Beggar menace on the rise in city:::::Lost Childhood: Children forced to beg, Andaman watches in shame

Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Mar 18: The archipelago, which had no signs of the Beggar menace some years back, is currently witnessing a steady rise in the population of beggars. While tourists’ footfalls have increased substantially, growing numbers particularly underage children are joining the awful profession of beggary in various parts of the city. Whether human trafficking or voluntary is behind the sudden increase of beggars’ population, slack administrative action in curbing the menace has upset residents.
“The rise in number of beggars in the city is unhealthy development and the authorities should initiate action against them. A numbers of beggars can be seen stalking after people asking for money in every locality. Some others come with picture of God and ask money. Moreover, watching children engaged in beggary has upset the islanders. While efforts are being made by the administration to check child labour, there has been no initiative to prevent children from the menace of beggary,” said some residents of Aberdeen Bazar.
The SBI main branch and bus stand has become a happy begging ground for these beggars, most of whom are not Islanders.
Andaman Sheekha has photographs of one such girl child who is engaged in begging. This little girl takes his blind father all the places and begs for money on behalf of her father and in between she also brings out some time to play. “It is very painful sight. Such a little girl who should have been in school is begging on Andaman road on behalf of her blind father. On one had government has launched Beti Padao Beti Bachao Scheme and on the other hand we see girl child begging on roads,” said another resident of Aberdeen Bazaar.
The administration should take immediate steps to control the menace. Beggars from these islands should be rehabilitated and efforts should be made to provide them some kind of training so that they can earn their livelihood. For those landing here from mainland, the administration should launch a drive and send them back to their native places, as it was done in late 1990s.