Tricity fails to remove begging stain

Charu Chhibber

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 15

As the signal turns red and you halt your vehicle at any busy traffic light point, you are likely to be greeted by at least one of these — a shabbily dressed woman with a child in her arms, blackmailing you into loosening your purse strings by invoking the Almighty, a little child with a runny nose banging your car window, asking you for food money, or a differently abled old person asking for alms. 

This is a common sight in the tricity. Many of these people can been found at or outside the railway stations, tourist spots, around religious places and many public areas where there is a regular crowd. Many of these even pretend to be physically or mentally challenged. 

If none of these, then a teeny-weeny balloon or pen seller will approach you to buy her/ his wares for as low as Rs 10, which, they will claim, will pay for tonight’s meal for her/him.

Many a time, out of pity, fear of being cursed by God or out of irritation, we tend to give them some coins or money and shoo them away – in the process, promoting the menace of begging, without even realising the same.

A large number of these beggars are children whose parents are also beggars and force them into begging instead of sending them to school, says Prof Devi Sirohi, chairperson, Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights, adding that many of these have migrated to the tricity from other parts of the country such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal. She, however, quoting a survey done last year by the CCPC, said there were no gangs operational in the tricity, forcing people into begging.

Chandigarh

More than a year after the Chandigarh Administration announced that by October 2, 2015, the city would be made free of child begging, countless children can still be seen at markets and traffic light points across the city, sometimes even coming to the middle of the road, seeking alms. Several women, elderly and the crippled can also be seen around the Tribune Chowk and Hallo Majra light points, marketplaces of Sectors 17, 22, 34, 35, 44 and 45, places of religious importance and around slum areas. Besides, countless young children and women can also be seen selling petty items such as pens and balloons across the city, especially at traffic light points. They often seek money and eatables from drivers and passersby, citing reasons such as illness, disability and homelessness.

Mohali

While there are not many beggars in Mohali, several parts of the district, especially Zirakpur and Dera Bassi, are wrought with beggars of all age groups from children as young as two-year old to adults as old as 90-year old. They frequent the busy intersections and traffic light points in the twin cities to seek alms. Numerous young children and women can also be seen selling petty items such as pens and balloons across the city, especially at traffic light points.

Panchkula

Sectors 8, 9 and 10, Mansa Devi Temple, Mansa Devi Complex and Nau Gajja Peer Mazaar are the main areas where beggars, including a large number of women, children and the elderly, can be seen throughout the day. Most of them also sleep in corridors or on pavements in these areas at night. There are also several small slum developments on the rear side of the marketplaces in Sector 8, 9 and 10.

Officialspeak

“This comes under the Social Welfare Department and the police. I won’t be able to comment on the issue.” — Rajeev Gupta, Addl DC, Chandigarh

“We take action whenever we get a complaint. In case of children being forced by parents to beg, we can’t do anything. But if adults are found begging, we remove them. Our role comes in whenever there is information about any gang operating which is forcing children to beg on the streets. Last year, we conducted Operation Muskan to trace missing children, under which we identified all children found begging on city roads. This is an annual feature and we will conduct it again.” — Navdeep Singh Brar, SP (City)

What P’kula DC says

“We have rehabilitation schemes for those involved in begging, including bridge schools and an old-age home. Children found begging on roads can come or be brought to these schools, where proper care is taken to provide them with education till they reach age-appropriate levels to go to a regular school. Another old-age home is being constructed, which will take care of the rehabilitation of the homeless and the abandoned elderly who are forced to resort to begging. Besides, we are also working in coordination with many NGOs towards curbing the menace of begging.”  — Garima Mittal, DC, Panchkula 

What Mohali DC says

“There are hardly any beggars in Mohali and Kharar. And to curb the menace in other areas of the district, we have rehabilitation schemes for children begging on roads. It is a long process which requires a lot of effort from all quarters and we are ensuring that all requisite measures are taken. The police are also doing their bit towards curbing the menace.” — DS Mangat, DC, Mohali

Admn’s tall claims

Last year, the Administration had decided that action would be taken against parents who send their children for begging. The legal provisions were being studied by the Administration following which parents would also be prosecuted for forcing a minor into begging. The then Chandigarh MC Commissioner, Bhawna Garg, was preparing a detailed action report on the issue. The report was to entail as to how to create awareness against child beggars, rehabilitate them and make them take up education and send them to schools. It was also announced that a drive to eradicate child beggars would be conducted jointly by the UT Social Welfare Department and the UT Police Department. The Administration had plans to pick up children from wherever they were found begging. Meanwhile, Director, Social Welfare, Nishu Singhal could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Begging a congnisable offence

}Begging is a cognisable offence. Last year, we had conducted a survey and found 1,200 beggars, including children, in the city. Many children were rescued and taken to Snehalaya. It is not a menace but an organised profession. The number of beggars has certainly gone down in the city but there are still many who are operating in the city but move towards Panchkula, Zirakpur and Mohali whenever the authorities swing into action to escape the law. The Chandigarh Administration has made efforts but still a lot needs to be done as this menace cannot end unless Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula initiate a collaborative drive.”  — Devi Sirohi, chairperson, chandigarh commission for protection of child rights

‘Circumstances forced us’

}My husband passed away this summer, leaving behind a four-month-old child for me to fend for. I’m an orphan. I do not know anybody in this city. I have no family, no home. I have managed to find a jhuggi for myself with great difficulty, which I share with an old widow in Dhakoli. With the child, who is now seven months old, where do I go find work for myself? What option do I have other than begging to survive?” — Radha (19), who begs in Zirakpur

My parents passed away when I was eight years old. Since then, my elder brother has been taking care of my younger sister and me. He works as a daily wager in a local factory. My sister, Chandni, and I sell balloons to earn some money so that we can help our brother.” — Mubarik (12), who sells balloons in Chandigarh

I do not beg. I simply sit here outside the mazaar, from morning to evening and eat whatever anyone has to offer. People sometimes even give me money. I have no vision in one eye and from the other, I can barely see. One of my legs has been amputated. I have no children to take care of and my wife died 10 years ago. What else can I do and where will I find a job?” — Mohammad Salim (88), outside nau gajja peer, Panchkula