Street begging is a regular nuisance. It is a blot on the fair name of our country. Begging is an evil but in Pakistan it has become an organised profession. Almost at every step you are greeted by a beggar. They gather around you at business places, in trains, in the bazaars and near the places of worship. Our national prestige suffers a good deal when beggars greet foreigners at every turn of the road.
Unfortunately, in our country giving alms is believed a part of religion. The most painful thing is that most of these beggars are able bodied. They can do manual labour if they so desire. But they find it easier to live on other people’s hard earned money. This easy got money they spend on drinking and gambling. The tragedy is that these beggars encourage even their children to beg. Thus this so-called charity leads to so many vices.
The need of the hour is that this social evil must be put to an end. Healthy beggars should be made to work. The disabled, the crippled and the blind beggars, however, should be maintained at state expense. They should be kept in some suitable houses where they should be fed and taken care of. Not only begging should be declared illegal by an act of parliament but public opinion should also be educated against it. Those who give alms to the strong and able bodied men, women and children should be punished.
SALWA NOOR
Karachi
