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Nasir Ali
SRINAGAR 10 March : In Kashmir, in the holy month of Ramadan, beggars including women and children from different Indian states have swarmed the territory in thousands, much to the annoyance of locals, particularly in Srinagar.
Accordingly there is no official number of such non-local beggars seeking alms in Kashmir, they can be seen in clusters of dozens across the Kashmir in recent days.
“We stay here for the month of Ramadan. People here are generous and donate lavishly,” said Babu Ram, a beggar from a far-flung village in Rajasthan, who is in the Srinagar City.
While beggars thrive on the generosity of the Kashmiri people, they do not leave things to chance. Many of these beggars carry children, who are in bad shape, to gain sympathy.
Locals told ‘Asia Speaks’ that these beggars “hunt” in packs and they almost attack you in the middle of a crowded place. “You can escape one, but they come in packs, and at one point you give up and give the money to them. It is like being looted,” a local in Srinagar said.
As per reports, these beggars can be seen making ruckus outside religious places, traffic signals, public places, parks & gardens etc where they disturb smooth public movement and forcibly mint charity from them.
Amidst holy month of Ramadhan, all religious places across the Srinagar district witness huge rush of people who prefer to offer five-time prayers in congregation. However according to eye witnesses the queues of non-local beggars outside these places not only interrupt the smooth exit of people after prayers but also create ruckus for getting charity.
The footpath and adjoining areas outside many religious sites in city have been converted into filth by these non-local beggars, eye witnessed told. Women with newly born infants are everywhere moving around the people with begging bowls.
‘Aap kay bachche Allah ki hifazat main rahein’ (May Allah protect your children from harm); ‘Allah aap ko aapke bachchon ki bahaar dikhayey’ (May Allah grant the dreams you have cherished for your children) – these are some of the pleas the child beggars approach the residents with
The story is not restricted to only the non-local beggars, the valley has also its own army of beggars. It has been observed a majority of the old aged people residing of the rural areas are associated with pan-handling practice in Srinagar. The local beggars can only be seen outside the shrines and begging door to door.
During the month of Ramadan, Kashmir witnesses a bloom of local and non-local beggars, as they flock to take advantage of the generosity of Muslims. In this holy month, Muslims give away a part of their earnings as charity to the poor and needy people.
Another local said that administration must strictly prohibit this practice. “On the one hand you try to present Srinagar city as a developing one, you are beautifying it simultaneously presence of innumerable beggars on Srinagar roads deflates the very idea of development,” he said.
Every year hundreds of beggars from outside the state throng the valley in Ramadan and as well in the tourist season. A majority of them have set up colonies of tents on the outskirts of the city.
Under Section 4 of the Jammu Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960, Section 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1989, any person found soliciting alms in a public place, or in or around a mosque, temple, or another place of public worship, whether or not under any pretence, and entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting alms shall be immediately arrested.
Few years back, again the government before the onset of Ramadan issued an order banning begging. The order envisaged arrest of persons found soliciting alms at public places.
“These orders have no effect on the ground,” complained a woman. She added, ” despite ban, authorities have failed to end begging even as the menace is taking heavy toll on the people of the summer capital”.
Local residents said that traffic signals and roads remain filled with beggars which also poses an accident threat. The residents have appealed to the concerned authorities to look into the issue.
Mohammad Altaf Dar (Rajbagh) prominent Socio Activist/Trade Union Leader Mohammad Altaf Dar had demanded the authorities concerned to take serious action to discourage beggary as a large number of beggars hailing from far-flung/outside areas of the country had invaded Srinagar City & other towns of the valley to reap large benefits during the month of Ramadan. Like every year, hundreds of professional beggars, including women and children have been moving towards populated areas of Srinagar city & towns before the arrival of Ramadan. Apart from the streets, bazaars and traffic signals, shrines have become a stronghold for seasonal beggars because visitors give a lot of money to them in the name of religious offerings, said Mohammad Altaf Dar
“The authority concerned should launch crackdown on these seasonal beggars,” said Dar, adding that at the same time people should also stop giving them their money and discourage this attitude of begging during Ramadan. The number of beggars hanging around the streets has significantly increased in the past few years. Community members should not be sympathetic towards beggars and donate generously to registered charities/Local Baitul Mals instead, said Altaf Dar. “People during the holy month of Ramadan should donate generously use Baitul Mals/official charitable organizations to help the needy & poor,”
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