KARACHI:
Begging was once a means for the poor to survive. Now it has become a lucrative business controlled by powerful mafias. At present, at least 25 million people are estimated to be begging in Pakistan. A vast majority of these are children kidnapped from rural areas and forced into begging rings. They are made unrecognisable to their families and in the worst cases, disabilities are inflicted upon them as a tactic to attract human sympathy.
Handlers deploy these kids into specific areas where they will be sure to make the most money i.e. at traffic signals, bazaars and most importantly, shrines. These handlers keep all the money that the children make. For most of these children, begging is hardly ever a choice. Over 73% of those interviewed by International Labor Organization (ILO) disclosed that they were not allowed to leave and were warned that they would face dire consequences if they tried. The (Punjab) Vagrancy Act has been in place since 1958 to restrict individuals from asking for money in any public place with or without exhibiting deformities. In spite of these laws, child labour and begging continues to persist due to a lack of enforcement.
It is the duty of police to strictly enforce these laws, yet they have consistently remained corrupt and immoral in their actions as it has often been reported that police officers take bribes from beggar handlers. Criminal networks and mafias tend to thrive under the government’s incompetence. In light of this, I would like to appeal to the higher authorities to take strict action towards this problem as soon as possible.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2022.
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