The Varanasi hospice scam ...?

ambermarie · Sep 28th, 2009, 12:42

I have just returned from India and spent a week in Varanasi - I completely fell in love with the place and didn't feel as though I had any of the bad experiences/major hassle I'd been warned about (or maybe I was just oblivious to it as I was so caught up in the general atmosphere?!).

But I do have one question ... every time we were near the burning ghat we'd be approached by at least three different men all eager to explain the burning process ("three hours for one body to burn"), and then demand money in order to buy wood for all the dying poverty-stricken people in the 'hospice' next door ... followed by gestures to a distinctly uninhabited-looking building.

Obviously, being approached by random men asking for donations for a hospice that may or may not exist does not inspire me to part with my money, at which point the friendly men would suddenly announce that I now had 'bad karma' for coming to look at the cremations for free (of course, it's perfectly fine for them and their friends to sit there all day smoking and texting as the funerals take place ... different rules etc.).

ANYWAY, I did see some tourists shelling out Rs 150 per kilo of wood to these men. Maybe I'm too cynical, but I am utterly convinced that this is a scam and that they were idiots. My question is, is there actually any hospice or is the whole thing made up? I'm sure that if one does exist any money given to these random men most definitely doesn't reach it, but have they actually gone to the lengths of inventing a hospice or are they just borrowing from something that is there and using it for their own benefit? Please enlighten me!

PS. Even if this isn't a scam I don't see why I should pay for someone else's funeral just because I happen to be in the area. Call me stingy ...

capt_mahajan · Sep 28th, 2009, 12:44

The chances are excellent that it is a scam.

I do know that the burning ghats, the firewood used and the entire business of dying is controlled by a few mafia like families in Varanasi.

Years ago, I told some of these folk to do unnatural things to themselves. I would do the same today if anybody came to me asking for money for any damn hospice.

Quote:

I don't see why I should pay for someone else's funeral just because I happen to be in the area

Neither do I, especially if I am being coerced.

zanzi · Oct 20th, 2009, 17:35

It's a scam, take it from a native

Brisso · Oct 21st, 2009, 05:47

Locals told me it was a scam. You may also be approached by guesthouse staff asking you to donate to a "childrens charity". Also bogus.

wilmaaa · Oct 28th, 2009, 00:53

I'm sure it's a scam and I fell right into it. I was so moved with everything that was happening around me (watching torsos going up in flames) before I knew it I was handing over cash, then I saw my boatman/guide getting slipped his cut of it...just how things work I suppose.

ambermarie · Oct 28th, 2009, 00:59

I'm curious as to whether there is actually a hospice in Varanasi (which obviously the money won't be going to) or if the entire thing has been fabricated?

Bad luck on being caught out!

machadinha · Oct 28th, 2009, 01:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by ambermarie

I'm curious as to whether there is actually a hospice in Varanasi

Yes, there are, a number of them. That your money would go to them by this method and like the others I'd consider highly unlikely though. (You could suss them out and donate directly of course.)

Maybe a good time to remind people of that other scam there btw, this wasn't going on yet when I visited in the early 1990's, and I don't know if it still is today, but it's been oft-reported in the decade or so after it:

You are not supposed to photograph or film the cremations, in any town. Perfectly understandable you'd think. (Any common decency apart btw, as far as I know there may be real concerns of you interfering with the person's soul duly being liberated from its body. As if you were "capturing" their souls, so to speak; remember some old superstitions against photography with many peoples across the world.)

Now in Varanasi it's been reported some characters may subtly or not-so subtly edge you on to do just that. Next thing you know a "priest" or somesuch will show up and kicking up a hell of a fuss (as in fact they rightfully should), threatening you with your life even, and the end result of course being you parting with a lot of money.

The moral of the story: While you are welcome as a spectator as long as you behave yourself, don't take pictures at the burning ghats, not even from a nearby distance. You wouldn't want people to walk in to do so at your own auntie's funeral anyway, would you.

1971o · Oct 28th, 2009, 05:29

You could ask to see your wood - you're paying for that - and be there with other people watching it burned down .. ..

machadinha · Oct 28th, 2009, 06:17

Well, apart from seeing it getting burned, the other common scam in touristy places anywhere in India I'd been thinking of is you being asked to buy a sack of rice, children's milk powder, and such. (So for instance wood and in this case, indeed.)

People have long figured out many foreigners aren't that prone to part with their money of course; but may be more willing to buy something material to help instead.

The usual deal will then be you buy the product at a (vastly) increased rate (hey, it's just a few dollars, right), then the product gets returned and both the seller and your spokesperson has gained.

I'm not saying don't provide anyone with anything btw; but when being asked for it in this way, that should be a clear sign. If I want to provide and with what little means I have I'll normally do it of my own accord, and so preferably unseen and unasked for, and with people I've struck more than a casual accord with.

There are currently estimated to be some 1,2 billion people in India, with some 45% estimated to be "extremely poor," and some 80% just "poor" by international standards, the difference being between getting by on US$ 1 or 2 per head a day btw (currently Rs. 47 to 94). (Not to mention in god knows how many "developing" nations around the world, and then the poor in the not-so developing world, so let's say where I live); harsh though I may find it, I sure ain't gonna save them all. Heck, in my own country, I probably figure into those statistics rather.

tdl2920 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:33

i just got back from a 3 week trip in india, which included 3 days in Varanasi. i'm a photographer and that was primary interest in visiting the country. i was approached on many occasions to "donate to the hospice so you can take some photographs" by the dalits who work there. once i was even ushered to the "owner" of the burning ghat who gave me a tour and permission to shoot. proving that nothing is really that sacred.

Sep 28th, 2009, 12:42	#1
ambermarie Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Jersey Posts: 33	The Varanasi hospice scam ...? I have just returned from India and spent a week in Varanasi - I completely fell in love with the place and didn't feel as though I had any of the bad experiences/major hassle I'd been warned about (or maybe I was just oblivious to it as I was so caught up in the general atmosphere?!). But I do have one question ... every time we were near the burning ghat we'd be approached by at least three different men all eager to explain the burning process ("three hours for one body to burn"), and then demand money in order to buy wood for all the dying poverty-stricken people in the 'hospice' next door ... followed by gestures to a distinctly uninhabited-looking building. Obviously, being approached by random men asking for donations for a hospice that may or may not exist does not inspire me to part with my money, at which point the friendly men would suddenly announce that I now had 'bad karma' for coming to look at the cremations for free (of course, it's perfectly fine for them and their friends to sit there all day smoking and texting as the funerals take place ... different rules etc.). ANYWAY, I did see some tourists shelling out Rs 150 per kilo of wood to these men. Maybe I'm too cynical, but I am utterly convinced that this is a scam and that they were idiots. My question is, is there actually any hospice or is the whole thing made up? I'm sure that if one does exist any money given to these random men most definitely doesn't reach it, but have they actually gone to the lengths of inventing a hospice or are they just borrowing from something that is there and using it for their own benefit? Please enlighten me! PS. Even if this isn't a scam I don't see why I should pay for someone else's funeral just because I happen to be in the area. Call me stingy ...

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Oct 20th, 2009, 17:35	#3
zanzi Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: chennai Posts: 74	It's a scam, take it from a native

Oct 21st, 2009, 05:47	#4
Brisso Specialist muddler Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 1,084	Locals told me it was a scam. You may also be approached by guesthouse staff asking you to donate to a "childrens charity". Also bogus.

Oct 28th, 2009, 00:53	#5
wilmaaa Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK Posts: 15	I'm sure it's a scam and I fell right into it. I was so moved with everything that was happening around me (watching torsos going up in flames) before I knew it I was handing over cash, then I saw my boatman/guide getting slipped his cut of it...just how things work I suppose.

Oct 28th, 2009, 00:59	#6
ambermarie Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Jersey Posts: 33	I'm curious as to whether there is actually a hospice in Varanasi (which obviously the money won't be going to) or if the entire thing has been fabricated? Bad luck on being caught out!

Oct 28th, 2009, 05:29	#8
1971o Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 28	You could ask to see your wood - you're paying for that - and be there with other people watching it burned down .. ..

Oct 28th, 2009, 06:17	#9
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,396	Well, apart from seeing it getting burned, the other common scam in touristy places anywhere in India I'd been thinking of is you being asked to buy a sack of rice, children's milk powder, and such. (So for instance wood and in this case, indeed.) People have long figured out many foreigners aren't that prone to part with their money of course; but may be more willing to buy something material to help instead. The usual deal will then be you buy the product at a (vastly) increased rate (hey, it's just a few dollars, right), then the product gets returned and both the seller and your spokesperson has gained. I'm not saying don't provide anyone with anything btw; but when being asked for it in this way, that should be a clear sign. If I want to provide and with what little means I have I'll normally do it of my own accord, and so preferably unseen and unasked for, and with people I've struck more than a casual accord with. There are currently estimated to be some 1,2 billion people in India, with some 45% estimated to be "extremely poor," and some 80% just "poor" by international standards, the difference being between getting by on US$ 1 or 2 per head a day btw (currently Rs. 47 to 94). (Not to mention in god knows how many "developing" nations around the world, and then the poor in the not-so developing world, so let's say where I live); harsh though I may find it, I sure ain't gonna save them all. Heck, in my own country, I probably figure into those statistics rather.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:33	#10
tdl2920 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 15	i just got back from a 3 week trip in india, which included 3 days in Varanasi. i'm a photographer and that was primary interest in visiting the country. i was approached on many occasions to "donate to the hospice so you can take some photographs" by the dalits who work there. once i was even ushered to the "owner" of the burning ghat who gave me a tour and permission to shoot. proving that nothing is really that sacred.