BEGGARS: A VALUABLE HUMAN RESOURCE OF THE SOCIETY

 

                                                                        Credit -Pixabay

Recently, my eyes caught a very encouraging news and in this blog, I have tried to share my views on this extremely relevant topic. 'Government of Odisha' has recognised beggars as valuable human resource of the society. The government of Odisha has taken a step to create an environment in which beggars will get equal opportunities, protection of their rights and full participation in society. The SSEPD Department, Government of Odisha, has brought in a new umbrella scheme “SAHAYA” for protection, care and rehabilitation of beggars. It is not only a great step taken but worth emulating too. This mission once implemented will fulfill manifold objectives. 

 

When I researched further, I read that steps taken regarding rehabilitation and vocational training of beggars by Bihar government are equally significant. It is just that we do not know much about these schemes. Bihar government is running scheme named Mukhyamantri Bhikshavriti Nivaran Yojana. Rajasthan government is also making exemplary efforts in this direction to improve their lives. The aim of all these initiatives is to identify the beggars and to form a strategy for their rehabilitation.

 

The problem of beggary is not new and it has existed since time immemorial as a traditional profession. Personally, it is heartbreaking to see this economical divide between rich, poor and very-very poor. There are children on roads asking for money when they should be studying. How can the future youth of the country be begging?  Is it not a taboo for the country’s sustainable development? It is high time when Government of India should look towards their future by creating an environment of equal opportunities. In fact, abolition of begging from society is the need of hour. And not just Odisha or few other states should be taking these major steps for their upliftment but every state should take it on priority. 

 

BEGGING CREATES NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE WORLD

 

Beggary has turned into one of the major social problems in almost all the big cities in the world.  The act of begging is not ‘mala in se’ meaning ‘wrong by itself’. Beggars have existed in human society since before the dawn of recorded history. Street begging has happened in most societies around the world, though its prevalence and exact form vary.

 

The studies reveal that begging is very dangerous for world community. The beggars do not work and depends on other to fulfill their needs in life. They give birth and push their kids to do the same. Different studies tell that beggars have good pattern of food and some beggars have constructed good houses as well.  Some have even purchased land for their families and have good bank balance. While some are very poor and do not not sufficient money for their basic needs fulfillment. The review on beggary concludes that beggary became an occupation, which was the outcome of poverty in the world.

 

BEGGING: A SOCIAL EVIL

 

Beggary is considered as a social evil engendering public health, decency and law and order issues in India. Twenty states and two union territories have declared beggary a crime. Often, beggars encroach upon public places, create annoyance for the area and pose several issues for the society 

 

Beggary and Vagrancy scheme was first launched by the State government at Raja bazar in Kolkata on the basis of the model prepared by the Government of India in 1966.

 

In October, 2016, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at Centre held a consultation on a new model bill for destitute people which has been referred to state governments to adopt on a voluntary basis, with or without changes. The model bill 2016 aims to set up a rehabilitative framework for homeless people, people found begging and destitute people with disabilities. However, the bill short of taking a progressive and humane approach towards begging and needs to be reframed after an informed debate. As such, the central government has no Act on begging. The states are empowered to do so on their own.

 

As per the Government of India, there are 3.7 lakh beggars in the country. Of these, around 25 per cent are Muslims. Among the Northeastern states, Assam tops the chart with 22,116 beggars while Mizoram ranks lowest with 53 beggars. According to the latest report, most beggars are in West Bengal topping the chart with 81,224 beggars, followed by Uttar Pradesh (65,835), Andhra Pradesh (30,218), Bihar (29,723). Madhya Pradesh (28,695) and Rajasthan (25,853) are at number five and six in the list.

 

Study says that in the States, among male beggars, 57 per cent are professional, 18 per cent physically disabled or infirm, 17 per cent beg due to other causes and the rest 8 per cent take up begging due to unemployment. This trend is similar in case of female beggars also.

 

REASONS & TYPES OF BEGGARS

 

The reasons behind beggary are numbered. But, some of them can be recognised for sure as misfortunes, loosing of mental equilibrium, congenital paralysis, blindness, emotional shock, desi ability and helplessness, non-availability of livelihood and no support from children, extreme poverty and so on.

 

In general beggars can be categorized into eight groups: (1) Juvenile beggars (2) Physically and mentally handicapped (3) Diseased (4) Religious mendicants (5) Able bodied (6) Aged and infirm (7) Casual beggars (8) Professional hereditary beggars: This type of beggary is prevalent amongst the members of certain caste or tribal groups who lead a nomadic way of existence and earn their livelihood by entertaining people through singing, dancing or performing acrobatic feats.

 

 

BEGGING AND STREET CHILDREN

Child begging has sometimes been presented as a survival strategy, since children engaged in begging come from impoverished families who do not have an alternative income generating activity. Many studies have established a connection between begging and street children. Child beggars can be seen in every city and town in India. There are nearly 3000,000 child beggars in India, although some organizations claim them to be one million. Every year 44,000 children fall into the clutches of the gangs. The conditions in which child beggars work are certainly hazardous as per the ILO definition. Beggary should be eradicated by nipping it in its bud. People involved in running these denigrating profession should be put in bar. A comprehensive understanding is needed to eradicate the problem from its roots. India needs some concrete steps to end this social problem forever.

 

 

COMMENDABLE DESCISION OF COURT

 

After a long fight led by Harsh Mander and argued by Colin Gonsalves in 2017, Delhi High Court had decriminalized the act of beggar. “People beg on streets not because they wish to but because they are left with no other option,” the court had observed before adding, “The State simply cannot fail to do its duty to provide a decent life to its citizens and add insult to injury by arresting, detaining and …imprisoning persons who beg in search of essentials for bare survival.”

 

It is clear that the essential things needed for survival are available for many. They are unable to get  jobs to earn their bread and butter. They do not even have a place to sleep. This helplessness forces many to take up begging. As such, beggary is primarily an outcome of abject poverty and is not a choice in most cases. Because of this, most of the parents and relatives or acquaintances of the children push them into begging. Various survey’s conducted earlier are the proof of this.

 

There is urgent need to solve the problem of child beggars effectively. For this, child beggars should be covered under various child labour schemes of the Ministry of Labour. Recent survey conducted by the Rajasthan government has confirmed that good number of beggars have expressed their willingness to study, acquire skill training and work in hotels or construction sites, suiting their needs.

 

Awareness and information is needed among parents/guardians so that they can support their children, overcome their problems and keep a close eye on them. They should be alert to the risk of children facing bullying and other violence outside the home. On the contrary, they should be supported by the family members/relatives for their betterment. They should be encouraged for going to schools and in the playground. The child as well as their parents should compulsorily be given counselling related to mental health services which affirms the inferiority complex in both.

 

Education plays a major role which can create a way to free people from the grip of poverty and create a protective shield which is essential for a bright future of the country. Educational success not only increases the economic condition of the individual but also develops their country at large.

 

Support groups should come to the fore in helping parents to overcome social taboos. In addition, existing platforms such as Aanganwadi Centres, Self Help Group and Bharat Nirman Volunteers (BNVs) should be oriented on these issues to play a good role in providing information to the parents of the children and the society at large. In this way, they can successfully save the children from the ill-effects of social intolerance, stigma, discrimination and violence. They can also help in providing financial assistance to the parents of beggars including leprosy affected persons.

 

The role of bureaucrat-turned-activist Harsh Mander and activist lawyer Colin Gonsalves was commendable. They made history by fighting the legal battle for abolishing the beggary tradition from the society and putting pressure on the government to bring them to justice. If the government of Odisha succeeds to convert their scheme/idea into a reality, it will be an inspiration for other states.For now, all states must follow suite in improving the condition of beggars. In order to effectively solve the problems of child begging, it is very important for all the officials of the state government to have a sense of coordination and cooperation with each other.

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