While heading towards my officein the morning and trying not be bothered after getting stuck in a not sounusual traffic jam, I tried to focus on music, courtesy, Delhi FM. I hadbarely succeeded in finding a little room in the vast annals of my mind, to cherishthe melodies that sudden a bouts of taping on the window glass brought me backto the reality....
The knocks were in no way gentle and the source did not surprise me much. Itwas a boy 15-16 years of age with a considerably able body seeking some alms.The people living in and around Delhihave gone used to such interferences.
The point is not that someone gets disturbed but the point is how professionalthese young kids are? They don't waste time persuading you to shell out a buckor two; rather they analyze your mood and work accordingly.
Is it a matter of 5-10 rupees that bothers?
No, not really. It is realizing the plight of a country whose youth searchtheir future in begging. Just a few days back under similar circumstances, Ihappen to listen to a boy of class 9 from UP, who was rather shamelessly tryingto prove a point on the radio that, begging is no crime and he said that healong with a friend frequently enjoy disguising like a beggar in the farstreets of his home town in order to boost his pocket money....I could notreact to it as until now this was an alien situation and my mind was notcapable to react despite of being severely jolted.
Today, The Times of India published a report on begging by street children andtheir inclination towards drugs and alcohol.
According to it, out of 2246, who were the subject for this report, more than50% are in the age group of 9-14 and out of the total 70% were boys.
Most of these were forced by their parents who have been living off theirearnings. Its too much...Isn't it?
Does begging, child abuse, future of the nation, alcohol, drug abuse,crime...., and the list is long, ring an alarm bell? Is it yet, loud enough tobring up back to the surface and think seriously about this?
Anti-begging laws are there, I have heard about some NGOs too for tackling suchissues. But why is it then that the fleet of begging boys and girls is on arising trend?
I beg to the concerned authorities to look into the matter, articles and point raisinghas done little good so far.