Begging menace assumes alarming dimensions in city

Yash Khajuria

12/8/2011 10:07:35 PM

JAMMU,Dec 08: Begging, the most common urban problem has taken alarming dimensions in Jammu city, with children as young as six years in shabby conditions roaming the market places. 

Though it is banned, but in absence of strong anti-begging law and juvenile homes, administration has turned blind eye towards the menace. 

Most of these unfortunate souls are from outside the state and are allegedly being forced into the ‘profession’ by begging mafia. Come Monday, Friday or Saturday, a large number of beggars can be found outside temples and mosques seeking Rupees one or two from the visitors. 
Other favourite destinations are bus stand and Raghunath temple, railway station, taxi stand, Jewel chowk and Kachi Chawani areas which remain abuzz with tourist pilgrims. 

“Beggars in Jammu are mostly from other parts of the country who are brought here under a well planned strategy not only to fleece but also to commit petty crimes- the government however seems to be sleeping over the issue” said Mohan Kuamr a sales man in Purani Mandi area. 
As per Ranjeet Sharma, who runs an NGO, since last few years begging has become a trade. 
He said that there is a big syndicate behind the begging menace who mostly target affluent class, tourists and foreigners. 
“ There is a Need to rehabilitate young girls and children who unfortunately have got trapped into this social evil due to one or the other reason”, 

Deputy Commissioner Sanjeev Verma said that the 
administration has taken several measures to deal with the menace like seeking help of police to break the circle, but still lot needs to be done. 
Verma, however, said that if the legal measures are initiated against the children, then there will be the problem of keeping them in custody as there are no juvenile homes. 
For being the city of temples, Jammu is a paradise for the beggars who mostly come from other states like Orrisa, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Gujarat along with their families, with the hope of getting good almshere. 
Empty spaces under the Flyovers, footpaths are the sweet homes of these people and even some have developed colonies in the areas close to the city.