Constructive charity

LAHORE: This is with reference to your editorial “Organising kindness” (July13). It is true that donations and charity alleviate the burden of a comman man but we need to educate them and empower them and teach them and their children skills to earn money themselves. It is a common thing that as Ramazan approaches people start begging for money, food etc and this should be discouraged. The government, in my opinion, should immediately end all schemes like ‘sasti roti’ and the Benazir Income Support Programme for physically fit people. These schemes should be limited only to those who are physically and mentally challenged and aged people who cannot work. Young children should be admitted into schools instead of begging on the streets because several problems stem from this including drug addiction. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure quality education for the poor and if the government is busy in other activities then the youth of Pakistan can chalk out a policy and suggest it to the government. The time has come to stand on our own feet. The poor should not become dependent on charity.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2010.