Beggars
A picture published in The Daily Star dated 03-02-10 of street beggars has drawn my attention. It is stated that the Tejgaon zone of Dhaka Metropolitan police launched a weeklong drive against street beggars in a bid to reduce petty crimes and relieve city dwellers of horrific pestering by beggars. On the first day, police picked up over 100 beggars. But as the government shelters cannot accommodate them, they were freed on the outskirts of the capital and the drive ended. Is it believable that the government cannot make accommodation for beggars while going for huge expenditures like buying duty free luxury cars for lawmakers?
Then, what is the use of such drive costing time and money? It is a pity that 40% of our population are below poverty level, while 20 % ultra poor are being denied the basic human needs. The beggars being the valued voters as well as citizens of the country should not in general be blamed for petty crimes. There is no denying that beggars have been created by injustice, deprivation, oppression and suppression. The government programmes are found lavish in nature and a section of people maintain extravagant life while beggars suffer through a precarious existence. What a contrast ! Our country is poor but all the people are not poor!
As a nation we are poor, but rich in misuse and wastage which has become part of our culture. Our culture and habits have also contributed to creation of beggars. Like the anti-corruption department we need to create anti- misuse department to bring misuse to its minimum level and thus help reduce poverty. The beggars need to be rehabilitated and provided with jobs and other basic needs of human life.
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