Shame of a nation

        Railway stations, bus stations and every busy junction are inhabited by beggars who survive on the charity of the passer-by. This is more in metros and cities. Sometimes the travelers are shocked by the mode of begging. Every one knows that charity is a virtue. Some believe that charity is good for one’s progress or earn some “punya”. Some are genuinely concerned by the fate of the beggars and drop a coin or too. But does doling out few coins into the outstretched palms of the beggars can change their fate.

        Near Paradise junction of Secunderabad I see families of beggars surviving by the side of the roads. Small children hang around on the divider of the road. One faulty step and they may get crushed under the wheels. Sometimes they hang on to the door of the vehicle scaring the drivers. Who are the parents who force their little kids as young as two and three years into profession of beggar? Day by day I see increase in the population of beggars.

       Sometimes children with deformities are made to sit by the side of the road begging. Once I saw a child begging in Majestic bus station of Bangalore whose bums were burnt. Our charity is causing misery to this small child. Kids are kidnapped and tortured to earn as beggars. We become emotional when we see small kids and old people begging. And this is the reason that they are pushed into this profession by greedy parents and relatives who want to live off on their earnings.

      At the traffic signals I observe the beggars begging. Not for a second the expression changes when the beggar gets a coin. He moves on automatically to next target. Our religious beliefs and soft heart makes us donate the money. But are we not responsible for breeding people who are lazy and look out for easy money. I remember as a child when I used to go to my aunt’s house in old city, a group of beggars would visit the shops holding an infant covered with blood. Sometimes women completely naked would go begging. Once my grand father gave away his shawl unable to witness the women naked. Next day the woman was in the same state begging in another area.

       Sometimes the beggars scorn and throw insults if a person does not give any money. They in fact demand money from people as if it is their birthright. Sometimes they will pester people who are in hurry and will not leave them until they achieve their purpose. There are different tactics the beggars adopt to beg. We fall into the trap and the profession of beggary thrives which is a shame for the nation’s progress.

          There is no need to donate to eunuchs who behave vulgarly and demand money. Definitely they can use their body for physical work rather than begging. Certainly there can be some jobs suitable to them. I heard in Mumbai, they are doing good job of collecting money from loan defaulters.

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