Healthy beggars should be forced to work for their livelihood
KARACHI: It is a matter of shame that even after many years of independence our roads and streets are filled with beggars. And there seems to be an influx of them during Ramazan. It is a great nuisance to have beggars around you at bus stops, railway stations, markets and religious places. Even when one tries to avoid them, it becomes impossible to do so.
Sometimes these beggars start hounding you and you have to give in to their demands by handing over a few coins or in rupees paper money if nothing else. If these beggars spot foreigners, they don’t leave them until they force them to give them alms. Hence, what impression of our country would these foreigners take back?
On the other hand, some of the beggars appear to be quite healthy and stout. It seems that they have found begging to be the most convenient method of earning. They probably believe begging an eternal source of wealth. The government should impose a ban on begging and the healthy beggars should be forced to work for their livelihood. If the practice of begging is not checked immediately, it will turn out to be a big social evil in times to come.
Sania Khursheed
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2018.
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