Professional beggars posing as flood victims to receive aid

Panhandlers pocketing cash grants and hoarding food supplies to sell in the markets

LAHORE:

Either tired by the sheer number of people joining their profession in the city or just trying to jump on the opportunity to exploit a dire situation, Lahore’s professional panhandlers are on the move to flood hit areas of South Punjab.

In the past few weeks, Lahore’s beggars, who could be found in every nook and cranny of the city, have slowly been migrating to areas devastated by the flood to pose as victims entitled to relief and rehabilitation - much to the dismay of social welfare organisations. Asadullah, who has been involved in the relief activities in flood devastated South Punjab, said that the professional beggars have built up their own tent settlements near flood hit areas to fit in with the actual victims.

“They just mix with the crowd when any NGO or philanthropist comes bearing relief goods. Recently, in Taunsa, after we had distributed food supplies and cash to several people we came to know that they were neither local nor affected by the flood,” informed a disappointed Asadullah. It is not just Taunsa, tent settlements of professional alms seekers have popped up in Rajanpur and Layyah as well. Muhammad Shoaib, volunteer of a renowned welfare organisation, concurring with Asadullah, informed that an extremely delicate situation was being exploited.

“As soon as a vehicle carrying rations arrives, those posing as victims will surround it and carry away the supplies themselves.” Now welfare organisations have started forming committees along with local people to verify if someone is a real flood victim or not, the volunteer informed. “However, still some manage to fool the verification process by claiming they have lost their identification cards and other documentation.”

When asked as to what the professional panhandlers had to gain by sabotaging the relief efforts, Shoaib was of the view that the alms seekers wanted to hoard stuff and then sell it off later. A tent-settler in Lahore, whose family has gone to South Punjab, confirmed Shoaib’s views, while talking to The Express Tribune under the condition of anonymity. “Many families from our tent settlement have gone to the flood hit areas to collect relief materials and money. Their plan is to bring the rations and other supplies to Lahore and sell them.” Regional Police Officer (RPO) DG Khan, Muhammad Saleem, when asked about panhandlers posing as victims and their plans to sell relief items, said that they had been receiving a growing number of complaints regarding the issue.

“People from far away are coming here and pretending to be local just to get their hands on supplies and the cash assistance being provided.” However, these incidents are more common in the flood hit areas where NGOs and philanthropists are providing the relief, as per Saleem. The RPO informed that wherever there was a government camp providing relief, there were minimal complaints of panhandlers defrauding as neighbourhood level committees were formed for verification and a record was being maintained to keep track of who is getting what.

“Those bringing relief goods from other cities should contact the local administration and distribute the goods with their support to avoid any professional beggars from taking advantage,” Saleem suggested while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2022.