Begging continues unabated in Ramazan

Despite philanthropic efforts to end hunger, beggars seen asking for money on the streets, markets

LAHORE:

During Ramazan, people increase their charity while rations are also being distributed among the poor and deserving segments of society.

However, many professional beggars are also active on the streets as well as markets as there is no systematic method of distributing charity and rations.

Reportedly, due to this lack of systematic distribution, certain beneficiaries resell their ration and claim more.

According to the experts, Pakistan is one of the few countries in the world where people donate more to charity, especially during the month of Ramazan. As soon as Ramazan begins, rations are being distributed among the poor and deserving people by philanthropists and institutions including NGOs.

Women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are often seen queuing for ration for hours. The situation where poor people have to wait in line for prolonged periods to obtain essentials also makes it difficult for them to maintain physical distanced and follow other coronavirus-related SOPs.

However, there are also many philanthropists and organisations who prepare ration bags and deliver them to the homes of needy families so that they do not have to go through immense difficulty to obtain the essential commodities.

Rana Ehsan Elahi, a local resident who distributes ration among the needy during Ramazan, said that this year, as in previous years, they had prepared ration bags for about 300 families which included flour, sugar, ghee, rice, pulses, tea leaves and drinks.

A bag contained goods worth about Rs4,000-5,000, stated Rana Mubashir Hassan, another local resident who prepares ration for charity. "We have delivered the goods ourselves to the homes of deserving families in our area and no one has to beg for the ration," he further said.

Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore Leader Ahmed Suleiman Baloch said that even before Ramazan, philanthropists were helping the citizens. “And even now, not only the deserving families have been given rations but also the needy widows have been given cash so that they can buy other things for their children.”

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Jamia Naeema Lahore Principal Dr Ragib Naeemi, commented, “Our faith guides us on where to spend our Zakat and Sadaqat. You can give Zakat and donations to the poor, orphans, widows, travelers, prisoners and debtors.”

We are only permitted to spend charity on these segments of society, especially during the blessed month of Ramazan. When we do this, the reward for helping others is increased 70 times, he further said.

Dr Naeemi added that unfortunately, many people also come to the field in this holy month and collect rations and help by giving their identity cards from place to place. “However, in many cases, it has been observed that these professionals collect excess rations and resell them. This act of theirs deprives the right of real needy people.”

Religious scholar Dr Tanveer Qasim said that we should give priority to our relatives first while giving charity. “After distributing among the relatives, the second people to distribute amongst are neighbours, then the people in your region, the welfare organisations and then the NGOs can be given the charities to distribute among other deserving people.”

He further said, “Our faith encourages the welfare of human beings. A regular system of helping the poor and needy through zakat and charity must be established. However, unfortunately due to lack of organised system in our country, many deserving families are deprived of aid even during this holy month.”

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2021.