The Hindu : New Delhi News : Need, greed and more….

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Saturday, Jul 12, 2008
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Need, greed and more….

It is not just need but sometimes even greed that makes people take to begging, says Ashok Kumar

Despite launching much trumpeted anti-begging campaigns from time to time and strengthening laws to discourage begging in order to make the Capital beggar-free before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the efforts of the Delhi Government and the police seem to have changed little on the ground.

Aged men and women, semi-clad children and even eunuchs seeking, and on some occasions extorting, alms from motorists and pedestrians at traffic intersections is a common sight in the Capital. The illegal practice continues unabated right under the nose of the police at some places and there seems no relief for motorists harassed by these alms-seekers.

Begging is widely seen as the fall-out of poverty, lack of employment opportunities, old age and physical handicap, but a recent survey by Delhi University’s Social Work Department revealed some lesser known aspects of the ways of beggars in the Capital. The findings of the survey -- that begging even attracts able-bodied and physically sound people -- show that it is not just need but sometimes even greed that makes people take to begging.

The authorities and many non-government organisations have diametrically opposite views on different aspects of the menace and ways to tackle the situation. On the one hand, the authorities insist on dealing with the problem with an iron hand and have enacted several laws; on the other hand, the various outfits working for rehabilitation of beggars advocate a more humane and compassionate approach to the problem.

The police believe that there are several organised criminal gangs acting behind the beggars in the Capital and a large number of them are brought to the city every year for this purpose alone. The law prevents motorists and commuters from doling out alms to beggars or buying goods from vendors at traffic intersections. The Bombay Beggary Prevention Act -- banning begging, vending on roads, cleaning vehicles at traffic junctions, singing in buses and displaying disability for alms -- has also been enforced in the Capital. But the menace of begging has only grown over the years because of poor enforcement, concede senior police officers, adding that despite all the laws being in place, only a handful of people caught are convicted in Delhi.

“Thus the police also prefer to chase the beggars away instead of arresting them. Also, it is practically difficult to stop people from doling out alms,” admitted a police officer.

But the authorities need to differentiate between those who have been forced by circumstances and those opting for it out of choice and change its high-handed approach to the problem that merely serves to punish the destitute without aiming to help or reform them.

Besides enforcing laws, there is an urgent need to create public awareness and initiate vocational training for beggars depending on their ability and capacity. The public needs to be educated to offer aid to institutions which work for empowerment of beggars, rather than giving alms to beggars.

There is, above all, a crying need to put in place a cohesive approach to the problem supported by a strong political will and joint efforts of the administration and the citizens.

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