The number of beggars has substantially increased in the federal capital during the month of Ramazan, which is not only a source of distraction but also posing a security risk.
There was a time when the beggars were not allowed in the Capital due to some security reasons but now, like the other cities, beggars accumulating Islamabad to receive Zakat and other Ramazan charity, have threatened the entire security arrangement networking to protect the law and order situation.
Muslims during the holy month of Ramazan have an opportunity to earn blessings of Allah Almighty by doing charity and helping poor and needy people. But the professional beggars are exploiting it as an opportunity to earn. At the advent of the Holy month of Ramazan, beggars are seen thronged on the streets of Islamabad at almost every signal and crossing that creating huge inconvenience for the commuters, especially the motorists.
While driving a car or walking through the footpaths, it is common phenomenon now days to be interrupted by seemingly healthy woman carrying a bandaged infant, or an aging man waving a few pages at you. They have become a big source of distraction for the general public. Most of them shamelessly shock commuters in an attempt to draw maximum sympathy.
Some of the beggars have horrific appearances or disabilities that they use as a convenient tool for extorting whatever little money they can, walking, limping or roller-skating with amputated legs up and down on a road all day.
Some commuters pity, while many feel as a sickening nuisance. However, most of the people, mainly women, see these beggars as more of a blessing in disguise than irritating entities. They find beggars to be the most readily available recipients of charity (or sadqah nikalna) on a regular basis whenever, commuting around the city.
It is often the philanthropic spirit of women commuters that make the beggars, fork out money from their purses. 'My husband and I don't give money to women beggars, but whenever we see an old man, we give him because he has to feed his entire family,' a lady commuter said. People have different justifications for giving charity to different kinds of beggars who they believe to be needy.
Though there is no doubt that many people resort to begging because of poverty, at the same time they exploit their economic condition to earn a certain level of subsistence. They employ different methods to get easy money that they can 'earn' standing by the roadside, often taking shelter under a tree or sitting while the traffic signal turns green, instead of earning the amount after doing a day's work.
Beggary has become a profession in the shape of industry, which is being patronised by some influential gangs. These people compel women and children to beg and keep a watch on them as well.
To further increase the shock value of innocent beggars, the industry run by a menacing mafia, has enough tricks up its sleeve. Acid and cigarette burns, amputation and starvation are some of techniques and help the beggars do a great job on the streets of beautiful city.
Few of them affect recruits for the rest of their lives, while others may be painful temporarily and therefore capable of incurring maximum sympathy only for short-term purposes. The profession, of course, has a host of idiosyncrasies attached to it, including glue sniffing, drug abuse (even among very young children), minor criminal tendencies, prostitution, sexual abuse and coercion.
It is disappointing to see the government watching this menace as a silent spectator that has created an ugly but sensitive social issue. It is imperative on the part of government to take stern action against these professional beggars open beggar homes and skill development centres to train them so as to make them earning and honourable member of the society.