| Hi every1!
It was indeed very sensitive of all you ppl who have shared their views on a topic like child beggars. I am from India and in the city of Bombay where I live, beggary is a full fledged occupation for many. The sight of pathetic looking beggars in the local railway trains here is very common, but I think that we Indians have seen so much of it that we are now losing our sensitive selves. I rarely see anybody even moved to by the miserable conditions of the beggars here. There is a deep sense of resentment among the service class here towards the beggars or those living in shanties(who're engaged in similar occupations) as they feel cheated each time they pay taxes. And as in most of the socities, in India too the class that always bears the brunt is the middle class or the service class. The rich have the power while the poor too are no less powerful now a days being the biggest votebanks for the politicians, the middle class has become too emotionally dead to respond sensitively to such beggars. As mentioned earlier about the fixed begging "spots" in LA, it is the same in Bombay. There are many beggars, whom I've been seeing for ages begging at the same old spots in the same way. Strangly you even have cabbies and auto rikshaw drivers narrating heart rending tales to make some quick( and easy?) money. As Carsten has mentioned, that one can view an irony while poor, destitute kids flock outside the posh car showrooms, it seemed really familiar to me. India and especially Bombay is the best example of a terrible imbalance and contrast in the Indian society economically. The city on one hand is rapidly developing in terms of Shopping Malls, Multiplexes, etc. but there are no effective policies on the rehab or care of destitute children. Unfortunately, very often there are cases when beggars run away from the beggar homes to resume begging as they prefer that to “working” for money. I would also like to share my personal experience with a little boy who was selling some picture books and alphabet books in the local train while I was commuting. It was sad to see that no one bought any of his books, but I was really moved to see the sight of that kid intently reading the alphabets from one of the books he had. I wondered at that moment that it would be so helpful for that boy if there were options for him to study like other children of his age and quit that work. So I feel rehab of such children is very essential as they should have a decent (if not "good") future after quitting their work, as it is said commonly-"give a man a fish and you help him for a day, teach him to fish and you help him for a lifetime..." I lived under the impression that Shanghai was far ahead of Bombay and much better than my city, but I really thank JS for taking up this issue and helping many others like me to actually know the reality that often gets overshadowed by the glitz and glamour of neon of big cities that claim to be the future global leaders. This was definitely an eye opener and it's high time that such core issues are addressed by the Govt. before thinking BIG! PR. |
No Baggars Premitted on Metro?