I was in a Sleeper class Train compartment, during my recent journey back home. Many of us are not unfamiliar with Beggars asking for money. I am at times chivalrous enough to pass on some bucks and parallely chary to chide them away depending on the situations.
I was all alone and idle in the train, I made my mind to list different ways in which money is being begged in Indian Railways -
1. Lady with a baby child, asking for money to feed the kid.
2. Mother with her daughter in wedding dress asking for money to resume the stopped marriage.
3. Small kids singing songs and asking money as a reward.
4. Old paled out men/women asking for money saying he/she is hungry.
5. Young boy asking money to support his Old grandfather who accompanies him with a walking stick.
6. People claiming they have diseases and need to get some expensive operations done.
7. Kids cleaning the floor and requesting for coins as a service charge.
8. Genderqueer/Eunuchs who demand money to halt them being vulgar.
9. Physically disabled people - cribbing god for their fate and requesting money for sustainability.
My school teacher always used to say - "Never give Beggars money - They should bend their backs and work to earn their bread".
I cant completely agree - A physically disabled person needs lot of support to start earning himself. A begging child can alone cant pay her tuition fee n go to school. How many Old Age Homes would take all 70+ and take care of them? Who would give a eunuch a job?
On the flip side, did the daughter's marriage really stop? Did the guy really have a heart problem? Does the women who begs for her child, really have one ?
Confusion when I give money - I make them more lethargic and lazy showing that Begging is infact a profession to earn money.
Confusion when I dont give money - Feel really guilty for not lending in a rupee and helping the needy.
Long Term Solution: ????
Thursday, June 12, 2008
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