This must have happened even with you also, while walking on M.G.Road, or railway station or any other public place beggars running after you, asking for money or food, and what do we do most of the times, we just shoo them away and walk off. Yes we literally shoo them away like we do it to a stray dog. Even I have done it at times. But the other day I was returning from my office and my cab was waiting on a signal and I came across such a scenario again, this time I thought over my behavior, why do I shoo them away always? Someone once told me that these people fake it up and are very lazy, they don’t want to work and hence they beg, infact some even said that the women and children found begging are sent by their husbands/parents since they don’t wana work.
I do agree there are some who are like this, but what about the old people? What about those who are disabled? We don’t even give them!!!!!!!!!! Isn’t it? Ok even if some of you say that we do give money/food to these people then how much do you give? 1 Rupee, 2 Rupees or at the most 5 Rupees. And do you think that this amount is sufficient enough to have atleast basic meals for the day???? I don’t think so.
No let me tell ou my monthly expenses. I normally end up spending around Rs.200/ day every month on myself, including food, shelter and my clothes. And there are times when I spend my money on things which are actually luxury, which are more than the basic needs, and why not, if I earn well I can afford to do this. Why I am telling all this is because I guess I or rather I should say WE can spend out some part of money that we earn on such needy people. These thoughts flashed through my mind while this beggar was waiting, knocking my window and waiting to get something from me; as usual I never gave anything to her. She even went to other vehicles waiting on the signal, but only one person gave her a rupee, that’s it. I felt I could have given her 100 bucks, yes hand over a Rs.100 note to her, this could have made her day, or probably her week.
I don’t know how much she is earning everyday or maybe she is even faking with her acting skills or her resemblance, but then if I pop out a 50/100 rupee note and hand over even to one such beggar some day every week, then I will be able to make their day. Atleast they will feel happy and will be able to eat to their heart’s content or do whatever they want to do with it. And I would give it to those who are aged and helpless and find it difficult even to walk and beg, they just sit on the footpath or one corner of a railway station.
What is wrong if I try to help these people? Why do we shoo them away? Can anyone tell me? And yes we do purchase cards/books or anything which helps big organizations/NGOs to collect funds for children/disabled/mentally challenged etc., but have you ever seen where does the money actually go? I do not doubt on these organizations, but I haven’t seen it myself, so it is somewhat difficult to believe. Rather than saying difficult to believe I would say that when I give money directly to these beggars, I know that it has reached the needy people eventually, I am convinced because I have done it myself. And that remains a doubt when I help big organizations to collect money for the needy.
Let us help them, and if my thoughts are wrong anywhere please correct me.
With a small effort we can bring smiles in their lives.
If you give them 500 Rs. then also they w'ont stop bagging even for one day also, even i have tried to offer them some work, so that they can earn money, but they wo'nt be ready for that also...they just want to bag..the only problem here is lack of education ..
ReplyDeleteIt’s totally an individual’s choice. If you feel that person need your help so go ahead and help him.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not depends whether he is a bagger or not. Sometime I asked 50 paise from auto drivers and sometimes I gave 50 Rs extra.
Your effort (here MONEY) wont change their life but you can make a little difference.
Think & Decide…!!!
Raja, I do agree with Ahsan bhai and Apurva.
ReplyDeleteIf we really want to help poor and needy people in which both parties will satisfy=>we can start it from our relatives, then neighbours then other people.We can't rely on street beggars.The more u give to them the more they will be motivated to do so.But we can find out who amongst our relatives n neighbours are the needy.We can help them in our own way.
The most imp.thing to remember is that when we help anyone,it should not be revealed, so that u should jnot feel proud or whatever and other dont feel bad.
God Bless You!!!
Ahsan bhaai I do agree that education is a MUST, so you mean to say if possible we can help them get educated, thats not impossible either. Thanks for your frank comments though.
ReplyDeleteApurva little differences do matter, even if it is for a day or an hour or a year, but then the needy wont regret that they actually did get which was nearly impossible for them.
Yes Jillu (Muntasir), i agree with you, we shouldnt reveal what we r doing, it shouldnt be a show off. And I dont mind helping my relatives at all, but my parents r already taking care of my relatives who actually live in a HUT, so when that side is already covered i look this side..........
All of you thanks so much for commenting and please do visit my Blogs often to read latest posts and most importatnly comment on them with your frank opinions.
first and foremost - The pics. i loved the last pic. the realistic emotion.
ReplyDeletenow for the topic.. Raja, i believe that small differences do matter a lot. But you fail to see that there are some people who wait for this small difference and take advantage of the situation. Yes its true..10rs or 100 rs..doesnt matter.. one day u give them , they stop begging tht day. Whoz gonna donate the next day? they would naturally reform to begging- which is India's biggest worry and crisis..its ok to donate to the needy - as long as they deserve it.
real good emotions in the blog. i enjoyed reading the commments section as well. good job.
Thanks Sowmya, what you said is right, but consider yourself as a previliged one who can give it to these people, whatever amount you feel. They didnt get the education/facilities we people got and they wont be able to get it so the only way they can get happiness (atleast once) is this way. so Y not make someone's day.
ReplyDeletegoing agaunst the logics and practicality of life- i consider what you say is right! ... hmm...uve given me somethin to think abt.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Delhi, this was a routine problem..no sooner u stopped at a redlight, u were thronged with 'the tribe'. Well what i found was that they beg not because they need to beg but out of sheer habit. They won't agree to any other alternative you offer. They feed and exploit on our emotional response. we could reduce this practice onle if could provide them with a proper platform and address their needs viz.education, employment etc
ReplyDelete