Beggars storm Peshawar: Begging rises as district admin fails to implement ban

PESHAWAR: With hundreds of beggars seeking alms from commuters, pedestrians and shopkeepers daily, the district administration has failed to implement its decision to ban beggary in the provincial capital.

Though many appreciated the decision of imposing a ban on begging, they asked the provincial and district governments to first arrange jobs or a stipend for the beggars along with regular or evening schooling for the kids so they can become useful citizens.

Quite a large number of male and female beggars from 5 years old children to 80 years old senior citizens can be seen seeking alms at traffic signals and outside restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, footpaths, streets and virtually everywhere.

Though some beg due to extreme poverty and to support their large families, the majority are professional beggars who are either drug addicts or find begging easier than doing any job to earn livelihood.

Some of them ask for Rs10 or 20 directly and others look for financial support while selling cheap food items or having a bottle of water and a brush to clean windscreen. None of these kids go to school, adding to the number of out of school children in the province.

Many women are seen on footpaths with young kids in their lap. It is often an attempt to seek sympathy for them due to their poverty or because they are suffering from some serious illness. There are reports that some of these women intoxicate these kids. An overdose can even claim their life.

A number of women also visit houses and shops in villages, suburban and urban areas. Some of them are said to be involved in theft and other crimes. The district administration through a notification last month imposed ban on begging in Peshawar. It argued that the decision was taken to avoid any untoward incident.

The notification stated that there is apprehension of breach of peace, public tranquillity and uncertainty among the general public of the area so imposition of Section 144 to ban beggars is necessary to maintain peace and avoid any untoward incident.

The decision of the district government, however, could not be implemented. There are still thousands of beggars who can be seen in trade centres, traffic signals and streets. Many visit homes and shops from early morning till midnight.

“I along with my kids beg in the streets because my spouse is a drug addict and he stays at home,” said a female beggar in Saddar Bazaar. She was begging with her minor daughter and son. The children should have been in school. The woman, who belongs to Muzaffargarh in Punjab, said she was living in a tent with her family and managed to earn Rs 600 to 700 a day. A child cleaning windscreens of cars at a traffic signal in Peshawar Saddar said he earned Rs 400 to 500 a day and gave it to his father to support the family.