In a city like Mumbai, when stuck at the signal, the chance
of meeting a beggar/eunuch is in the ratio of 3/5. Be it guilt, be it pity, or
just the wish to get them out of our sight - we have a tendency of entertaining
these people… especially when they are kids who give you a look of being malnourished…
or if they are aged or handicapped (or pretending to be handicapped… whatever
applicable)
Religious places are banks for most of them… we have been
brought up to believe (not all… but a few) that by giving money to these unprivileged
poor people we will be able to wash away our sins….
But a random thought…. Are these actually the unprivileged??
Those who are not even interested putting an effort towards
earning their daily bread… those who would go to any extent to lure you into
shelling out a few coins…. Those for whom, kids are just a mode of earning more
money… do these actually suffer from something called as POVERTY??
Lets paint something else…
Ever came across a hawker?? An ugly roadside hawker who is
carrying tons of weight on his/her head and moving around….. in trains… in
markets… on roads…. Trying to find a few people who would buy what they have to
offer… sometimes in the form of an handicap who finds his way in and out... sometimes kids singing and doing acrobatic stunts.... sometimes really old people who sell small things here and there??
Another picture…..
You go to a market… may be to buy vegetables…. Just next to
the vegetable hawker…. Sits a kid… who is trying to study… a hawker who is
making every effort to try to educate this kid… so that one fine day they could
live
a life and not each day at a time…
The same scenario can be applied to your household maid…
goes to tens of houses on a daily basis… cleans and washes dirt… If you
talk to her… she will tell you… she has a child…. She wants a better life for
him… she wants to educate the boy so that he could take care of her when she
can work no longer… she wants a better life for her daughter… she wants her to get married to someone who could take care of her so that she doesn't end up like her...
They live every day as it comes… without giving up… they
fight your stares… eat what you give them… wear your thrown clothes…. You treat
them like they are invisible… at times even like a beggar…
Isn’t it worth a thought??
There are a set of people who haven’t given up yet… who are
trying their best… to fight circumstances… to win….
Would it not be a better idea to help them in achieving
their goals rather than helping those who don’t even want to try… who probably
are enjoying on someone else’ hard earned money…
I have a family friend (m not taking names here)… Every year
the entire family shells out some money… not much… a collective of a couple of
thousands… purchases stationary and distributes it amongst the nearby kids…
Not much of an effort on their end, but they for sure are
doing something that is adding towards making someone’s life better…. Aint that
enough???
So may be… the next time you feel like giving something to
the beggar… think twice… are you putting it at the right place…. Is poverty
really on the streets??
8 comments:
very nice thought shabnam....totally agree wid you on your thoughts..betetr to help smone who dsnt ask fr it but surely deserves.
from a person who has worked with financing and educating underprivileged kids - more than money, it would help if good quality time can be spent in teaching them
Good post Shabnam :) Even though your thought is totally logical, it's still hard to fight the urge to donate something to them. In that moment when somebody asks me for money, I end up thinking, "Are these 2 rupees more valuable to me or him?" And usually, the answer is him.
You painted different pictures!!! It can be tricky to have vantage point of 'poverty' or 'underprivileged'. I remember a post I read yesterday on facebook which went something like this- We think Rs. 20 is too much to give to a beggar and too less for a tip at a restaurant.
Unfortunately, charity is very less India, which needs it the most; probably because of skepticism whether it will really reach the needy!
@abhay... M glad to share similar thoughts.. :)
@Archana.... I completely agree... this is just to show the other side of poverty... :)
@Praveen... Thanks... and i do agree to your point of view as well... its just that when i have two options it becomes difficult to decide on something...
@Kunal.... yep.. thats the mindset that we go out with... And i agree that its a bit dicey to do charity through third party... i was mostly referring to just lending a helping hand... charity may not be the only way of accomplishing that..
Very good post! In the US there have been articles in the past about beggars on the streets there. Some found that they earned more money as a beggar than they did in good jobs. One man was a lawyer and said he earned more living on the streets - or rather pretending to live on the streets. As it turned out he had a very nice house and the begging filled his bank account much faster than his law degree. It was just sad. Also, beggars in the US often times spend most of the money on alcohol or drugs so there they've become looked at as addicts so when someone is legitimately in need no one realizes it very easily. When I see beggars here in India I often wonder if they are really in need or if they are begging because the money is good. Some of them are too cute not to give money to though.
good one.. well expressed :)
all kind of people are there with us :)
Dee..
@kristy: Thanks for understanding my point of view. If we at our personal fronts could make efforts to ensure that we give people who struggle some respect i am sure that times will change and everyone will get their due in the society... :)
Thank @dee :) :)
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