How to deal with the beggars

Nick-H

---Beggar looks disdainfully at single AmorYn tablet and points out that they have six children as well.

---Various groups start to wonder why anti-depressant use has shot up among poor people.

And all because of a Google Ad

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Gaye

Yep Matty Gee, I think your comment just about sums it up.

In the end we all have to live with what's OK for us and our sense of right and wrong - follow your highest good and that will be the way to go...

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poipleshadow

I really don't think that giving money to beggars is a good thing to do, I'm living here in Goa at the moment and the number of people who beg on the streets is terrible, the worst thing is that you might see a group of children playing, but as soon as they see you they stop and put out their hand. What are we teaching them by giving money to them. The down side to all of this is that children get the idea that begging is better than going to school (as they can earn a nice amount everyday), but once they get past their cute stage, and grow into 17/18 year olds then its not so easy to beg, especially if you're male, it becomes threatening to the tourists, and they're stuck with no education and no hope for the future...

Well that's the way I see it... I volunteer for a charity here in India ( Children Walking Tall ), so I do my bit, I'm not a heartless person, I just think there are better ways to help....

With Thanks

Rob
www.ChildrenWalkingTall.Com

04274108

Hi. We just returned from our first trip. Generally, we would give money to anyone who has leprosy or is physically disabled. The reason is that the can never work. They cannot work in factories, in hotels, drive rickshaws, etc. These are people who will die on the streets. Even if they are under the control of the mob, maybe they can hide a few rupees to help themselves. As well, it was our observation that these people along with some elderly beggars, always ask for money from not only tourists but also locals.


Children - never money. If we had some, we'd give food. In Mumbai, we saw several women sitting on their butts making their kids run through 8 lanes of traffic to find tourists in taxis. Not a behaviour we rewarded with money or food.

Elderly - food if we had it. If the person was begging both tourists and locals, we'd give money.

Regarding food, if the person requests milk or juice or something and you decide to give, make sure that you open the package before giving it to them. One traveller bought a mother and child milk and he later saw her trying to sell it to another shopkeeper.

poipleshadow

Quite a good response.. Just one thing, are you aware that the mob (or whoever is responsible for making *some* people beg) deform people so that they are better beggars - eg cutting off hands, fingers, putting childrens faces into metal constraints to alter their features... If you give to people with disabilities are you encouraging this? Just a question for you to think of, nothing more.... it's so especially when you're faced with these unfortunate people in the streets.

Not the best thing to write at Christmas... Ahh Well - Happy New Year

Rob
www.ChildrenWalkingTall.com

04274108

Hi Rob. Yes, I have read in several guide books that the mob does deliberately disfigure people. In fact, I came across several people that had very neat cuts across their hands and their feet. Am I encouraging mob participation in begging? Maybe. However, I continued to give to these people for two reasons.

First, as I mentioned earlier, these people will never work anywhere else because of their disabilities. Whether or not the mob continues to disfigure people is out of their and our hands. These people need help now. Even if they are working for the mob, maybe they can squirrel away a few rupees for themselves above what they have to turn over.

Second, maybe they aren't under mob control. If this is the case, then any donation is theirs to do as they please.

You are right. It is a very sad Christmas topic. India really makes you think about being grateful for what you have rather than complaining about what you don't have.

sadhuji

wonderfully put. i really love ur observation.

himadventures

Well...all are right and correct !

But let's not be the judges...should give when ever possible.
it does not matter we use our minds or heart to analyse who is justified or not. But we should definately give..in shape of food ,cloths and in last money !

04274108

I completely disagree. There are specific instances where I reserve the absolute right to judge. Any person who makes their 4 year old child run across 8 lanes of partially moving traffic specifically to search for a tourist to beg from is not going to get anything from me. If getting money from tourists is so important to the mother, then let her risk her life rather than her child's.

In no way will I reward this type of selfish behaviour.

himadventures

You have a point !
Perhaps I meant to say in some other dimension.
But you said...right !

jwblack

I find the reactions of many of your members a little strange . Having been in the situation where beggars can be harrasing , I feel that our reactions should be tempered with some sympathy . In another place or time the positions might well be reversed . So the question would then be " how do you deal with potential givers ? ." I have heard it said that it is more blessed to give than to receive . Also that charity builds up brownie points for some future existence . I have not been in India for many years and I would have hoped that by this time begging would be much less common , but it seems this is not so .Lastly begging is part of the India that everyone finds fascinating , so we must accept it . Best of luck to all . Blackeye

freenote

To give or not to give,Thats the question It has to be personel choice.My criteria are,if somebody is obviosly in distress ,disabled etc.give with your heart,small children no.If my spare change adds up to 13 irs i give to the first begger i see(i don't like the number) If you dont want to give ,just ignore,in my expereance they get the message .

seventies'hippy

In all the years I've been in India I don't think that I've ever been "Mobbed" by beggers, I've been approached many times by individuals & mothers with kids, but mobbed no.
You seem to have made up your mind before you've even arrived in India that you're not going to give anything to anyone, thats very hard, sometimes you do come across the needy, they don't all work for gangmasters etc, & they aren't all capable of working especially some of the very old people & crippled people.
Children are a different matter, It's a game with them, lighten up, have a laugh with them to, say hello, It's surprising how friendly they can be especially for a few cheap sweets or a balloon,,,,,,
The only definite people who I wouldn't give to is someone who spots me across a crowded street and dodgies traffic & all that that entails just to get across & hold a hand in front of me,,,,,,,,,,,,

Heres an insight:
There were times many many moons ago, when for my love of India I've been forced to sit on the pavements around connaught place with other indian 'down & outs' hoping that someone would come along the line, (and these people that did were more often indian than the westerners who pretend not to look or completely ignore) with a handfull of one rupee notes or paisa or whatever to share out. Poverty is very much a part of India in all it's various forms, please don't ignore it all of the time,,,,,,,

Enjoy your trip,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

nomadelmundo

... Keep On Swimming ... Keep On Swimming

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Sharonov

I wish it were easy to pick out the "deserving poor" (as Alfred P. Doolittle refers to them) from those that have decided that begging should be their profession. After awhile we only gave to the disabled and very old people, since giving anyone anything is what brings the hordes who drive you nuts and won't leave you alone.
Once I left my hotel in Varanasi with three pieces of leftover toast from breakfast and a roll from the previous night's dinner, with intention to feed some of the cute goats that are all over the ghats. Of course, the minute I walked out the beggar kids came. This time on impulse I offered each a piece of the toast, thinking of course that they'd disdain it and say, "rupee, rupee." But no, they were thrilled with it, which made me feel terrible and wish that I had bought food more often instead of saying "Nahin" or "Jao". The very same day, just to drive the point home, I was walking along with a banana I had just bought for my lunch. A child pointed to it and I gave it to him. Soon I had four or five boys wanting a banana. I bought 6 of them for 10 rupees and they were very happy.