The Punjab government is planning to shelter beggars. The government has allocated Rs 15 million in the budget 2011-12 for setting up Beggar’s Home, Pakistan Today has learnt. The idea aims at controlling the increasing number of beggars in the provincial metropolis and rehabilitating this marginalized fraction of the society. Different segments of the society has greeted this step by the Punjab government but suspected its application in the real sense.
Appreciating the idea, Jamia Naeemia Spokesman Zia-ul-Haq Naqshbandi said that Islam did not allow begging; however, to help the needy it urged the society to give alms from their extra earnings and pay Zakat annually. He said that such homes would be beneficial if they could turn the beggars into useful citizens of the country. He said there are many people begging on streets even they are capable of earning livelihood from some dignified profession. Documentation of beggars’ record should also be done to control the mafias of professional beggars. He hoped this project would have its implementation also. “Such a project was also proposed in Pervez Elahi’s regime but could not be effectively implemented,” he added.
Columnist and former director of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan IA Rehman praised the idea however suggested to change the nomenclature to “shelter homes” as the “beggar’s home” seemed disgraceful. “Such homes also have some kind of provincial activities to employ beggars and reduce their role in criminal activities,” he further said. Kashf Foundation Coordinator Nasir Murad also came supportive to version of IA Rehman and said that the steps must also be taken to make this class financially independent. He suggested giving them technical and professional training. He said that small business loans could be provided to them to help them improve their economical matters. “We should learn from the example of Grameen Bank of Bangladesh which was an initiative of one man Dr Muhammad Younas Garameen. And if the step is taken on governmental level, surely it’ll be more productive,” he said.
According to officials of CM secretariat, CM Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has show keen interest in prompt execution of the project to eliminate beggary from the face of Punjab and marathon discussions were held during cabinet meetings. Punjab government will initially allocate big chunk of the allocated amount for the beggars’ home to put in to place Beggars House management. The management will manage the project and run the affairs every year from its own resources by investing some money out of that allocated amount in bank or some other institution. It seems pertinent to mention here that same project was also allocated the amount of one milion in provincial budget 2009-10. And a scheme plan was also reported before the budget of 2010-11.
another new project for corruption
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