Beggars are choosers

The old saying goes “beggars are not choosers”. But in today’s reality the opposite is true. In every traffic red light stop in the cities of India, I notice often strategic begging. Experiences of the beggars over the years have equipped them with the expertise of systematic targeting of potential donors. In the few seconds of the red light to give way to the green one, the beggars have to reach out to the right people. Initially they may be running towards every person on the road. Cars, bike riders, auto rickshaw travelers, bus passengers, cyclists and lastly to the pedestrians in this massive list of road travelers.

The well experienced beggars first target cars. Even among the cars they choose the expensive and new ones. In that foreigners and ladies are the prime targets. They pester the foreigners continuously. Out of concern some may throw dollars and few hundred rupee notes. This especially happens when the foreign tourists are on their way to airport to catch the flight back home. The remaining currencies and coins of India after hectic touring is less use for them. To offload it they throw to the beggars. Now the foreign tourists get adequate orientation about Indian system before putting their foot on the Indian soil for the first time. Lonely Planet and other travel guides advise them not to succumb to beggar’s pressure. Often the Chinese proverb “Teach them how to catch fish than gifting a fish” makes most of the tourists cold towards the beggars. Despite all the instructions and practical experiences some tourists are generous to donate to the beggars.

The second category in the potential target list of Indian beggars are women in the expensive cars. Generally women are considered to be soft hearted and donors. The beggars are aware of this psychological aspect not through any research but everyday experiences on the streets. Once they see women in the expensive cars they flock towards them. Almost all the expensive cars don’t let the windows down. This makes extremely difficult for the beggars to put their plea. Despite this technical disability for them to reach out to the potential donors some beggars have their way by pleading continuously. They keep knocking on the windows, pleading with folded hands, communicate symbolically, crying etc. Moved by the human misery some women travelers pull out few coins from their wallets to donate.

Most of the donors throw coins. They follow the famous proverb “even if you want to dump it in the river measure it before”. Few coins by many will make the beggars rich by the day end. But due to the massive decline in the number of donors the beggars find it less beneficial profession. Now they don’t accept less than two rupee coin. By mistake someone gives a coin less than two rupee the beggars throw it back to the donor with outrageous anger on the face. Often there are heated arguments between the travelers inside the car about the nuisance of the beggars. One, for supporting the poor people and the other against any encouragement to poverty. This battle of argument never ends. Most of the times due to beggars good friends and family members strain their relations.

I was travelling with a high and mighty man in a car in south Delhi. At a traffic light cross a beggar approached the rich man in the front seat. He abused him and signaled not to come again. Without losing hope he approached the next seat where I was sitting. I lowered the window and gave him ten rupees. The beggar’s face lighted up million mega watts and heart poured blessings on me. Nearly fifty people in other vehicles watched this scene. It was embarrassing for the rich friend of mine. After the green light the vehicle moved and he gave me a non stop lecture about the bad consequences of begging. Intellectually I agreed with him and practically differed. I told him that those beggars are not from Tatas or Birlas or Ambanis families with millions. They come to the streets for food and essentials to lead everyday life. Till we ensure the basics for every India it is the responsibility of the better off citizens to help them. Surely my logic infuriated him. I did not bother.

Although begging is not desirable there is no alternative for the beggars. The common statement is “work hard to earn your bread not come streets for begging”. A 45 year old beggar answered. I tried for a decent employment after my B.A. No use despite registering in the employment office. My family deserted me and forced me into begging.

Nobody chooses begging. Every beggar is forced into the dirty profession. The state, civil society and individuals should put adequate efforts to alleviate poverty and remove begging. It is not only a social evil but a misnomer for the globalization. Beggars are a big nuisance to the traffic and vehicles. They run across the busy roads and put the driving people into big risks. Sadly there are many children below ten years on the streets for begging and endangering the lives of road travelers. For human sake the begging on the busy roads should be eliminated at the earliest. After this first step any form of begging should be uprooted by providing adequate life essentials for the beggars. Poverty elimination cannot be an endless goal for the Indian nation.