Taking advantage of Ramazan

While action is taken against them from time to time, the number of people begging for alms is getting bigger by the day, especially these days because people are likely to give more generously in the holy month of Ramazan, keeping in mind the distribution of ‘zakaat’ - and beggars take advantage of it. Pakistanis are known to be generous to a fault as far as giving to charitable causes goes but this doling out is not the right way to do it as it encourages the able bodied and lazy to cash in on what is the right of those who genuinely need help.

Begging is a lucrative business - no matter what some people will say about poverty and the under-privileged being forced to beg to make two ends meet. Try getting these alms seeking persons to quit this profession – for that’s what it is -  by offering them any incentive you can think of and see how many will accept your offer! Some time back an investigative report made for eye-opening viewing,  revealing the facts about organized gangs which have men, women and children working under a ‘boss’ just like any organisation and having to answer to him if they don’t give the desired results.  Then there are those who prefer to work alone, the whole family going out to ‘earn’ their living. As the team followed some beggars around recording what they observed, they captured scenes of ‘lame’ men and women getting up and walking away; of the blind suddenly being able to miraculously see their way about and count the money they have ‘earned;’ of children being taken to hospital to get their ‘wounds’ treated only to be found that they are as fake as the ‘medicine’ and ‘encrusted blood’ visible on the bandages and so on. There is no end to the ingenuity of the community who indulges in this business! 

And yes, like in any other menial job, it’s somewhat tough for the supplicant but it’s even tougher for the one being approached for alms. The pesky beggars refuse to go away, bang the car windows and try and embarrass you with all kind s of remarks wherever you happen to be - in the bazaars; at the crossroads while waiting for a green light and in other public places. In the end some of them are successful in eliciting a few rupees from those who are fed-up with being harassed but woe betide them if they dole out a coin of low denomination – these are unacceptable to these astute men and women, proving that they are not really poverty stricken but business minded! And beware. If you are not forthcoming with a bit of cash, some of them will leave a nasty scratch on your vehicle as you drive away knowing you will not be able to stop in the middle of fast moving traffic!