Kinds Of Beggars: Real Or Fake!!

In India begging is not a profession. But Millions of people pull on their families by begging. Every state in India is full of beggars. This experience kept me stuck for a moment with the end of questions running through my mind. Though, I have come across a number of remarkable incidents, mainly the beggars which include blinds, handicaps, leprosy patients, senior citizens, and physically weak persons in railway stations, metro stations, tourist spots, temples, and in many areas where there is a regular crowd. It is also seen that a young lady begs with an infant. The person who is able to create sympathy in others' minds is a successful beggar. Sometimes the beggar’s condition draws sympathy automatically but mostly acts of begging.

It was in a bright morning when everyone was excited and waiting for Bihu Mela in Basistha Temple, Guwahati. Seeing the excitement level of people I too planned of visiting the place and see what’s very special about the occasion. It kept me stuck right after I entered the gate and stood silent for some moments and took out my mobile phone and started clicking pictures. I saw uncountable beggars of different shapes sitting in a line, as it was their daily business.

Some were sitting in a wheelchair, some sitting ideal with torn & dirty cloth, some sleeping with a blanket covered his/her body, some were sitting with their entire family & relative, some seems physically disabled and quite a large number sitting in a line as if selling some good. I was actually confused at one point in time, thinking about whether the crowd is bigger at the number or beggars.

Begging is one of the most serious social issues in India. In spite of its rapid economic growth, India is a poverty-driven country, which is also leading to the growth of beggars in the country. Most of them come from Bangladesh and some of them are from India.

There are few beggars in the country who actually are the real ones, who beg because they are handicapped, because of their inability to work or because they are old or blind or because they really need money for basic needs. There are many others who live far below the poverty line and opt for begging to earn their livelihood. But for many, begging is just like any other profession. They go out to earn money, not by working, but by begging.

But poverty is just one side of the story. Poverty is real in India but not begging. These gangs have their own gang leaders. Each leader allots a particular territory for a group of beggars and the day’s earnings are shared among them. The gang leader keeps the larger share. These beggars are so involved in begging that they don’t want to work elsewhere. It’s strange but true that some of these beggars earn thousands and lakhs, much more than a normal middle-class worker.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY!

Being responsible citizens it is our moral responsibility to stop this menace and the best way is to stop giving alms. It might seem that we are very heartless in not giving money to a little child begging on the street, but this is one step that we can take to prevent begging. There is a number of an organization working for social welfare, so instead of motivating them by giving money, we must take the initiatives to put end to the such menace. Also, in this digital world end number of people have opened social networking groups to put end to trafficking, so must click pictures of the child and post them in the group.

The government, varied organizations, and activists claim that many measures have been taken to abolish begging and it has been successful to a certain extent. But the trend of begging still continues. We are also to be blamed. We as Indians are very orthodox, God-fearing, and have a religious frame of mind. This compels us to do charity. And one easy way is to visit a nearby temple and give alms to the beggars there. If more and more people come out and take a pledge that they are not going to give a single penny to any beggar, irrespective of their need, I am sure, beggaries will then be completely uprooted from our country. Meanwhile, let the government continue with its poverty alleviation schemes and make India a better place to live in.