Problems With Charity: The Beggar

Think of the situation when a beggar approaches you; you give him a 100 rupees.  You feel satisfied that the guy, for a change, might live one happy day in his life, and you have caused this change. Have you really? Or have you convinced him that begging will be a better option for his daily bread?

You have infact, hurt the economy of the nation. Begging is popular because it is a good business venture for most of the jobless, moneyless alcoholics in your city, and that is because you are the guys who are funding one of the most despicable occupations in the world: Begging.

This might be an exaggeration for some (is it? I don’t think so!), but it is the reality. So, the next time when you give your favourite beggar his daily bread, think about the fact that you are in fact encouraging the advancement of the begging profession, and in turn hampering the social and economic condition of your country.

According to a recent survey by Delhi School of Social Work there has been a phenomenal increase in the numbers of beggars in India. In a decade since 1991 their number has gone up by a lakh.There are some 60,000 beggars in Delhi, over 3, 00,000 in Mumbai according to a 2004 Action Aid report; nearly 75000 in Kolkata says the Beggar Research Institute; 56000 in Bangalore according to police records. In Hyderabad one in every 354 people is engaged in begging according to Council of Human Welfare in 2005.



The following stats were reported by Mid-Day

10,000
Number of minor beggars across Mumbai

Rs 500
Earning of a beggar per day

10,000
Number of child beggars in Mumbai

3 lakh
Approximate number of beggars in city

Rs 180 cr
Annual turnover of the begging industry



Yeah, perhaps some NGOs are working to rescue these 10,000 minors from this Begging Industry, but nothing will change unless you change the mindset of these beggars and persuade them to take up a better occupation than begging. Maybe this is an opportunity for a social entrepreneur to make money and also make these able-bodied beggars work for their money. Maybe this is an idea. Perhaps it wont work. But someone must try, something must be done.
It might not be better for them(yeah, now they have to work for their money), but it definitely is better for the country.

We live in a bad time, the govt is rotten, there is total anarchy. The Sarkar will do nothing, coz they dont care. Perhaps we do. Or perhaps we must.
Begging is a social evil. Hell No! Its a crime!! Yeah, something must be done.