Railway beggars rile travelers

Uncontrolled operation of groups of cadgers on train stations has irked regular passengers, families

KARACHI:

Passengers en route to another city through any mode of travel usually carry with them a limited stack of cash to spend on their upcoming itinerary however, for magnanimous travelers boarding trains from stations in the port city, the persistent nagging of untold beggars expends their travel budget way before they even begin their journeys.

Despite the railway authorities announcing occasional crackdowns against railway beggars, several groups of professional panhandlers have made the platforms of many railway stations including Karachi Cantt their home, causing ample distress to the passengers and their families, who are constantly nagged for money and are unable to travel in peace.

Razia, a passenger travelling with her four children to Lahore on the Tezgam train, shared her awkward experience with beggars at the station. “While we were waiting for the train at the Karachi Cantt station, a little girl in rugged clothes, started begging us for money. Soon after we helped her, another woman approached us for help. Then, when we boarded the train, two or three other beggars followed us to our cabin,” bemoaned Razia, who felt that the authorities prioritized maintaining the decorum of airports only.

Similarly, Asif, a passenger arriving at Karachi from Rawalpindi, narrated his encounter with beggars over the course of his journey. “Whenever the train stopped at a station, families of beggars used to jump on board and start shouting for help. Due to this, many passengers including me, were disturbed,” said Asif, who alleged that most beggars had some involvement in criminal activities and the railway administration must conduct a crackdown against them.

According to Qaiser Khan, an expert on transport, trains are a relatively cheap and safe mode of inter-city travel popular among the lower classes. “However, in recent times, the day-to-day activities of beggars across railway stations, have turned platforms and passenger trains into begging zones,” lamented Khan.

Read Authorities urged to act against beggars

Sharing her neglected side of the story, Annu, a female beggar at the Karachi Cantt station, revealed that she was forced into begging by her tribes elder, who took away whatever money she collected each day. “We pray for the safety of the travelers, so they help us a little in return. Daily begging generates at least Rs1000, which is presented to our group’s leader,” shared Annu.

Ahmed Raza Tayyab, a social leader, believes that economic hardship and unemployment have escalated the prevalence of begging. “People have considered begging an easy source of income without any hard work. Most of the people begging on the platforms of railway stations and in trains are professional beggars. There should be a crackdown against them and the government should give a financial package to solve the problems of low income people,” asserted Tayyab.

Speaking to the Express Tribune on the matter, Central Chairman of Railway Workers Union, Manzoor Razi said, “The railway administration is responsible for the presence of beggars on the platforms of railway stations and in trains and it is the job of the railway police to crack down against them. Since this problem disturbs the comfort of the passengers if this situation continues, they will soon look for alternative means of travel to avoid this inconvenience, which may affect the revenue of the railways.”

“Pakistan Railways is trying its best to provide comfortable travel to its passengers. The railway police keeps cracking down on beggars and cases are also registered against them. The crackdown against beggars will soon be intensified,” assured a spokesperson for Pakistan Railways.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2023.