BEGGING is a blot on our society. Whenever one goes, he is followed by beggars — young and old, women and children. Street begging is a regular nuisance. It is a blot on the fair name of our country. Begging is an evil though in Pakistan it has become an organised profession. Almost at every step, one is greeted by a beggar.

Begging has now become a shameless business. Railway compartment, buses and public places like markets, parks and restaurants are raided by beggars. They do not even spare foreigners and tourists who come to see the historical places. They lower the prestige of the country.

Unfortunately, some people in the country think that giving alms is 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-to-earn 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.

Among the beggars we see blind and lame, deaf and dumb people. There are lepers, as well as very weak and infirm old people. It is not possible for them to work to earn their bread. We should help these poor people. Humanity demands this. But we should not encourage able-bodied people to beg. They should not draw our sympathy.

Sometimes poor people from villages come to towns and cities to beg. They do so because of shortage of food etc. So they are forced to leave their homes. They are temporary beggars. Many people who are unemployed are forced to beg.

The government must take serious action against professional beggars. Those who are able bodied must be made to work and earn honest living. The crippled and the old should be confined to poor houses. It is the duty of the government and the well- to-do to reform society.

Aatra Azfar
Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2017