Editorial | Begging Menace in Kashmir

Kashmir valley is witnessing a record number of tourist influx on one hand while on the other hand there has been no let up in non-local beggars inundating numerous locations around the valley, and the numbers are only snowballing with time. Not only non locals but the local women, children and men are increasingly resorting to the begging menace, adding to the worries of people. Men, women, and kids who are mostly non locals can be seen all around the cities and towns, begging for alms. Particularly in Srinagar city, women and children literally throng everywhere from busy streets to various shops, bridges to public transportation, traffic lights to bus stops. The administration has not provided enough answers to any of the many questions concerning the mushrooming of beggars. There should be an investigation into where these people come from, especially in such big numbers and who transports them here. Unconventional sources claim that several agents run a “mafia” within the city that earns them a handsome amount of money. These agents, who have been in charge of this begging business for a while, oversee every step of the process, from bringing labourers into the valley to dispersing them. With huge groups of outsiders arriving in the valley solely for the purpose of begging , it is a worrying sign that calls for government involvement. While attempts are being made to make Srinagar a smart city, there are still many obstacles to be crossed over such as the issue of congested beggars. The onus lies on the administration to stop the nuisance and take into account what the situation evidently demands of.  Begging is a menace and it must be gotten rid of for the larger welfare of the society.