Problem of Beggary in India

In India, the tradition of charity is as old as civilization itself. The true Indian culture calls upon every man or woman to part with some of his or her earnings to help the poor and needy.

              The problem of beggary should not, therefore, be seen in isolation as it has its root in the basic infrastructure of our society. Beggary is not new to India. It is an age old practice. Many a times in our history books we can read about some king or noble man who periodically distributed gifts amongst the poor. But today beggary has become a profession. One can find beggars at all busy crossings, at the railway stations or the bus stands, at busy corners, near temples and gurudwaras and at all other places where people are likely to visit. They give out pathetic cries and present pathetic looks. They have different ways of waxing the innocent people into parting with a coin or two, an article of dress or a part of their food. Many of these beggars are perfect hypocrite and swindlers. Even though they are hefty and sturdy, they are not prepared to earn their living by putting in honest labour.

                Many a times the government has taken steps to ban this evil practice. Legislations have been enacted. THE BOMBAY PREVENTION OF BEGGING ACT, 1960 was passed for the purpose of making better provision for the prevention of begging in the State of Bombay; for the detention, training and employment of beggars and their dependents in certain institutions; for the custody, trial and punishment of beggar offenders. But it has made no difference. No law can be effective unless it has a social support.

                According to a recent survey , 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.

According to United Nations estimates, about 40% of the population as around 150 million live under poverty line and forceable to do begging. As per the latest estimates of NFHS 2015-16, Goa has the lowest percentage of people living below the poverty line (5.09%) and Bihar has the highest percentage of people living below the poverty line (33.74%).

Beggary is a blot on the face of any society and thus it should be tackled and wiped out like any other contagious disease. It is only with the active co-operation of the people that the problem of beggary can be solved. It is true that poverty is one of the main causes of beggary. The Government should come out with rehabilation schemes for the beggars. Able bodied men and women should be encouraged to work . It is only possible if the rich decide not to help the poor in becoming beggars. The old and the infirm should be sent to state run charity houses. Religious institutions and social and charitable trusts should be set up for holy men or sanyasis.

                Lack of proper awareness is one of the causes that makes people accept this evil of begging without protest. Awarness can only come through education. Only if people are educated, thry will come forward and co-operate with the government in fighting out this evil. Laxity on the part of the authorities is also encouraging beggars. On account of vested intrests the government also heritates to burn its fingers by using force.