Begging to differ

To help beggars, the authorities concerned must set up a shelter where they can spend their lives with honour

The other day I was standing at this dairy shop when I heard a measly voice asking for money. When I turned my head, I saw an adorable little kid with his slight hand stretched out, and emptiness in his eyes, asking in a rhythmic tone to lend him money. It seemed that the little boy had memorised his words well, a skill that could have been utilised to learn about colours, numbers, butterflies, fellow human beings and the world. Beggars are now part of our lives, from shops to traffic signals and hotels to shopping centres, we can find them everywhere. If we begin to think, our way of dealing with this deplorable issue could well prove to be part of the solution and actually change someone’s life.

The minute we see a beggar approaching us, our immediate reaction is “how do we get rid of him” — we either consider giving them some money or scowling at them, hoping they will go away. But many of them learn lessons from their ‘workplace’ experiences every day. Some critical thinking or a bit of insight can enable us to, in fact, help an individual relinquish a bad habit. If you look closely, you will notice that some of them are not even beggars; they sell toys, pieces of fabric, elastics and decoration items, while some of them offer to clean your car to earn some cash. It always seems a better option to buy what they are selling and thus preserve their self-esteem while encouraging them in the process, to not beg, but earn. Another category of beggars is the ones who look physically healthy, buoyant and have some professional appeal in their demeanor. Engaging them in a brief moral talk or suggesting to them to work in a car service station or a restaurant can sometimes bear fruit and change their lives forever.

Then, there are beggars who apparently seem unable to earn a living due to old age, physical weakness, or they’re handicapped. To help such a lot, the authorities concerned must set up a shelter where they can spend their lives with honour. The decision is in our hands; providing someone a temporary relief, or in ways that can have lasting, long-term effects.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2016.