap would just be as welcoming.. It also promotes their good health... which is espeically important this time of year when the weather is so close...

I only ever give to beggers if they are crippled, saw something very disturbing this year in Goa, a building site on Calangute /Baga rd loads of kids playing in the sand while mothers were working on the site. Later told that some of the babies with beggers on the beach are hired for the day from here

Later told that some of the babies with beggers on the beach are hired for the day from here :(

FTV - I got told that as well and that they give them fenni to subdue them

we gave her 100 rps

Sorry to be harsh but 100rps is a days wage or more.Begging is indeed a industry in Goa and the sooner we all see that we are just viewed as a cash machine the better.It is impossible for us to compare the way we live with the way the vast majority of Indians live.

I have bought the young sellers on the beach a drink but no more.These "beggars"work in gangs and the gangmasters reap the profits.Not nice to see the poor exploited but hey welcome to capitalism.The poor of the world have always been exploited and always will.

Had to chuckle when I read about the Taxi driver complaining that the beggars where all from out of state.Pot kettle black came to mind.

Papa

I wouldn't give to the women with kids, have been told they all come in on a bus and have a decent life, then again who knows who is genuine, but still nothing to give to them.
I do however give to the cripples, who are up and down the beach all day, maybe 5 or 10rps only.
Most of these are not wanted for employment, so a little here and there helps.
100rps !! as you now know, and as many others have made the same mistake (me included !) it's way too much - but it's anyones choice to do what they want with there cash.
Spike.

Feelthevibe - Hi.. I agree and I don't think anyone should use children to beg with if they are their own or otherwise, many of the women pinch the children to make them cry (for more sympathy), or give them alcohol to make them sleep, neither of which should be supported by giving them money. Others children are taught to beg at a young age, which obviously is not a good start to life.... This will just generate an attitude of not wanting to work when you can just hold out your hand and get money....

Spike... Not sure about them having a decent life, but I do think they should go out and get a proper job!!!! Begging should be discouraged.

A lot has been said on here about only giving to cripples.

If you have seen Slumdog Millionaire, the sequence relating to maiming the children is very much based on fact. Children are blinded or maimed to increase the sympathy factor and therefore earnings.

An horrific barbaric practice? Hey, welcome to India.

As Spike said "it's anyones choice to do what they want with there cash.", but please be aware that by singling out cripples you are playing into the hands of those that perpetuate what has become a "tradition" here.................

Its so hard isnt it, I am a real sucker for a sob story. One thing I noticed this year, we were in a shack at the end of Sinquerim, young girl appears with little babe in arms, usual thing hand out, and gesturing to her mouth for food so gave her a few rupees. Where we were situated (Calamari shack) you can see a good way down the beach, shortly after she had moved from us a young man appeared, quite well dressed and presentable, you could tell he was following her, he followed her down the beach and then back up again. I don't think he was there to ensure her safety (although he could have been), seemed like he was there to take what she had collected.
The old people I will always give to, I dont care if they are professional beggars or not, if they can take the time to plod up and down the beach, then they deserve a few rupees. I have noticed in the shacks we use you will quite often find the oldsters sat around the back tucking into a meal - bless 'em.
Same with the little kids with the hoop, they try so hard- as I said I am a total sucker