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by Steve A. Morrell

Austrian city of Groz

Beggars were a nuisance. The Police were called in. (Unlike most Third World, or as we know like to call ourselves, Developing Countries,) schooled in basics of social development they employed applicable tools at their command, not negative, draconian methods but persuasion, reasonable suggestions of gainful employment, and rehabilitation. They failed.

The Government then decided on appropriate action. (The constructive end result of police action facilitated general census of beggars). Each beggar was paid 3,500 Austrian shillings, or $ 260 each month to keep them off the streets. They accepted the money and left the streets.

The Government was confident they had at long last solved this obstacle. Two months later they began trickling back. Staked their street territory, and it was business as usual. (Beggars everywhere have their claimed street locations). Sociologists continued to study the problem to formulate plausible solutions but although workable options had been identified beneficial alternatives were being tested.

Jeddah

Government forces beggars off the streets. Police were instructed to round up all beggars for re-settlement, and employment. 675 beggars were identified and offered rehabilitation.

The plan worked for some time. But within a short time these beggars resented the control of organised living and soon they were back on the streets and working their usual beats.

They found that quite a number were foreigners from neighbouring countries.

The Netherlands

Sunday in Amsterdam quite like most cities, is leisurely; and the music is first class. Small groups, solo musicians, all with neat squares of cloth in front, so people could listen and 'contribute', as many Guilders (Now Euros) as possible. Many are young musicians or students earning extra money for whatever reason. These people are certainly not beggars. But that is just outside Amsterdam Central. Move further into the city and the beggars would be there. Mainly young druggies and older men. You do not 'Contribute', they follow you, intimidate till you part with some cash. You still don't, and they mug you.

India.

Not dis-similar to the Sri Lankan beggar. Gives the impression of abject poverty, Begging has become a highly skilled exercise.

Jordan

Child beggars use mobile phones. Begging in Jordan is an organised racket. Using their mobile phones they warn each other of police patrols. These fleet footed child beggars are trained to slip in and slip out of the streets, and are supervised by a self appointed 'god father'. An elusive underworld figure who commands these children, who are also trained in petty crime. Apart from being a nuisance they also are adept at slitting through hand bags, and wallets. They are so good that the victim does not know he or she has been robbed.

Sri Lanka

Not long ago a voluntary organisation in a Hill Country outpost town found that beggars were a public nuisance. The police seemed powerless. The town was important for the tourist trade, because it was a transit point to the east coast. Beggars were a blemish which hampered influx of foreign visitors. Shops were constantly badgered for handouts. Shoppers were incessantly harassed. At night the central bus stand, and railway station were dens of iniquity. Night travellers were not safe.

This group which comprised a cross section of all religious denominations, mobilised support of the Catholic and Christian churches, the high priest of the Muthyangana Temple, and the Aiyar of the Hindu Kovil. They took to the street to take a census of the beggar population. At first it seemed a hopelessly frustrating exercise. Later sufficient funds were collected to give all beggars one meal, soap, and Rs. 50 as a weekly allowance. Attracted by the free meal there were regular lunch 'guests'.

The end result was 52 beggars were on role, more or less who came in as regulars. They were able to get suitable placings for 41.

In this instance too, as in other countries, three or 4 months later the beggars returned to the street. Being an up-country town, jobs offered were mainly in the plantations. The social welfare group who had painstakingly put together this well structured programme were shattered and at a loss to encounter the stark fact of failure. The group included young people in their late twenties or mid-thirties. All in responsible employment, and some were married with families.

Not accepting defeat, they went back to the street to ascertain where they faltered. They were in for a shock. Results of a sample survey revealed that these street people resented work, and discipline and preferred freedom of the street. Beggar rehabilitation was abandoned and chalked-up as a frustrating exercise in procrastination. They said they could divert their energies to more socially rewarding pursuits.

Colombo: and the peace process

There are many categories of beggars. But one outstanding feature was that they all said they were happy the peace process was holding. This was a completely strange phenomenon.

How could the peace process affect beggars? "We can now go about our business without fear of bombs, or guns". "Quite a number of our people have died on the street. Further more people are generous. We can go about our 'work' knowing we would see the sun tomorrow. One important result of all this is that very often we get 10, 20, or sometimes Rs. 50 notes. People have money. Bless them".

Getting these responses was a long process in time and patience. Which in itself presented awesome alternatives. Developing a credible approach was one aspect of the survey but building confidence and establishing communication was quite often a traumatic encounter. Being dispatched as an intruder, or encroacher of street territory, with choice invective was embarrassing to say the least.

Varying categories

The plus factors which kept them on the streets varied in keeping with 'seasons' measured through the movement of people gatherings. They were now looking forward to the months November through April. The biggest draw factors being tourists and Christmas. Specially Christmas. 'Everybody would have money. Everybody was in a 'giving' mood. Other festivals which attracted them was the April New Year season, Wesak, and the Vel festival.

Additionally, interesting was that they would follow pilgrims to Talawila, Madhu, Kataragama, Adam's Peak, and sometimes the Poson season in Mahiyangana. They would travel like every other person using public transport. The oozing sores, blindness, a deformed leg, would all disappear for the journey, and miraculously reappear in time for 'business'. This happens on command.

An oozing sore could be simulated with a dirty bandage, dry fish juice, and a dab of honey to attract flies. Blindness could often be brought on in a person with perfectly good sight. All it takes is practice. Almost any malady could be reduplicated at will. Then there are the 'gentleman' beggars. Quite well dressed who are also good story tellers. Through repetition so often, they con their way with long sob stories.

The end result is that the victim parts with at least Rs. 100. The quarry is targeted at a church, traffic lights, usually those in cars. Ten takings a day is an average. Fifteen or more is a good day's work. These beggars do not have street territories but migrate from one site to another to avoid recognition and antagonism (from their 'colleagues'). A favourite sob line is 'I have run out of petrol, could you please lend 100? I'll return it'. No 'suit' would say 'no'.

Women are no exception. From taking on children on hire for the day, and home visits, (they all have at least 3 starving children at home), women operators completely outshine men, in guile, sympathy, and wretchedness. Their dress, often torn sometimes scanty, usually young, not bad looking although dirty, appeals to sexuality in men. Their daily income too is more than their men partners.

The begging business

Begging has become a specialised operation and is substantial business. A friend from Australia, who migrated in the '70s, whose children, now in university and in employment, decided to show them their roots. They visited Sri Lanka last year, for the first time and apart from the usual attractions this country has to offer, the beggars stood out as a shocking indictment on the middle class in this country. The young lady in the group was wrapped in sympathy that she gave this beggar, a man, with a woman and 2 children, A$200 and he invited her to his house. She returned having parted with a substantial hamper, and clothes for this family. She also decided to 'adopt' them. She described their house. They had a suite of furniture, a modern radio, and a small TV Which to her mind was abject poverty. She revised her opinion when she heard the facts. But that did not deter her from generally damning us all for the beggars she saw.

Could we do something?

The classic example of the outpost town in the plantation areas comes to mind. Then again examples of leading cities in the world could be cited as case studies of beggary being a profession rather than force of circumstance. It may therefore not be quite that shocking that an enterprising person could muster the divided income of these beggars into a composite whole, for investment and equitable re-distribution. Dr. Yunus, and what he has done for the poor villagers of Bangladesh comes immediately to mind. We need an innovative person similar to the thinking of Dr. Yunus in our country as well.

It may not be out of context to speculate, that if such a person could be found, it would be the permanent answer to keep beggars out of the streets.

Rather than have them 'Engulf and Devour' an emerging way of life to the general citizenry of this country, which in time could enjoy the fruits of hard work.

(With acknowledgement to Dr. Nandasena Ratnapala, Author of 'The Beggar in Sri Lanka. And the Lake House Library).

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