How to deal with the beggars

cig79

I have never been to India, but I been to Peru, and the beggars go out of control. What I did was something that my aunt did in Africa and I took it without tought. This was giving candy or crayons to children beggers. Since in Peru children are taken salves for begging reasons, I made sure the kids where happy and not whoever makes then beg. It was so nice to see the faces if all the kids enjoying their (otherwise never enjoyed) chocolates.

JayBee

We were in India for 6 weeks and made the resolution before we went that we would give no money out to beggars. We did give out food we weren't going to finish like bread and bananas.

Instead we promised to make a donation to a charity when we got back to ensure that the money went to good use rather than being stolen by gang masters. I haven't had much chance to check this one out yet but Virgin Atlantic support a charity called the Loomba Trust which works in education.

A friend of mine said dhe bought a beggar a jumper once but it was confiscated by the gang he worked for because he didn't look poor enough wearing it.

I did feel tempted, when approached on the bus by a chap dressed as Hanuman holding out a handful of change, to take one and say "oh thank you". Instead i ignored him and he started screeching at me like a monkey!

snowcrab

A kid wearing a Hanuman costume came into a hotel lobby while I was registering and asked me for change. I suggested that the hotel should give him a small gift for the service he was providing for them by entertaining their customers, and the guy at the desk reached into the change box and gave him a couple of rupees.Cool costume.

crajguru

While visiting a religious tourist spot (Sangam in Srirangapatna), we were already put off by the plastic litter around. Then a beggar woman asked us for money. My wife first blew a fuse and told her to go work and not beg. Then she had a brilliant "two birds in one stone" idea - she asked the woman to clean up some of the area around, for which she would pay her money. The woman did that (though she gave up in less than 10 min) and earned some money. My wife is hooked on this concept now, I believe.

Of course, that would not work in a mob situation (how this thread started); there we choose the "non-giver" route.

Sama

yes, but what did she do with the garbage after you left??

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cyberhippie

Ask them for money! That dazzles them for a few seconds, enough time to move on anyway

Nick-H

Gosh, you couple of cynics ...

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snowcrab

Not cynicism, reality. I have on occasion pointed out to a lady that she is wearing more gold jewelry than me. That distracts them too.

Nick-H

This one I don't like. (actually, maybe someone can explain it to me?)

A well-dressed family eg mum, dad, two kids, stop me (usually nearby a temple), and tell me that they are going from A to B (some sort of pilgrimage) and can I give them some money so that they can eat. The last time this happened I was in generous mood, and thought, Hmmm, 4 people, and gave Rs100. They complained that it was not enough. I replied that I was very well aware of the cost of food in this part of the world and stomped off.

Is it something to do with some sort of pilgrimage requiring the pilgrim to support themselves by begging? That's my guess. The guy probably has a Toyota 4x4 at home --- and I don't see why (from now on) I shoudl finance someone else's religion.

Sama

actually, a similar one is used here also, Nick.....

well-dressed person, stops you on the street, says he (or she) lost his/her wallet, can you give them some money for a bus ticket home to (fill in the blank).

in my more naive days, I fell for that once. Then I kept seeing the same guy again and again, same story, same bus, same city.... Once I said, hey, you're back here again? and you lost your wallet again? you gotta be more careful...

then he ran away.....

Nick-H

No, this is different: I've heard that one many, many times in London ---and once in Chennai. It is easy to tell the fakes, because the distance is walkable, or they want to go by taxi rather than bus! I was once asked for the train fare by a kid with a push-bike! It was for a couple of miles away. He hassled me so long, he could certainly have ridden there in that time.

I've also once in Chennai, been told this tale and asked for, literally, the bus fare (a few rupees) and gave it. The guy was very embarrased, very thankful and told me that none of his fellow Indians would have helped (Maybe he knew he wouldn't have .

This is something religious. It was people coming from a temple, and a second family also asked me. I declined, pointing out the first family and the fact that I had to eat that day.

freenote

Have had this happen to me as well, a couple of times ,thought maybe pilgrimage/ putting yourself in a position were you had to rely on someone else/ relying on the goodness of others /lowering yourself /
ps i think one was a brahmin

crvlvr

Here in the US, we have "homeless" standing on the busy street corners or highway ramps with signs that say, "will work for food", "hungry vietnam vet" and the honest ones, " need money for beer". Albeit, this is less intrusive than the Indian beggars, isn't it essentially begging?

Does any country out there not have beggars?

daresendez

Come on guys....don't walk around India like an asshole! The beggars know you have much more money than they do, you know you have much more money than they, so SPARINGLY dole out your alms and do so with the utmost sincerity (even if it is a scam), you will be suprised how your travels and outlook on India will change. What....no one here has read the Dhamapadda?

rachelinindia

I'm working for a child labour ngo in delhi and everyone says that the majority of children are trafficked from poor states in the east of india to beg and any money that are given goes straight to their gang masters. regarding food vs. money, yes food probably is a better idea but i've been in a car with an indian friend who gave a boy a banana and we were completely swamped by adult beggers who were stealing the food we had given to the kids. it was crazy. lastly giving money to beggers only encourages it - i know this sounds cruel and seeing tiny children in the middle of traffic junctions begging can break your heart but your money would be better of being donated to a reputable charity or ngo which helps street children and the homeless.