Amol's kidnap and Beggar menace

With Amol's kidnap sequence, the director gave us a sneak peek into the beggar menace that's haunting our society. One can find them at every place. We see them as helpless vagabonds, depraved and abused souls, lazy creatures, drug addicts, professional parasites, hardcore criminals etc. a major embarassment for sincere tax payers.

BV has atleast made an attempt to touch upon this topic.
What steps can ShivRaj Shekhar take as collector of Udaipur to control this menace ?
How can Anandi as a social worker running an NGO help ?
Can Alok or Anup with their Army background help at all ?
What can a common man do to help ?

Welcoming your thoughts, ideas, a healthy practical debate on prevention/control measures.

Don't know whether Shivraj Shekhar and Anandi be able to do anything about this problem.

Originally posted by: aparnauma

Don't know whether Shivraj Shekhar and Anandi be able to do anything about this problem.

It is too deep seated.

There are so many reasons for this.

There are people who are out there begging despite help and rehabilitation facilities available for them.

Some may be genuinely in need of help and want to get out of that vagabond type of existence.

The organised beggar gangs who are a nuisance to the society this needs to be looked into in detail.

If they go into the detailing how these beggar mafias come into existence that could be an eye opener and creatives of BV would have done their duty by just going into this alone.

It's better if they don't come up with idealistic not so practical way of solving this problem

The problem is too deep seated, true.
@bold, yes, this itself would be a good achievement. Anandi could meet Tinku and other beggar kids rescued in the ashram, where each kid shares his story with her in a dramatic style.

Begging should be completely banned in my opinion. Why is it that beggars are not allowed inside malls, other high profile public places, but they can freely pester the common man in public areas! poor common man who is already harassed by so many other problems, has to carry this additional guilt if he or she refuses to help a beggar.

problem with beggars that they want to only to beg .they do not want to do work .if v told them that u look fit and fine why dont u work why u beg if u want work i can provide u beggars get irritated and say v will not work .first there is need of change of mentality of beggars they begging is not good thing u should leave begging and should work for bread and butter .v can tell them what problem u face if u dont work at all just beg eat and sleep .v can show them difference what advantage u can get if u work .anandi shiv can start beggars camapign in that campaign they can ask them what is reason that they want to beg .what is reason that they does not want to work and can educate them about disadvantage of begging and importance of work .

@tellygeek, quite thought provoking post. IMO there can not exist one single solution as not all the beggars come from similar backgrounds.

Some can be trapped by beggar mafias, like Tinku and other kids whom Anandi rescued.

A majority of beggars found at holy places are mostly abandoned by their families- some due to old age, some due to physical disabilities, some due to non curable diseases.. Most suffering are those who have psychological disorders and are not even aware of their own existence.

Then there are others, who are totally able physically and mentally, still prefer begging.. As few posts here mentioned they are reluctant to do anything else than begging, or not even aware than they can do anything else.

Shiv and Anandi definitely can not tackle all these immediately. A bigger initiative is needed from Government authorities since the issue is deep rooted as already mentioned.

What Shiv and Anandi can do at this point is make sure that there are no other children trapped like Tinku, search for similar beggar gangs and punish them. Thus they can tackle at least one side of the problem. I hope CVs show doing them something on these terms and not just let the issue float.

Originally posted by: RTee

Since this topic has been brought up and views sought on the subject, first step is to understand the legal framework under which India operates with regard to this matter. Understand the laws governing the practice of begging and the the penalties/solutions that the governments and courts have in place.

It is only then that any discussion on what you or I can do, or what a collector or social worker can do will make any sense.

Just did some cursory reading on this issue and here are basic findings:

a. Begging is a crime and beggars as well as people giving alms can be punished severely.

b. There is no pan-India "Prevention of beggary Act" that governs begging. It is a state subject.

c. Since we are talking about Rajasthan, until now Rajasthan has had no "Prevention of beggary Act".

d. Rajasthan is in process of introducing a law that is aimed more towards rehabilitation of beggars rather than penalising them.

The draft law can be downloaded from the govt. of Rajasthan's website. It sets out clear rules and regulations on what constitutes begging and what is to be done if a person is found begging.

The draft law is aimed towards opening rehabilitation centres for old and young found indulging in valid begging activity. And penalties including imprisonment can be levied on repeated acts of begging.

Do note that taking a person involved in begging activity home is not a legally valid option.

A news item in the Hindu entitled "Not alms, but rights" gives an insight into the current state of affairs and changes being proposed to the system. Another one, again in the Hindu entitled "The war against begging" gives a picture on the general public perception of begging. It is quite insightful as an article.

Not sure that I can post links else would have posted them for all above references.

Having read the above news items and the draft act here is what is possible:

a. DC is overall in-charge of the district and has assistant commissioners under him one of which is responsible for the enforcement of the law.

b. Opening of Rehabilitation Homes

c. Giving beggars an alternative to begging. To lead a more gainful life.

d. General public can volunteer for state programmes in coaxing beggars to improve their lives. Encourage them to take up alternative means of livelihood.

e. Following-up on the day-to-day lives of beggars.

Thank you Arti, that's a very informative synopsis provided.
It is good to know beggars and people giving alms can be punished severely, but haven't really seen this put in practice. Police is interested in shooing off the beggars off roads only when there's a VVIP passing by or is visiting a public place. The DC does have a very important role after reading about the draft act.

Actually, Bombay prevention of begging Act is applicable in most of the States - States can make their own Act also. Rajasthan rehabilitation of beggars Bill was perhaps passed in 2012 (search lead to several news items regarding it) , but now it is not available in Rajasthan Government website.

Originally posted by: Russhme22

@tellygeek, quite thought provoking post. IMO there can not exist one single solution as not all the beggars come from similar backgrounds.

Some can be trapped by beggar mafias, like Tinku and other kids whom Anandi rescued.

A majority of beggars found at holy places are mostly abandoned by their families- some due to old age, some due to physical disabilities, some due to non curable diseases.. Most suffering are those who have psychological disorders and are not even aware of their own existence.

Then there are others, who are totally able physically and mentally, still prefer begging.. As few posts here mentioned they are reluctant to do anything else than begging, or not even aware than they can do anything else.

Shiv and Anandi definitely can not tackle all these immediately. A bigger initiative is needed from Government authorities since the issue is deep rooted as already mentioned.

What Shiv and Anandi can do at this point is make sure that there are no other children trapped like Tinku, search for similar beggar gangs and punish them. Thus they can tackle at least one side of the problem. I hope CVs show doing them something on these terms and not just let the issue float.

I agree with your points Russhme, @bold, this is what I would want to see too. They should take this issue to its logical closure leaving the viewers with some food for thought. Shiv should talk to needed authorities for a few essential steps to be taken to prevent kids getting kidnapped by beggars, and the rescued kids explaining to Anandi how they got caught. It shouldn't look like another let bygones be bygones scenario.

Originally posted by: surabhi01

problem with beggars that they want to only to beg .they do not want to do work .if v told them that u look fit and fine why dont u work why u beg if u want work i can provide u beggars get irritated and say v will not work .first there is need of change of mentality of beggars they begging is not good thing u should leave begging and should work for bread and butter .v can tell them what problem u face if u dont work at all just beg eat and sleep .v can show them difference what advantage u can get if u work .anandi shiv can start beggars camapign in that campaign they can ask them what is reason that they want to beg .what is reason that they does not want to work and can educate them about disadvantage of begging and importance of work .

Good point Surabhi. Either a campaign or through some other means the reasons should come out in open, atleast a few important ones.