Begging menace haunts visitors at Amritsar Heritage Street

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 5

The menace of begging has gripped the Heritage Street and Golden Temple complex. The residents claimed that the number of beggars increased after Covid-19 spread.

Wandering in the Heritage Street, these beggars give a tough time to devotees, walking their way to and fro the shrine. Though the state government and district administration insist on maintaining the social distancing, the beggars often put the visitors in an embarrassing situation by holding their arms and forcing them to give them money.

Davinder Singh, a resident of Rauke village in Moga District said, “I never give money to beggars as it encourages the menace, which is also an offence. But here a child started begging from me at Saragari parking and walked along me till the Jallianwala Bagh. Finally, I gave him Rs 10 to him to get rid of him. They are trained to emotionally blackmail the devotees and would not give up until they get money”. Children posing as salesmen force the visitors to buy pens, handkerchief and “keskis”.

Ironically, the Prevention of Begging Act is enforced in the city for the past many years, yet the police have not registered even a single case under the act. A majority of the beggars have reached from the other state.

“Earlier, beggars used to come from other states. But now, even the locals have started resorting to the practice. There is a need to comprehend what pushes them to start begging. The number of beggars has witnessed a rise in the past a few months,” said Ravi, a resident of Katra Ahluwalia.