1. I Am A Beggar In The Morning, A
King At Night
By Shubhra Kukreti

2. Professional begging!
• In the movie Pushpak, unemployed Kamal Haasan comes
across a visibly poor and gladly flaunts the single penny he is
left with.
• The beggar in response to his gesture, takes out first the note
tucked in his pants, rolls his sleeves for another two notes, a
few more notes come out of his pocket.
• This scene bring about a very important question, why does
he beg then?
• Doesn’t every human being deserve to treat himself with
proper self-respect?
• This problem is to be analyzed with economic tools, along
with some sociological and psychological aspects.

3. Sentimental stunts
• All of us would agree that beggars are a big liability to a
nation.
• They do not contribute to the economy.
• One obvious reason behind this evil is illiteracy, poverty and
unemployment but at the same time the other major reason
is that begging has become quite a paying profession.
• Sadly in this business, there is more to what meets the eyes.
• It is linked to human trafficking.
• Young children are forced into this business.
• Often, the beggars are deliberately maimed by their gang
leaders so that they do not go unnoticed and garner more
sympathy.

4. What is happening?
• Now, the problem, especially in our country, is that the
religious texts preach that giving alms is a sure shot way to
heaven.
• But little do we realise that by dispensing alms as charity, we
do not help them.
• We may feel better after this moral service, but we are
actually weakening their inner fabric which constitutes their
dignity.
• At the same time, there are the ‘hale and hearty’ ones who on
seeing the trade of begging flourishing and beggars making
easy money, enter this lucrative trade.
• In fact, in June 2007, 320 beggars were arrested under the
Karnataka Beggary Prohibition Act, 1975, but their lawyers
came and got them freed!

5. Most paid job, is it?
• Begging is already an illegal act in India, yet it employs about
7.3 lakh men and women (and child labours) with revenue of
Rs 180 crore (as per 2001 census).
• Implementing laws is pointless if we do not realise that as the
privileged ones, our help should be directed towards making
them stand on their own feet rather than using them to clean
our conscience.
• The NGOs can come to the forefront and offer them means
to earn their livelihood in a respectful way.
• The handicapped people can always be employed in the
small scale cottage industries.
• If they are really incapable to feed themselves, then it clearly
becomes the responsibility of the state to provide them
social security.

6. • Read more on Youth Ki Awaaz at http://bit.ly/14sQx5D

7. • Read more on Youth Ki Awaaz at http://bit.ly/14sQx5D