Muhammad Usman Chanda
Pakistan is facing street begging at an alarming ratio. The country is suffering
from poverty which has forced hundreds of people to commit suicide, forced women
to sell out their children and forced youngsters to leave their homes and start
begging. According to a latest survey, a large number of our people are living
under poverty line earning less than Rs 4000 per month, which makes it very
difficult for a person to live a reasonable life. On the contrary a street
beggar is earning more than a normal person.
Begging is supposed to be an easy source of earning money. This is the reason
why most of the physically fit young persons are usually seen begging on the
streets. This profession now has become an industry (mafia) where young men,
women and children are mostly trained, recruited and relocated. These beggars
and specifically children come from backward areas of the country. They earn
around 200-250 rupees per day. They have to handover their earnings to the mafia
which keeps a big chunk of it and leaves a minimum amount for these children to
take home. This beggars mafia is exploiting the children.
Beggars are a burden on the society. Some Beggars may really be needy but there
numbers are few. Now, our government and we the masses have a responsibility to
take appropriate measures to eliminate this curse from our society. The
government should introduce some schemes and trainings through which they can
earn their future living. There should be strict laws to restrict beggary and
police should have powers to punish those who are responsible for bringing them
on streets.
Zakat funds should be utilised on deserving persons. Job opportunities should be
provide to the eligible persons according to their skills and aptitude