STREET BEGGARS

            Begging is a social evil. The beggars are found everywhere in our country. You see them on the roads, at bus stops, at traffic signals, in the markets, near the masjid and at the railway stat ions.

            There are two kinds of beggars. Some of them are old and handicapped like blind or lame persons. They deserve our help. The other beggars are professional. They are quite healthy and if they wanted they cold do some work and earn their bread. However, they all prefer to get beg because it is an easier way of earning money. They play all kinds of tricks to get money from the people. Some may start crying with good wishes for your long life and success. Some of them carry a sick person on a trolley or bring along a couple of small children in order to win your sympathy. It is very difficult to find out which beggar is really a needy person. You may find a street beggar following you as you pass through a market and will not leave you until you have give him something. You may find a beggar at every bus stop or the road crossing. He or she is to be seen also near the gates of a masjid. They all desirous of getting money.

            The famous proverb that beggars cannot be choosers holds not ground now in the age of modern technology. Beggars are operating at selected places in their own way and style. Now, a new concept of begging has emerged, which is called cyber begging. Since begging has become an industry, modern techniques are being adopted for posh areas like Clifton and Defence in Karachi where the are using modern methods for coordination and conducting their operations which include drug trafficking, dacoit, kidnapping and all other social evils prevalent in society.

                        Revolutionary measures are needed to eliminate this menace through dedicated efforts and active participation of the people and NGOs. The following measures should be taken in order to overcome this problem: -

Genuine beggars should be given full support by the government. They may be kept in camps and provided with food, health care and shelter, it is the duty of the government to take care of all homeless and handicapped persons. Able-bodied beggars who do not have jobs should be given jobs. Some may be provided training as electricians, mechanics, telephone operators, nursing or in other fields so that they can find jobs ad lead a respectable life. Those who are able-dodied but use beggary as a profession should be punished severely in order to discourage the practice. Zakat money may be used for this purpose.