Dealing with beggars

In many parts of the world begging still flourishes. There are many assumptions about begging and its causes. Those who come from places where begging is unknown often are horrified by beggars. They assume that no one would be begging unless they were absolutely destitute. But over the course of time I have become aware of the fact that there are many reasons people beg.

Many years ago I lived in a large city in the second of my worlds. There weren’t many beggars back then but those who were around tended to be of two sorts: lepers and the mentally disturbed. The lepers were agressive beggars and I suppose the thought of being touched by them motivated many a reluctant giver! They had their established begging spots – outside the post office and outside of mosques and churches when services were held. They would be brought to the sites by car and picked up at the end of the day. The government actually provided housing, stipend and medical care for them but this was a way of getting extra. Many people did give, after all charity is a good religious duty, but others told me they refused to give because they said the guys just used it for gambling. Others said they were part of a syndicate and most of what they collected went to their bosses. Others saw giving as a way to show God they were grateful it wasn’t them who had leprosy. As for the mentally disturbed, many people out of pity would feed them and give them clothing. In smaller communities and face to face neighborhoods people know who is in need and why, and they deal with them appropriately. But in large cities begging can be done more anonymously.

In recent years, however, the numbers of beggars in that city has increased substantially and a large number are children. Nothing is more heart-rending than a grimy little kid out there begging. Those from places where begging is unknown are undone at the sight and would probably be apalled at what that city is doing about the begging problem. Starting in December, it will be a crime to give to beggars. That’s right. If you are caught giving to a beggar you face up to 3 months in jail or a fine of about $166. If someone, even a child, is caught begging he faces fines of up to $500 (ha, ha, ha) or up to three years in jail.


Now you may think that is harsh. But according to the local government, most of those children are being used and exploited by adults in syndicates who use them to raise money as a business, a begging business. A few are street kids who prefer the freedom of living on the streets to living at home, going to school, etc. Children are at extremely high risk of abuse in these situations, in fact you can probably assume that they will be abused. The mayor’s office says that people are welcome to help street kids but that cash should be given to the social organizations which have been set up to help them rather than giving directly to the beggars themselves.