Social Problems Of Begging In Contemporary Society

Begging is seen as a critical problem in the developing urban centres. Begging in contemporary society is a symptom of a number of social problems including homelessness, poverty, drug addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, lack of education and vocational training, and so on. Begging has developed in to a multi dimensional problem, from voluntary alms giving to forcing patrons to cough up some money. For beggars it’s the problem of their survival, where as for all others it is nuisance.

The Government of Maharashtra passed “The Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959” which criminalizes begging. It was extended to Delhi the next year. According to the Act, “Begging” means-

(a) Soliciting or receiving alms, in a public place whether or not

Moreover, the beggar is also wronging the giver by making illegitimate use of public spaces for private gain. Any public space must not be used by private people for their own profit, which exactly is a beggar doing. Also, no one has a right against any other person to meet their ends. A beggar thus is wronging givers also by encroaching in a public space. According to Kant, beggary is a Categorical Imperative which needs to be abolished. “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” Beggary is wrong in itself as a rational being a person is not using his autonomy to find a means of dignified

But, to achieve that end, should the beggars be rounded up and punished on par with criminals who have committed heinous crimes like rape, attempt to murder etc.? Isn’t beggary a failure of the society as a whole? If everyone is provided with opportunities to live a dignified life, why will a person choose to beg? This act provides for the Certified Institutions where the beggars are housed for the period for which they are sentenced. They are given vocational training like candle making, knitting and weaving. But the fact to be considered here is, from where will they get a capital to start making candles and sell them or who will give them a job as a tailor or a weaver? Since they do not have an employment opportunity to lead a dignified life, they may tend to get back to begging. When the development policies are not inclusive, and poverty alleviation schemes do not reach all the people and fruits of development are only available for the privileged, how can beggars be punished for trying to make their ends meet? Isn’t it the failure of the state to let basic needs met through charity rather than as a right from the state? So, I think the government should focus on creating opportunities to everyone and work towards inclusive poverty alleviation measures rather than punishing the beggars. As it is said in medicine, treat the