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Beggary: A Challenging National Problem

Dr. (Capt) DVP Raja MA DSSA PhD DLitt

Founder & Director
Madurai Institute of Social Sciences
Madurai-Tamilnadu

I. Beggary is a symptom of individual and social disorganization. In India begging is

an age old profession. How the age old social system sustained and adopted to the time is
a serious question to be answered. The great law giver Manu approved it and explained
two classes of people - one as givers and the other as receivers. If a beggar is a receiver
then he is not a nuisance to others but provides an opportunity to give.

A beggar is one who asks for alms or charity or performs such actions which derive sympathy
from others and who give something in return.
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You just can’t escape the beggars. They are everywhere. On the streets, at every traffic
signal, at every temple, at all entertainment places, from towns to big metropolises - Indian
beggars are omnipotent and unstoppable. Comment in Sulekha.com

Living by alms is only permitted during certain stages and conditions. Particularly in
Tamilnadu, the history indicates that the ancient kings encouraged a culture around
temples (i.e) to do the temple construction work and accept the food given by the
temples. This system encouraged the able bodied people to beg and adopt the profession
of begging in due course. Then the concept of dependency had come into existence.
Box 1 "Hinduism and Islam, the two principal religions [of India], encourage begging, since
they enjoin their followers to support beggars. Both religions extol the contemplative life,
especially that of the religious mendicant, which encourages the emergence of large numbers
of both genuine and bogus religious mendicants."
PT BAUER pointed out that, in India, there were no Sikh, Parsi or Jain beggars – because
these communities discourage beggary (a blot on the entire community), encourage self-help,
and practice collective charity effectively.
Among the Sikhs, for example, the Gurudwara hosts a daily langar where any poor person is
free to eat to his heart’s content. But with it comes a positive motivational factor: the same
poor man is encouraged to go out, struggle, earn a living, and one day host a langar of his
own for the poor. There is also a negative motivational factor: if any Sikh is found begging,
other Sikhs will come and beat him up! The question: Who is a true friend of the poor and
who is an enemy begins to look more complex as we scratch the surface of Third World
poverty and look at phenomena like widespread beggary with a more critical eye. PT BAUER

It also created the scrupulous persons and they adopt cruel practices just to win sympathy
of the people. Then begging had become an activity of crime. What is Crime? Crime is
an act in violation of the law. In other words it is also an act against the social norms.
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II. Those who make a living by begging, whatever be the cause or causes, or the
techniques used by them, are also human beings with ‘feelings’ just like any other human
being in any other stratum of society. Beggary, it may be noted, transcends the barriers
Box 2 Very few studies have been done on beggary in India,” says Sneh Lata Tandon, who
heads Delhi School of Social Work (DSSW) and completed a survey on 5,003 beggars in 2007.
The DSSW surveyors came across 10 graduates and postgraduates who supplement monthly
income by begging over the weekends.
The line that separates beggars from the casual poor is getting slimmer in a country where one
in every four goes to bed hungry every night and 78 million are homeless. Over 71 per cent
(compared to just 34 per cent in 1959) of Delhi’s beggars are driven by poverty.

No wonder, 66 per cent beggars are able-bodied. “Begging as a livelihood wins over casual
labor,” says Tandon. “For 96 per cent, the average daily income is Rs 80, more than what daily-
wage earners can make.” Spending patterns are also telling: 27 per cent beggars spend Rs 50-
Rs 100 a day.

In a decade since 1991, their number has gone up by a lakh. There are some 60,000 beggars in
Delhi, reports DSSW; over 3,00,000 in Mumbai, according to a 2004 Action Aid report; nearly
75,000 in Kolkata, says the Beggar Research Institute—the world’s only; 56,000 in Bangalore,
according to police records.

In Hyderabad, one in every 354 people is engaged in begging, found out the Council of Human
Welfare in 2005. In every Indian city, they are anywhere a fly could land—in rubbish dumps, at
the road’s edge, on traffic islands, under flyovers. The frail, the crippled and the mentally ill
share space with children, women and able-bodied men.

Mumbai is the Mecca of beggars. According to the Maharashtra Government, they are worth Rs
180 crore a year, with daily income ranging between Rs 20-Rs 80. Three of the richest
beggars—Haji, Massu and Bharat Jain—allegedly have assets ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 70
lakh.
They earn up to Rs 200 a day and live with families where no one else begs. Jain’s family deals
in school stationery, Massu’s sons are hawkers and Haji’s family earns a steady income from
zari embroidery work. They beg, despite family pressure to give it up. When the Manav Sena
Trust of Mumbai approached 98 beggars with jobs, all of them turned down the offers as being
less remunerative India Today Jan 25
2008
of caste, creed, color, geographical areas and even language. The beggar problem is not a
localized or an isolated one. The incidence of begging may vary from one part of the
country to another; but, it is found throughout the country.

Human beings, as we know, are basically the same everywhere. The necessities of life
(food, cloth and shelter) are the same for all of them. Besides, if they are to be enabled to
be socially useful and economically productive beings, if they are to be enabled to
develop a sense of human dignity and self-nourishment for their physical, mental and
moral growth also becomes necessary. There cannot be any justification, however small
it or they might be, in any country or town to whom these vital things are either hard to
get or completely out of reach.
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III. Studies had been undertaken about these unfortunate groups even during 60s in
which I participated as a student in Coimbatore town. I personally found men and
women, infants and children, adults and aged, and diseased and disabled, leading a highly
deplorable life. They live, with equanimity, in squalor with their infants and children.
Rain or shine, the only available roof over the heads of most of them is the clouded or
clear sky. To annoy others or to be annoyed is in their daily routine. They eat whatever
they can get and whenever they get, depending on the disposition of others. The
unattended sick among them get either cured or claimed by nature. Even the innate spark
of human dignity and self-respect has, perforce, become extinct in them. They seem to
be, in a sense, even outside the pale of our constitution since they cannot establish their
Box 3 Types of Beggars
right to franchise. This pattern of their ignoble life goes on
Able Bodied Adult Beggars and on.
Able Bodied Child Beggars
Hereditary Beggars
Sick and Diseased Beggars
Begging, it is to be noted, is a problem unto those who beg,
Physically Disabled Beggars unto their children and dependents and to the rest of the
Mentally Deficient Beggars society. How to get alms and in needed quantity, where to
Old Aged Beggars
Religious Mendicants Beggars
take shelter or rest the weary body, how to support the
dependents, etc., constitute the problem for the beggars
themselves; lack of nourishing food, and at the times most needed, for proper growth, to
live in filth and become almost a part of it, lack of facilities for education or play, lack of
clothes to dress like other children, to be shunned by the children of non-beggars, etc.
constitute the problem for their children; and to give or not to give, what to give and how
much to give, the annoyance from the persisting and insisting types of beggars, etc.
constitute the problem to the rest of the society. The sick among the beggars add to the
public health problem as well. The problem of these groups becomes aggravated by the
emotional or psychological components, resulting in additional problems unto themselves
and others.
Causes of Beggary: Box 4
There cannot be one particular cause of beggary. But it is due to multiple factors. The main
factors are economic, social, biological, religious and others.

A B C D E
Economic Causes Social Biological Religious Others
Poverty Family Sickness/ Disease Religious Parental
Unemployment & disorganization Disability/ mendicancy compulsion
under employment Family Break Infirmity/Old age Alms giving Ashrama
Loss of Business down Mentally Charity in System
Break-up of joint Illness/ Temple/ Criminalization
family system Cripple Mosques of beggary
Migration Churches
Caste Custom
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IV. It is not so much the size, as the composition, of the beggar population in a city
or a town or a village that determines the seriousness, the complexity, the nuisance value,
etc. of this problem. That such a small number, probably, a fraction of 1% of the
country’s total population can and do cause or pose such a challenging and vexing
problem is worthy of note. Whether all the beggars in a given area happen to be
‘natives’, or whether some of them happen to be the ‘migrated’ ones or transients, and the
like, do not change, in any way, the basic character or complexion of the problem.

Another noteworthy feature about the beggar population is that its different segments
excite compassion, consternation, disconcertment, disgust, anger and what not. Again,
this is not one of those
T.1. Age of Beggars problems which, left to 37 35 35
Age Number % itself, gets either
<5 198 13.00 minimized or solved by
6 – 10 142 9.32
passage of time; but, on
11 – 15 46 3.02
16 – 20 49 3.22
the contrary, passage of
21 – 25 49 3.22 time not only
20
26 – 30 147 9.65 aggravates but also
31 – 35 187 12.27 enlarges this problem.
36 – 40 177 11.62
41 – 45 150 9.85 It is generally observed
46 – 50 130 8.54 that children of the
51 – 55 100 6.57 school going age alone
56 – 60 91 5.98 (between 6 and 15
61 > 57 3.74 2 2
years of age) account 2 2

Total 1,523 100.00 1 1

for more that 12% of 1 2 3

The most striking feature of the the total beggar M F 1.Like to beg
above table is children 5 years and M F 2.Do not like to beg
population while
under, constitute the largest single M F 3.No Response
group and all the children, 15 years children, 5 years and
D.1. Attitude of Beggars
of age and under constitute 25.34% under account for
of the total beggar population. another 13% Children, Towards Begging
Another painful observation is that, The diagram reveals that 37
thus, form more than a males (51.39%) and 20
43.39% of the beggar population is
fourth of the Beggar (36.36%) females are like to
in the age group of 26-45 years, the
most productive period in one’s life population. (T.1) beg for various reasons –
they feel that by begging they
Further, the disable and diseased constitute 29% while the are masters unto themselves
and it is also easier
remaining 71% is composed of the able-bodied. That about
half of them are in their prime of life (between 21 and 45
years of age), that nearly half of all the able bodied beggars below 61 years of age are
willing to work, that roughly about half of all the beggars have been on the streets for
three years or less (many of these for one year and less) and that many of the able bodied
are not willing to be taken care of in a Beggar Home. (T.2)
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Is poverty alone is responsible for child ? Box 5

Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW), Tamilnadu Branch in its study found that among 200
child beggars, nearly 48 per cent of child beggars are from the age group of 6-10 years.
Thirty five per cent fall in the age group of 11-15 years. Fifty two per cent are female. In
Chennai city 46 per cent of the child beggar’s mother tongue is Telugu. Only 40 per cent of
the respondent’s mother tongue is Tamil. 80 per cent of child beggars are school dropouts.
Majority of the child beggars (84%) belong to Hindu religion. Nearly 43 per cent of the
earning is spent by family members. Almost all the children use one or other type of addictive
substances. As much as 30 to 40 per cent of the children use the addictives perpetually. A
disturbing trend is that they go after easily available addictives such as whiteners and
petroleum-based glues. Broken families, unhappy situations and use of drugs by the head of
the family are the main reasons why the children turn to begging. Poverty is only a
secondary cause.
More than 60 per cent of the child beggars earn Rs. 50-100 daily. A small percentage of child
beggars earn more than Rs. 100 per day.
“Childline”, a 24-hour network project of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in
partnership with NGO’s, the State Government, UNICEF and corporate and other individuals
concerned should be involved in the identification and referral of the child beggars.

Box 5 A National Consultation was organized by Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan, Indian

Social Institute and Action Aid India on urban poor with special focus on "Beggary
and vagrancy laws — the issues of de-custodialisation (decriminalization)," legal
luminaries and social activists said that neither the police nor the courts displayed
satisfactory interest in the issue and their response was at best disorganized and
at worst violative of human rights.
Half-hearted attempts by State officials to give evidence of "doing something"
such as driving away the destitute and imposing fines was clearly distressing for
the beggars without having any discerning effect on the overall problem. The
dismissive treatment of the beggars in the police station and in the courts showed
not only mismanagement but also lack of respect towards beggars as full citizens
with all the entitlements and rights that entails their being a citizen. "Beggars,
perhaps, are treated even worse than every-day criminals," the participants said.
The study found that different laws to prevent beggary were implemented strictly
in Delhi and Tamil Nadu, but implementation was lax in other States like Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh due to lack of necessary systems and infrastructure and there
is no anti-beggary laws in Rajasthan.
All State laws go with a basic premise that beggary is an outcome of choice and
not compulsion. "However, considering the low-income level, immigrant status,
age factor, disability, disease and lowest social status, one can conclude that
choice could not be the reason behind beggary. It is a survival mechanism," the
study points out.
Twenty-five per cent of the disadvantaged people said that police demanded bribe
from them when they were arrested and another 10 per cent had to give money
to police to get food in the police station.
Referring to the aspirations of beggars, the study said they were keen to leave
begging if given the opportunity. They wanted to get back to their earlier
occupations, especially in cases where they had independent business or were
semi-skilled labourers and were self-employed.
Migrant beggars preferred the life back in rural agriculture but there were some
who wanted to settle in urban areas. India Today
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Studies reveals that nearly three fourths of all the beggars beg for anything cash, food,
grain, clothes, etc., and less than a fourth beg primarily for cash. Only a fourth of all the
beggars are single or unattached, while about 38% of them are married and another 35%
are widowed or separated.

It is again noted that disability and disease, widowhood or separation, loss of

employment or business, inadequate earnings, and loss of parents or relatives are the
causes that had led about 64% of all the beggars to take to
begging. 27 27

V. Suggestions
Keeping prevention and rehabilitation as our motto in beggary
related issues the following suggestions are given 10

• The Beggar Problem 6

T.2.Types of Beggars by observation
Types Number % – affects the Indian
Able bodied 909 70.90 culture and heritage –
Leper 49 3.82 therefore we must Willing to
Crippled 100 7.80 consider it as national M F
Work
Blind 53 4.14 problem and Unwilling
M F
Deaf-mute 4 0.32 practically undertake to Work
Filariasis 10 0.78 various measures to D.2. Attitude
Old & Infirm 122 9.51 solve this problem. Towards Work
Irrational 25 1.95
Behaviour
• The state may take Out of those beggars
Any other 10 0.78 special efforts to who do not like to beg,
54 (27 males and 27
Total 1,282 100.00 regulate and prevent females would like to
It is shocking to notice that the able bodied beggary especially in work.
beggars constitute 70% of the beggar popular temple cities
population. It is also distressing to note like Madurai Rameswaram, ThiruvannaMalai,
that, the disabled and partially disabled
constitute another 15.76% of the beggar
Kasi, Budda Gaya, Mathura Somnath in the
population background of increasing tourist interest as
well as security threats. A co-ordination
committee is to be formed with NGOs, heads of the temples, and govt. representatives.
Periodical amendment, strict implementation of beggary acts are necessary in order to
tackle criminalization of beggary by powerful mafia groups.

• Even though from the beginning, the Planning Commission

has been undertaking research projects and taking measures to solve this problem. It is
high time that the Planning Commission should plan effective program and direct all the
state Govts. with the help of NGO to solve this problem in India.
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• Both the State and Central Govts. Should restore their social
assistance and they must provide social security systems. Whatever help we do should
aim at restricting the dependency attitude of the people. With aim to get votes politicians
should not extend assistance instead we should help them to help themselves.

• Family planning schemes is to be implemented among the

beggar population
Box 7 Anti beggary laws have been
• For able-bodied Beggars separate schemes enacted by 17 States and 2 union
to be introduced and proper training is to be Territory Administration including Andhra
given for their employment purpose. Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat,
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu &
Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya
• State Government should take measures to Pradesh, Maharastra, Punjab,
prohibit beggars from migrating from one Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal,
State to another State. Union Territory Daman & Diu & NCT of
Delhi. The state of Rajasthan and the
• Since agriculture laborers from some part Union Territory of Pondichery have
of the country are forced to beg due to drought enforced anti beggary measures by the
executive orders.
and crop failure and the State should take up
programs to prevent this.

• Day Care Centre for aged beggars is to be maintained

• NGO’s should be enabled to involve in beggary prevention and rehabilitation.

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Questions for discussion

1. Ownership claims over target area, locations, and points by some beggars
2. Begging groups around worship places / temples
3. Taking vows to visit temples with money collected through begging
4. The practice of free feeding (annadhan) in temples and chowltries
5. Perception of NGOs about begging
6. Child beggars and street children
7. Criminalization of beggary
8. Is it humanly possible to eradicate beggary?. There are beggars who cannot be
hooked in a particular place – then our discussions on anti poverty program is just
to by pass the problems of beggars
9. Institutional beggars
10. Methodological problems associated with research related to beggary