Begging a Business or a Matter of Social Neglect? Open Debate (Begging in India)

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Begging is very common around the world and there are millions of people around the world who are indulged in begging. In general, no one likes begging and beggars; however, the sad truth of life is that begging has become an integral part of the present social system and it is flourishing. 

In this article, I want to start a new debate that does begging is a business or it is a matter of social neglect? 

Begging in India

 I will discuss both aspects of begging with you and I will like your comments and opinions regarding it. 

1) Begging as A Business – I started writing about beggars ten years back and found many strange and unbelievable information about them. The first information was about their earning. As per a few independent studies on beggars, it was found that beggars are earning between Rs 500 to Rs 1500 per day in India with an average earning of Rs 800 per day. These studies were conducted by leading news channels, newspapers, social welfare communities and independent researchers. 

I also tried to calculate the average earning of a beggar then I found that each beggar is able to earn Rs 500 if he visits at least 500 houses a day or sits at a busy place. Any amount of more than Rs 500 is a good amount to live a comfortable life in India whereas a hard-working labourer earns only Rs 300 for eight hours of hard work. On festivals or on special occasions, the earnings of such beggars touch even higher levels. 

Last year, there was news in the local newspaper that a female beggar died in a local hospital and left behind 3 lakh rupees in cash and 6 lakh rupees in the bank. From time to time, we hear a number of such news where beggars surprise us with their earnings. If we go by such information and news then sometimes, it looks like all beggars are not just victims of social neglect and there are many who are doing it professionally. 

2) Begging a matter of social Neglect – The one thing about which most people will agree is that begging is a great matter of social neglect. There are fairly large numbers of beggars in our world who are neglected by family members, relatives and society. Therefore, the only option that remains available to such people is begging. Once I talked to a old beggar then he told me his story. He told me that once he was a rich man with a good transport business; however, misery stuck one day and he lost a few of his trucks to fire and finally his business finished. His wife and son also abandoned after sighting his poor health. He told me that his poor health does not allow him to work and there is no one who can take care of him; therefore, the only option available to him is to beg. 

 However, the bad part is that not all beggars are physically weak or abandoned people, many people are just present in begging to earn quick and easy money. Mostly, people have sympathetic views towards beggars; therefore, these people try to exploit human weakness. It is the duty of everyone in society to clean our system and create a beggars-free world. By providing better shelters for genuine beggars, we can stop them from begging and to stop fraud beggars, we need strong laws.