A report was published in a National Daily newspaper stating, whether or not Delhi is ready for the 2010 Commonwealth Games… the beggars in Delhi will be quite ready with professional training..!

[Indian beggars are being given English lessons to help them beg in foreign languages from foreign tourists during the Commonwealth Games. A newspaper report on said, classes had been set up in the slums of New Delhi, teaching phrases like “I have not eaten for days” and “Please help me, in the name of God.”

Vijay Babli, the leader of over 1,200 beggar families living in New Delhi’s Rohini’s Lal Quarter, says, “More than one lakh (100,000) foreigners will be in the city during the period.Even if one beggar earns 150-200 rupees per day ($3-4), just imagine the turnover..!

Bright children are being taught to say phrases like, ‘I am an orphan, I have not eaten for days, I am ill, have no money for medicine, please help me in the name of God’,” the makeshift schools are training them in languages, English, French and Spanish. Real foreign currency notes are shown to the children so they could recognise them.]


Like prostitution, begging is oldest profession on earth. Although varying by geography and the times, begging is universal. Now it is extremely difficult even for full time beggars (panhandlers) to make good of two meals. The way people feel about beggars seems to go broaden, the more they’ve been exposed to have seen begging..!

Now-a-days they play shrewd tricks to draw the attention of the people. They tell all sorts of lies possible to draw and grab the commuters’ attention. Some beg for their health treatment, sometimes they distribute flowers offered as puja and ask for money, sometimes they say that their step mother does not provide them with food. They try to bluff the people in every possible way.

Every streets and cities are filled with the beggars. Varieties and witnessed in different parts of the city. The question is rightly put up by the researchers doing the study on the begging complexities of life; Is Begging: A profession? A misfortune? A job? A scourge? A spiritual practice? An industry? A stain on society? Freedom of choice? At times I feel we should do something to improve their future but then at times I find them so annoying…

Having watched the recent Oscar winning movie where there is shown the racket of beggars going around the whole city and earning for the larger profit of the organisation. Each beggar is allotted a specified time and a specified place for their work. After the specified time slot the person is shifted to a new signal (place). The beggar members are well trained and are taught all the tricky enticement to reach to their level as professional beggars.

It is known to all that, children are trafficked to form unauthorized unity of association of the beggars. Where on the other hand child trafficking may be for other desired intentions like flesh trade..! For the begging business also child trafficking can be termed as a growing menace in cities.

There are laws pertaining to have a halt and check for these kind of business happening. Like the child beggars should be considered under the Juvenile Justice Act as those who are in need for care and protection and not criminals under Bombay Preventing of Begging Act. A scheme has already been approved to provide shelters-cum-activity centres for child beggars to befit them from their pitiful condition. The rescued children will be provided institutional care for the rescued children. There are two groups under the Juvenile Justice Act: Juvenile in Conflict with Law and Child in Need of Care and Protection and several voluntary organisations will see into this rampant issue of begging.

Everything will be quite set up and ready for the upcoming multinational, multi-sport event games. Hope both children and the adult beggars get rehabilitated. So here there is something good happening indeed…!!