Professional beggars irk residents

Call for comprehensive action against such elements, an awareness drive

RAWALPINDI:

A large number of women and children seeking charity, food, shelter or other items have descended on the commercial areas of Rawalpindi who frequently swamp visitors or traders.

A large number of professional beggars, who hail from remote and impoverished areas, frequently travel to the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to make some quick money.

These professional beggars can be seen roaming in groups at main traffic signals mainly on Murree Road (Benazir Bhutto Road), Committee Chowk, Mareer Chowk and Sixth Road Chowk thronging vehicles asking for alms.

The beggars use different techniques to gain the sympathy of the people into loosening a few notes from their purses.

Altaf, a resident, said, "Begging has become a profession in the twin cities, so one is not sure whether a beggar really needs help or not.”

He added that some beggars have become quite rich through begging and hence they prefer to continue with it. "I was sitting with a friend in a restaurant last night eating some chips when a middle-aged man walked up to us, banged his unfinished cigarette on the table, and then had the nerve to ask us for money. I was in too much of a shock to even answer him," he said.

Hasan, a shopkeeper said that he had been approached by a man the other day asking for some money to pay the bus fare to his village.

“His request seemed fairly genuine, so I gave him some money. But as he took it, I noticed he already had enough for a bus ticket in his outstretched hand,” said Hasan, adding that by that time it was too late and he had already handed over the money.

Tahir said that there are needy people in every society and helping them is a moral duty but professional beggary must be discouraged.

At busy commercial markets such as Raja Bazaar, Saddar Bazaar, Tench Bhatta and other main shopping centres of the city, some have complained about beggars turning nasty towards customers.

Asif, a student said that a comprehensive campaign needs to be launched by the city administration to eliminate this social menace.

A comprehensive awareness campaign should also be carried out on various media to educate the masses that professional beggars must be discouraged, he said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2020.