Malu Kerni
The very first scene you see when you step out of your homes is children below the age of 14 seeking alms at traffic signals. They very well know how to play with people’s emotions and make money. One can easily find children begging at traffic signals, near temples, main Chowks of the city and other tourist’s places. The number of beggars is increasing in the city. Children, women, aged persons can be seen at every traffic signal seeking alms. These child beggars mostly use novel techniques to attract people as their sole purpose is to get money from them and they very well know how to play with emotions of people. One of the main reasons behind this increasing trend of beggary at traffic signals is lack of attention on the part of the authorities concerned.
There is nothing wrong in saying that at almost every traffic signal you will find 4-5 child beggars seeking alms. Traffic signals have become new favourite address of these child beggars. One will find children below the age of 14 seeking alms, asking for food and sometimes they even ask you for chocolates or toffees.
Shalini vaid, a working woman said, “A very common sight when we step out of our homes is beggars. At almost every red light in the city and in outskirts there is an entire family begging for alms. Children in rags, asking for money bothers you at such points. While this has become a common sight, I do not know how many people stop and wonder about those kids who are begging. I am sure these kids are visible on the roads to the high profile government officials, social workers and NGOs too. Why are the government agencies and NGOs blind to this?”
Meanwhile, STATE TIMES interacted with Akbar, a 12 years old beggar, who is begging to earn for his family and can be seen at Bhatindi traffic signal. “I have never been to school. The only regret is I never get a chance to play like other children because I have to be here from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM. We are poor, so I have to earn for my family and this is the only reason I am doing this,” says this innocent boy. When asked do you want to go to school; he replied, “What should I do in school, I am happy here.” Now what should we say to such approach. Is this ignorance or actually they are comfortable in this life style and do not need a change. These child beggars have no dreams of future nor do they want to go to school and do something in life. It is sad that children are begging to earn for their family and their childhood gets ruined but the most worse part is that these children are happy and do not want to learn anything. The only thing they are concerned is making money. All this is happening right in front of us and no one actually is bothered about this.
On one hand, we say children are the future of a nation. Is this our future??
The question here arises who is responsible for all this. Do we need to blame government and concerned authorities for this or parents are to be blamed for escalating such thoughts in children. Whosoever is to blamed the only concern is to make such children aware and make they learn the real lessons of life if we really believe that children are the future of nation.
