Begging in the city has now become a thriving business. These days beggars of all ages are found in plenty in the city. They are a nuisance and people — locals and tourists alike — have expressed great resentment over the administration’s inaction in this regard.
Khyndailad and Barabazar are the favourite hot spots for beggars. But residents in other localities have also complained that the number of beggars is on the rise in their localities as well.
Beggars, mostly minors, following pedestrians often clinging on to their clothes and belongings are a common sight in Khyndai Lad. Another common sight that greets people in Khyndai Lad is that of beggars lying on the middle of the road obstructing passers-by.
Then there is the case of a beggar at Keating Road, who proudly displays some sort of ID proof and begs from people passing through the area. Saturdays are the favourite hunting days for beggars especially at GS Road, where scores of beggars line up along the footpath outside a temple seeking alms and offerings in the form of food, fruits etc., from devotees who come in large number to the temple every Saturday. These beggars have been blocking traffic and obstructing pedestrian movement for years now.
A lady while recollecting an incident said, “Once I came out of a restaurant in Police Bazar when I was approached by a minor girl who begged from me. When I refused she created a scene by following me for atleast three minutes in the area.
“It was so embarrassing as if I have borrowed money from her,” she added.
A resident from Jhalupara said, “Their numbers increases especially on Thursdays when they go begging from door to door.”
What is necessary to note is that the State Government had, a few years back, banned begging in the State. But the ban has remained on paper only all these years as the Government has hardly done anything to either remove them or initiate some sort of measures for their rehabilitation.
When contacted, Shillong Municipal Board CEO T Lyngwa gave a tame reply: “As of now we don’t have any plans but we do have some plans for the future.”
When asked about the plans, he said, “We will evict them as usual.”
One wonders why the SMB CEO has to wait for the future to initiate action against beggars. Is the ban already in place not good enough? (By Aafaque Hussain)