I have mostly lived in Delhi since my childhood and have witnessed its remarkable growth. In the 1960s, encountering child beggars was rare. Beggars were often adults who collected alms on the streets or visited homes. By the 1990s, when I worked in an office at Connaught Place, I would occasionally see a young girl selling evening newspapers, especially when my boss gave me a lift. We often bought newspapers from her. Even then, the presence of child beggars was infrequent.
However, today the scenario has drastically changed. According to available data, Delhi has around 70,000 street children, with nearly 40,000 engaged in begging. This alarming figure raises serious concerns in a city known for its vibrant culture and diversity. The sight of child beggars at traffic signals—innocent faces deprived of their childhood and forced into survival—presents one of the most distressing contrasts between wealth and poverty. Despite significant economic development, the issue of child begging persists. It underscores the urgent need for collective action from society, policymakers, and individuals to address the root causes and find sustainable solutions.
Child Begging in India: A Multifaceted Issue
Child begging in India is not merely a symptom of poverty; it stems from a web of socio-economic disparities, lack of education, and systemic exploitation. Tragically, it is not only organized gangs exploiting children—certain marginalized tribes are also involved. For instance, the Pardhi community, known as Kanjar or Kanjarbhat in some regions, has historically been associated with child beggary, especially in Rajasthan and parts of northern and central India.
These communities have long faced discrimination and are often linked to organized networks where children are forced to beg at railway stations, from passing trains, and on city streets. However, it is important to note that the exploitation is often driven by larger criminal syndicates, not necessarily the community itself. Authorities in states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have made efforts to combat organized child begging and human trafficking, yet these measures have so far proven inadequate.
Recently, seeing children on the streets evokes memories of train journeys through Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Children, some as young as 8 to 10 years old, would bang on train compartments with sticks or stones, pleading for alms. Today, the experience is echoed at traffic signals, where children exhibit a striking persistence and seem well-trained. This heartbreaking reality underscores the urgent need for comprehensive interventions by society, policymakers, and individuals.
Causes of Child Begging
- Poverty and Unemployment:
Extreme poverty often drives families to use begging as a survival strategy. It becomes even more troubling when children are left to fend for themselves or used as additional sources of income by families or organized criminal gangs. In some cases, these exploitative groups also force children into selling pirated books, counterfeit goods, or engaging in criminal activities—an unacceptable violation of their rights. - Lack of Education:
Despite legal provisions for free education, many children are deprived of schooling. This may be due to a lack of awareness among parents or the belief that children begging evoke more sympathy and generate more income than they would in school—a practice that must be addressed. - Trafficking and Exploitation:
Criminal syndicates often traffic children and coerce them into begging. While there have been crackdowns, the persistence of such activities near police stations, even in affluent areas of Delhi, underscores the apathy of law enforcement. - Natural Disasters and Migration:
Natural disasters and rural-to-urban migration leave many children vulnerable on city streets. However, these instances should diminish over time, highlighting the need for better disaster management and resettlement policies.
The Cycle of Exploitation
Organized begging mafias often kidnap or coerce children into begging, using threats, physical abuse, or drugs to control them. In some cases, disabled children are deliberately targeted or even maimed to evoke more sympathy.
Impact on Children
The life of a child beggar is marked by deprivation, abuse, and lost opportunities. The impact extends beyond the immediate struggle for survival:
- Physical and Mental Health Issues:
- Malnutrition, exposure to harsh weather, and lack of medical care are common.
- Continuous exposure to abuse and neglect leads to psychological trauma, affecting mental health.
- Loss of Childhood and Education:
a. Begging robs children of their right to education, keeping them trapped in a cycle of poverty.
b. Without education, their future prospects remain bleak, perpetuating the cycle for the next generation.
Government and Societal Efforts
Several initiatives have been launched to address the issue, yet challenges persist:
- Government Programs:
- Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS): Aims to provide care, support, and rehabilitation to vulnerable children.
- Midday Meal Scheme: Encourages school attendance by providing free meals.
- Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs): Set up to rescue and rehabilitate trafficked children.
- Role of NGOs and Civil Society:
- Organizations like Bachpan Bachao Andolan and CRY (Child Rights and You) work tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate child beggars.
- Community-driven initiatives provide vocational training and education to rescued children.
- Legal Framework:
- Juvenile Justice Act: Provides a framework for the care and protection of children.
- Prohibition of Child Labour Act: Aims to curb the exploitation of children in labour and begging.
The Way Forward
To truly address the issue of child begging, a multi-faceted approach is needed:
- Strengthen Law Enforcement:
Crack down on trafficking and begging mafias with stricter enforcement of existing laws. - Enhance Rehabilitation Programs:
Create more shelters and rehabilitation centers focused on education, counseling, and skill development. - Public Awareness and Responsibility:
Educate the public on the dangers of giving money directly to child beggars, which often perpetuates exploitation.
Encourage support for legitimate charities and organizations working to address the root causes. - Empower Families:
Provide economic support and vocational training for families in vulnerable communities to prevent them from resorting to begging.
Conclusion: A Shared Responsibility
The plight of child beggars is a collective failure that reflects deep societal inequities. Addressing it requires compassion, systemic change, and active participation from every segment of society. As citizens, we must shift from passive sympathy to active engagement—supporting policies, organizations, and initiatives that can break the cycle of exploitation. Only then can we hope to give these children the future they deserve—a life of dignity, education, and opportunity.
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