Disgusting to see able-bodied people surviving on alms

Open House: what should the administration and social bodies do to check the menace of begging?

Awareness camps for beggars need of hour

The increasing menace of begging in our city has become cause for concern for everyone. The district administration should organise awareness camps for beggars whereby they are guided of begging laws in our country and bane of begging. The beggars must be guided and encouraged to do some work for their livelihood. In order to stop this practice, the police must increase their strength in the city and where ever they find beggars begging they should ask them to not do so and move away from place. The social organisations can provide great help to stop this practice. They can provide training to beggars for doing work according to their caliber by analysing first what work beggars can do easily and thereby after training helping them to get that work secured and earning a livelihood.

Sanjay Chawla

Ludhiana on track, others should follow

Police officials of Ludhiana had started a drive recently to make the city beggar-free. This thing should be replicated in all cities of Punjab. Beggars are usually found at road crossings, asking for money from the passersby. They cause inconvenience to people while disrupting the flow of traffic at the same time. It has been recently seen that some fake their ailments so as to get money to buy drugs. Beggars should be identified and removed from all the major crossings of the city. Those who can’t work must be sent to shelter homes and those who can, must be employed by the government or private firms. Rehabilitation of beggars is very important so that their children don’t resort to begging in the future.

Jatinderpal Singh Batth

QUESTION

The MC has a complaint redressal system — landline, toll-free number, email and web portal. Do you think these are effective and helpful in addressing the grievances of residents?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (February 18).

Take stringent action towards physically fit

The alarming rise in the beggars is indeed an acute trouble for the society. ln order to eradicate such a social monster the authorities should take following measures

Rehabilitation centres: The administration should set up rehabilitation centres for the beggars where free shelter, food, education are provided. Vocational training: The authorities should provide such people vocational training according to their interests and capabilities so to integrate them in the societies mainstream. Awareness: The citizens should be made aware against begging and should be encouraged to not to be generous towards them and spur such activities. Strict action: The administration should take stringent actions towards physically fit and mentally healthy beggars to put a full stop to this social evil. Though begging will not disappear overnight, the administration needs to pitch in efforts to stop it.

Harshpreet Kaur

Big change in our attitude required

To end the menace of begging in the city, many attempts in the past were made by the local administration with the help of the police but without any fruitful results. Reasons for this failure are in our ages-old traditions and culture. Till date our traditional astrologers guide us to give alms to beggars on so and so day of the week. Irrespective of religion we belong to, outside our all religious places beggars are encouraged. Also, we define our culture as way of life, including lifestyle, language, music, dresses, eating habits in a particular region. But, it never means ‘work culture’. “Work is worship”, is simply a phrase to be used in writing but never applied in practice. To make easy money is our motto. Our local businesses flourished during the quota-permit period but flopped with the collapse of the same. Even now with a distressing state of economy our easy way of making money – share market – is booming as never before. The most hardworking animal donkey is referred in an abusive way in our routine conversations whereas Le Corbusier, the French architect, was so fascinated by donkeys pressed in action while Chandigarh was being built that he often compared himself to their lot. We claim ourselves as most religious people in the world but we forget the essence of Bhagwad Gita which says “peace results from the renunciation in action and not renunciation of action”. So solution to this problem does not lie with the local administration or police but needs basic change in our attitude in regard to our traditions and culture. We should not advise others about “work is worship” but do practise it themselves as the Supreme Court of India ruled sometime back “status is enhanced not by travelling in the red beacon vehicles but by work done by them.”

Harsh N Johar

No central act to checkmate begging

Begging, a social problem of great magnitude and grave concern of our society, is closely associated with the problems of poverty and unemployment. In fact beggary is a slur and stigma in the fair name and face of our vibrant society. It has become a profession as healthy men, women and children adopt it willingly or unwillingly and become parasites for society and a curse to humanity. It is disgusting to see able-bodied, strong and sturdy people begging and living on alms. Such type of beggars should be shooed away. They should not be shown any pity and compassion. There is no central act to checkmate beggary. It has been left to the states to deal with the menace of begging. So, the district administration should arrest the able-bodied beggars and employ them as labourers in various constructive works. They should be encouraged to take charge of their lives so as not to become a burden on society. The ill, invalid and infirm ones should be hospitalised to ameliorate their wretched lot. The child beggars should be identified and should be sent to schools under the aegis of district administration and the government. The police, doing little to address the menace, should step up measures to restrict the spread. Police patrolling during peak hours ought to be beefed up to discourage the prospective beggars. NGOs should do welfare work more vigorously to reduce begging in the city. Social organizations and citizens together can play a pivotal role in at least minimising the problem. The administration should form rescue teams to identify gangs of beggars to be penalised in accordance with the existing rules and regulations. Even harsh steps can be taken against the professional beggars so as to teach them skills that enable them to start earning their livelihood. It is high time for the authorities to consider the issue seriously and initiate steps to put a blanket ban on the menace of begging and beggary.

Tarsem S Bumrah

Tell beggars to take charge of their lives

The homeless and destitute, landless labourers and other poverty-stricken indulge in begging in the absence of any employment. Some children are forced to beg by the begging mafia and also made to indulge in crimes. Beggars are a burden on the economy and do not produce anything. Often, such people take to petty crimes too. So, to tackle this: Identify children who beg and send them to school to provide free education till Class X. Rescue teams should be formed at district levels to identify and take the strict action against the gangs who force the poor, old aged and weak to beg. The old and infirm forced to beg should be sent to destitute homes and children sent to rehabilitation and training centres. Police can also help greatly – arrest physically fit and mentally alert beggars, traffic policemen/marshals must not be mute spectators to small children or young women with babies in arms walking from vehicle to vehicle at traffic light points and so on. Social organisations should also step up their efforts by hospitalising the ill to get the free treatment, with skill development techniques, and proper counselling should be given.

Suneet Kochhar

One of the most conspicuous evils

Way back in mid-1980s, I had the chance to visit state administered beggars’ home in Kapurthala. It was housed in a very majestic looking spacious building. However, there was only one beggar lodged there and I was told in lighter vein that he might have gone out for begging. Of course, the place was in shambles though its visitor book showed that Secretary/Director Social Welfare Department had paid many visits there. In Amritsar, we have well run ‘Panghurha’ scheme for abandoned newly born babies, Pingalwara for the sick destitute, institute for the blinds, home for the destitute ladies and juvenile home for young delinquents and most importantly orphanage run by Chief Khalsa Diwan. Incidentally, Shahid Udham singh, who shot Michael O’Dwyer in London, to avenge the massacre of patriots at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919, was brought up in this orphanage. Raen Basera also exists for the beggars, but this place remains almost deserted. Some of the social welfare institutes are running very well but some are colossally neglected. Beggary, though legally banned, has emerged as one of the most conspicuous social evils. At every crossing, especially at the traffic lights, many beggars start knocking on the glasses of the cars to seek alms. This endangers theirs as well as drivers’ lives. Their regular presence does not indicate that the district administration is taking any step for their rehabilitation. Since majority of the beggars are able-bodied, they must be rehabilitated to start their lives afresh. Amritsar’s Pingalwara is known throughout the world for its charitable activities and it has the honour of the halo of Bhagat Puran Singh and its incumbent head Dr Inderjit Kaur. It may start the rehabilitation centre for the beggars. Since most of the social welfare schemes run by the government leave much to be desired, only social or charitable organisations can run such institutions.

Hardish Sandhu

To end begging, one must stop giving alms

Begging is one of the most serious social issues in India. In spite of its rapid economic growth, India is a poverty-stricken country, which is also leading to the growth of beggars in the country. There are a few beggars in the country who actually are the real ones, who beg because they are handicapped, old or blind or 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 as the citizens of this country, 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. 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 beggary will be completely uprooted from our country.

Akshar Kumar Singla

Inculcate a sense of shame in begging

My father never gave alms and reprimanded beggars to work at his home instead of begging. That actually inculcated a deep sense of shame in me for the act of encouraging beggars by giving alms. Hence, I followed in his footsteps and refused beggars, but gave to handicapped only, although I actively gave and garnered whatever little I could, as aid for lesser-privileged, calamities or causes. Concerning beggary, the administration and social organisations can have a huge role to spread the message of ‘shame in begging’ through all kinds of media. This can be thoughtfully done as non-government sponsored, thought-provoking content through video stories, content writing, audio media like FMs, TV programmes bringing into the limelight those born to beggars, who refused to stoop to beggary, fought the challenge, and rose up. When a sense of shame is attached to something, the habit gradually perishes. When people stop insulting human beings with their aid, just to encourage beggary cartels, the returns will no longer be lucrative for the business of beggary. Many children and adults may thus be saved from kidnapping and inhuman treatment besides tortures. In developed countries, a sense of shame was cultivated for using parents’ money for education and anything else, after a certain age, to encourage teenagers to work. In India, we are destroying the fabric of dignity of labour by categorising housework as lowly, whereas we should inculcate housework as the responsibility of all. In beggary, the fear factor of God’s wrath draws people to give, as also the empathy factor. Somewhere we need to channelise God’s wrath in the right direction and shame in beggary to get results. As far as police is concerned, it can only book a beggar for crime. Beggary is not a designated crime in India in the true sense.

Rashmi Talwar

Invent more ways to help them

Begging for alms is demeaning, yet not assisting those in penury is inhumane. These times of job distress have accentuated stress amidst the downtrodden. Many men and women from decent households are seen seeking assistance now on the streets. Arrange for dignity of labour or assist them till you can.

Gunbir Singh

It’s a disease, study symptoms and act

Begging has become a growing menace, or you can call it a disease. How do you treat a disease? Well, you eliminate or bring down the symptoms. Yes, eliminate the symptoms or the reasons which are forcing them to beg. These are some of the measures/thoughts which came to my mind. Never give alms to young beggars, they are capable of working. By giving them alms we are encouraging them to beg more, instead encourage them to work and earn. Old people who are forsaken by their wards should be moved to old age homes. NGOs should come together and work on rehabilitation of such people by providing them some means of work. Also, there are beggars who ask in the name of religion, taking advantage of religious sentiments of Indian people. They should be strictly restrained. The government should start its own institutions, where widows, orphans and other helpless people may find shelter. This will prevent them from joining the profession of begging. Further, the government should also pass laws which should make begging by persons below a certain age a crime.

Sandeep Gorsi

Beggars need no cash but care

Good initiative of The Tribune to highlight the menace of begging, a social-economic evil as well as a crime redressal of which needs a comprehensive campaign of the government as well as society, including NGOs by saving the beggars from the clutches of their managers and engaging them in employment in a protective environment. Beggars need no cash but care.

TS Bhatti

Job opportunities need of the hour

To stop it, people have to take initiative and instead of money give food and clothes to them. Once they run out of money they will have no choice but to work and earn. Secondly, the government should provide them free shelter so they will have no pressure for their lodging while they work and earn. Their children should be sent to government schools and youngsters should also at the same time given some vocational training to help them to earn a living going forward. The special fine should be imposed on people who give them money and discourage them to work and earn by themselves. Free community kitchens should be set up for really needy ones. Mafia gang of baggers should be busted immediately. A road map should be made by administration to remove beggars from streets in next two years. Job opportunities should be created for such peoples. To snub a begging should be in manifesto of all political parties. The traffic police should not allow them to sit/stand near traffic signals.

Radhika Mahajan

NGOs must come together

Begging is generally seen near railway station, bus stand, government offices, traffic lights, peripheral towns, religious places across the city. To stop this menace, the civil administration should take a strict action in case of organised or forced begging. Skill development institutions, where they should be taught skill enhancement or development techniques so they can stand on their feet and be aware about employment opportunities available under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MNREGA) scheme, should be established, which would benefit them and fulfill the labour needs of the administration. The civil administration can also protect their basic physiological needs such as food, shelter and clothing which will prevent them. NGO’s should come together and work on rehabilitation of such people by providing them some means of work and enlighten their children about right to education up to Class X. Social organisations should also teach them about family planning guidelines. Police should be made the rescue teams at district levels to identify the organised gangs of beggars which exploit the innocents and force them to beg for money, the members of which should be penalised and sent to jail according to existing laws and children are sent to rehabilitation and training centres.

Ankur Gupta

They shun food, demand cash

I have witnessed a plethora of beggars around the city demanding only cash from the masses. If someone offers them food, they just deny it and ask for money. This make me amazed that how can a beggar deny the food. The beggars are scared of policemen only since they chide them. At times, if a common man refuses to give money to beggars they turn cold. This thing is not acceptable and administration should think about it. I would like to emphasise on the fact that people who are wealthy should not give any money to beggars. There are multiple ladies who beg at traffic lights with their children. These women can easily work as housemaids and labourers at factories because they are physically fit. But the truth is they do not want to work and keep begging for money.

Saahil Hans