A lot has been written, decried & criticized about beggars and begging, movies have been made which exposed the high level hierarchy & the racket behind this dirty business. Yet it is one of the banes that India is trying hard to battle with little success. Why would it ever succeed if begging can provide them an income that is otherwise unthinkable?
Sarvatia, who boasts of two insurance policies with annual premiums for 36000, a sizable bank balance is a professional beggar. She boasts of a comfortable house and has a daughter who is married and well-settled. And there are many such successful professionals (sic) spawned thanks to this 180 crore industry
A beggar in Bangalore should be making more than a junior executive. Let me tell you how. Bangalore is well known for its heavy slow moving traffic and long traffic signals. Those traveling through Koramangla, Silk Board Junction, and Airport road will really know what I am talking about and these beggars lose no time to stalk the hapless souls stuck in their bikes and cars. And most of the times these beggars are successful in getting few coins simply by making the commuters feel guilty of leading a good hardworking life while they supposedly languish in the streets.
Now going by the rule of thumb and the clever planning of begging zones, they make close to Rs. 50 or more an hour and assuming they work 10 hours its Rs. 500 a day and by that calculation its 15,000 per month. Not a bad figure at all considering they don’t need to pay any taxes. And yes that’s more than what entry-level executives in many companies make.
With rehabilitation not working & lawmakers on their side are there any brilliant ideas on how to tackle this burgeoning problem?
[Image Courtesy: Hobotraveler.com]
Cross posted here
March 13, 2007 at 4:50 pm
In such cases it is not begging but “convincing janata to part with their money”. So these guys are pretty good at what they are doing and deserve what they earn.
March 13, 2007 at 4:59 pm
It is an embarrassment to see them in MG Road all the time, and many of these people are just rude if you don’t contribute them. There is a whole mafia behind this, they are so organized that I haven’t seen even the cops questioning them. Most of them are packed from north and are arrogant in behavior.
March 13, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Revathi,
I agree in most cases its not begging & more of convincing but am not sure if they ‘deserve’ this kind of ‘earnings’. I have seen commuters being harassed by these beggars to the point that they hit on the car windows when refused alms and dats not very nice way to ‘earn’ right?
March 13, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Its become a big problem in Mumbai too. Most of the beggars are from other states and a fair amount from Bangla Desh. They live on the roads, beg, force their kids to beg. In cities like Mumbai and Bangalore and Delhi they get their two meals a day by begging but in their home states they starve. Thats why they come here. Mostly of them are untrained, unskilled, uneducated. Completely unequipped to do anything except hard manual labour, which in many cases they are unwilling to do. There have been cases (Mumbai Police conducted a raid recently) where it was found that perfectly healthy able bodied parents lounged around and fathers were alcoholics but their kids were on the roads, begging. Kids are given more money than healthy adults so they are sent out. these kids have been rounded up in a drive but I am sure its temporary.
I would not call the beggars’ activity as salesmanship or persuation. Most people give out of pity.
Some beggars are genuine, and I try hard to spot them. The old for example and I spare some money for them. They don’t have to persuade me.
March 15, 2007 at 11:42 am
Anybody seen Traffic Signal. This movie more or less explains the whole nexus.
March 15, 2007 at 11:55 am
Yes Kapil, heard about Traffic Signal but yet to watch it.
March 15, 2007 at 9:10 pm
so if we dont give them, they will stop, wont they? Then they may all turn thieves. So what is the solution?
I remember that in the olden days without refridgerators, beggars came late night to collect left overs. They were dispersed all over the city. Nowadays, with the flat system and all doors locked in the evenings, they crowd traffic signals.
I think the plight of tourists from abroad is really horrible- I wonder why they still come. Personally, I would never go to a place where I would be accosted sans merci and touched all over over my body.
April 4, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Yes, I aggree with Revathi stament, becasue When the tourists from abroad , the beggers are going behind conditinusly and get some dolles,but they will feel uncomportable while this kind of trouble given by the beggers, so police has to see and give some ponishment.
Then only they will Not disthube others.
Mani