BEGGING must be discouraged
Do you know a beggar can earn up to 10 to 30 dollars per day in Thailand. Or sometimes even up to 60 dollars per day. Beggary is a multiple-million dollar industry in Asia. In Thailand alone, according to the Social and Human development Ministry, begging generates up to 20 million baht a month (US$600,000)
Begging ring in most countries in Asia are run by human trafficking gangs. They usually kidnap the victims and put to work on streets. A mother with a child can earn up to 120,000 baht (US$4,000) for an 18-month service, begging for the gangs on the street. In some areas, parents drop young boys and girls to beg at bus stops or public places to beg. Should the government take action against such parents who force their kids to beg? We want to make sure the kids stay in school.
In some parts of india, some are beggars for generation and continue their family tradition of begging. They prefer not to work and comfortable of begging and make good money. In most cases, begging is carried out and controlled by organized gangs. They are brought to a territory each morning in a truck and strategically placed in key locations, such as outside of malls, temples, over pass bridges. They are then picked up late evenings and taken to a place to spend the nights. Each beggar must give up the takings to the gang leaders. Beggars are paid a fee. Many of them also make money from begging than what they would if they worked in the farm or factory.
Traditionally, beggary has been accepted as a form of humility in most religions.
In Hindhu religion, the Sanyasis or the Sadhus who are detached from the worldly things used to beg for food. Begging for them was considered to be in search of salvation or spiritual liberation, called Moksha. Begging by Sadhus was considered to promote humility and gratitude by those giving money or food but also according to the Hindhu Faith, helped the Sanyasis attained the state of samadhi or the highest station in life.
Today, even in Buddhist Faith, monks live by begging for alms. Lord Buddha, instructed the monks to go outside of the temple in the mornings to beg for food. It is believed that lay people gain religious merits by giving food, medicine and money to the monks. One can see monks walking in the streets of Buddhist countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia and Laos begging for alms. Refusing them is considered bad omen.
In some countries, such as Japan and Saudi Arabia, begging is prohibited. In Saudi Arabia, the punishment is very harsh and the beggars are put in jail without bail.
The problem is that beggars are so used to begging and they become lazy and do not even try to find a job. Often they make good money. Children are often neglected on the street be the parents and they receive no proper education or welfare. Child Beggary must be stopped.
The Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Religion, Baha’u’llah has discouraged begging. He said, "It is unlawful to beg, and it is forbidden to give to him who beggeth. All have been enjoined to earn a living, and as for those who are incapable of doing so, it is incumbent on the Deputies of God and on the wealthy to make adequate provision for them."
The local government and the community in each area should be responsible for taking care of its poor so that they do not have to beg. This may be in the form of charity to those who truly cannot work, but it is also commonly in the form of assistance in helping people find meaningful and sustaining work. The authorities must develop a plan to take the beggars on the street and help rehabilitate them in children’s home and old-age homes. They should be given vocational training of their choice, besides opportunities to earn their livelihood.
Well, in many cases the authorities arrest these beggars and send them home, but they are back on the streets- most of the time at different locations begging. From June 19-26, 2011, the local police arrested nearly 241 beggars from Cambodia on Bangkok streets. There were 92 men and 149 women, all deported back to Cambodia.
