2024-2025

SOCIOLOGY

MENANCE OF BEGGARY IN INDIA

SUBMITTED BY DANIYA D – GRADE 12 TEAK

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HYPOTHESES
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METHODOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

BEGGING CARTEL IN INDIA

DEFINITION

CAUSES

MEASURES

CONCLUSION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
BIBLOGRAPHY

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HYPOTHESES
1. Economic Factors Hypotheses

 "Areas with higher unemployment rates will have a

higher incidence of beggars."

Unemployment and economic instability can lead to

increased levels of poverty, which may drive individuals to
beg.

 "Beggary rates will be higher in regions with greater

income inequality."

Income inequality can exacerbate poverty and

marginalization, leading to increased begging as a survival
strategy.

2. Social and Psychological Factors Hypotheses

 "Individuals who have experienced recent homelessness

are more likely to engage in begging than those who have
not."

Homelessness often results in economic and social

vulnerabilities that might lead individuals to beg for survival.

 "Begging is more prevalent among individuals with

mental health issues compared to those without such
issues."

Mental health problems can limit individuals’ ability to find

stable employment and support themselves, potentially
leading to begging.

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3. Cultural and Societal Factors Hypotheses

 "Beggary rates will be higher in culturally or religiously

conservative societies where social safety nets are less
developed."

In conservative societies with less social support, individuals

might turn to begging as a last resort.

 "Cities with high tourist activity will have higher rates of

visible begging compared to cities with lower tourist
activity."

Tourist areas often attract more attention from beggars due to

the potential for higher income from generous tourists.

4. Legal and Policy Factors Hypotheses

 "Areas with stricter anti-begging laws will have lower

visible begging rates but higher rates of informal or
covert begging."

Strict laws might reduce visible begging but not necessarily

address the underlying causes, leading to more covert forms
of begging.

 "The presence of comprehensive social welfare programs

is negatively correlated with the incidence of beggary."

Effective social welfare programs might reduce the need for

begging by providing financial support and resources to
those in need.

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5. Demographic Factors Hypotheses

 "Beggary is more common among specific demographic

groups, such as single mothers or elderly individuals,
compared to the general population."

Certain demographics might be more vulnerable to

economic hardship and thus more likely to engage in
begging.

 "The proportion of beggars who are migrants will be

higher in urban areas compared to rural areas."

Migrants often face difficulties integrating into local

economies, potentially leading to higher begging rates in
urban centers where migration is more common.

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 METHODOLOGY

 LITERARY MATERIALS USED

o Academic Journals: Search databases like JSTOR, Google

Scholar, and PubMed for peer-reviewed articles on beggary.
Look for studies on its causes, effects, and societal
responses.
o Books: Look for comprehensive texts on poverty and social
issues that include chapters on beggary.
o Reports: Examine reports from NGOs, government agencies,
and research institutions that study poverty and beggary.

 Media Analysis:

News Articles: Analyze articles from various media outlets to

understand how beggary is reported and perceived.

Media Coverage: Track changes in media coverage over time to see

how public perceptions and reporting on beggary have evolved.

 Government and NGO Reports:

Statistical Reports: statistics related to poverty, homelessness, and

beggary from government sources (e.g., Census data, Department of
Social Services).

Research Reports: studies and evaluations from NGOs working on

poverty alleviation and social welfare.

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  Impact Assessment:

The impact of beggary on individuals and communities, including

economic costs, social stigma, and effectiveness of interventions.

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INTRODUCTION

Begging in India has become a big racket in the country. In spite

of its rapid economic growth, India is a poverty-driven country,
which is also leading to the growth of beggars in the country. It is
well settled that the right to life is the right to live with dignity and
with necessities of life required for it. Begging is seen as critical
problem in the developing urban centres. Begging in
contemporary society is a symptom of a number of social
problems including homelessness, poverty, drug addiction,
alcoholism, mental illness, a lack of education and vocational
training, and so on. In India, there is no central law that penalizes
begging. Begging has grown at a significant rate in India. It is
estimated that half a million people in India are beggars. The
government, varied organizations , activists claim that many
measures have been taken to abolish begging and it has been
successful to a certain extent. But as the citizens of this country, it
is our moral responsibility to stop this menace and the best way is
to stop giving alms. Meanwhile, let the government continue with
its poverty alleviation schemes and make India a better place to
live in. India is a social welfare state , it is the responsibility of the
government to develop policies so that all its citizens can achieve
that wholesome life.

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MENACE OF BEGGARY
In spite of its rapid economic growth, India is a poverty-driven
country, which is also leading to the growth of beggars in the
country. It is well settled that the right to life is the right to live with
dignity and with necessities of life required for it. The social
contract between the citizen and the State is a contract by which
in exchange for the citizen ceding her autonomy partially, the
State promises her security over her person and a life with dignity.

BEGGING CARTEL IN INDIA

Begging in India has become a big racket in the country. There
are begging cartels in cities like Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Mumbai,
Kolkata, etc. These gangs have their gang leaders. Each leader
allots a particular territory for a group of beggars and the day’s
earnings are shared among them. It is very difficult to find out who
is a real beggar and who is not because looks are very deceptive.
Even the children with their dirty faces with pleading looks are
properly trained to beg and look real. Sometimes our heart melts
when we see a young woman holding her tiny baby, begging on
the streets. In most cases, the baby is found sleeping. This is a
scam. Many sting operations have revealed that babies are
rented to give credibility to begging. Sometimes, babies are
drugged for the entire day so that they look sick and they can be
easily carried from one area to another by the young women
beggars.

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DEFINITION OF BEGGING
Soliciting or receiving money, clothes or other things ordinarily
given to a beggar, in a public place whether or not by singing,
dancing, fortune-telling, performing or offering any article for sale.
Entering on any private premises to solicit or receive money,
clothes or other things ordinarily given to a beggar. Exposing or
exhibiting, with the object of obtaining or extorting money, clothes
or other things are ordinarily given to a beggar, any sore, wound
injury, deformity of diseases whether of a human being or animal.
Having no visible means of subsistence and wandering, about or
remaining in any public place in such condition or manner, as
makes it likely that the person doing so exists soliciting or
receiving money, clothes or other things ordinarily given to a
beggar. Allowing oneself to be used as an exhibit to solicit or
receive alms. Provisions of the anti-begging laws are highly
arbitrary, the implementation of the law is even more. Anti-
begging squads are to raid public places such as railway stations,
temples, mosques, bus terminus and arrest anybody who looks
poor and homeless. There have been situations where, homeless
or disabled people were perceived to be beggars, based simply
on the fact of their homelessness or disability.

CAUSES OF BEGGING IN INDIA

The problem of beggary, like any other social problem, is
multidimensional. Its roots are found in the diverse patterns of its
intertwined and interlocked social fabrics. Various factors which
are cited as causes of beggary can be grouped into following
heads:

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 Physical Factors: In India, there is no adequate provision for
treatment and social rehabilitation of blind, deaf, dumb or the
physically handicapped. In the absence of any reasonable
alternative, such persons are constrained to beg.
Economic Factors: Economic factors which generally prompt
people to take to begging. Among these factors poverty,
unemployment, under-employment, and loss of income are
important.
Social Factors: Among the social factors, hereditary occupation,
family disorganization, and widowhood are causes of begging.
Natural Calamities: Our physical environment may frustrate us
drastically at times through famines, earthquakes, drought,
cyclones or floods. Sometimes all these natural calamities cause
serious damage to property and agriculture and compel people to
leave their homes and compel them to take to begging to
overcome pangs of hunger.
Psychological Factors: Sometimes, due to bad psychology of the
individual cause beggary Frustration, unwillingness to work and
tendency towards isolation are important among these factors.

STEPS NEEDED TO REHABILITATE BEGGARS

Begging has grown at a significant rate in India. It is estimated
that half a million people in India are beggars. The government,
varied organizations, activists claim that many measures have
been taken to abolish begging and it has been successful to a
certain extent. But as the citizens of this country, it is our moral
responsibility to stop this menace and the best way is to stop

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giving alms. Meanwhile, let the government continue with its
poverty alleviation schemes and make India a better place to live
in. Following footsteps may be taken to rehabilitate beggars:
 Eradicate Poverty: Priority should be given to eradication of
extreme poverty. Though many people take to begging
owing to poverty, it has become a menace. Of late, begging
has become part of organized crime.
 Rehabilitation: Small shelters have to be made and they
need to be imparted skills that would help them land jobs.
They should be made to earn their livelihood by working and
not begging. The government and charitable organizations
should look after people who are aged and physically
challenged.
 Vocational Training: The government should provide the
necessary vocational training to rehabilitate them. The
expenses incurred should be borne by the government. A
government-funded organization should be constituted and
personnel trained to oversee the rehabilitation program.
Beggars who are willing to work should be trained according
to their ability, health, and talent. The ill should be given
medical care, food, and other amenities. Necessary steps
should be taken by the government to collect contributions
from donors by allowing tax rebates.
 Concerted Effort: Social issues associated with begging are
drug trafficking, criminal activities and sexual exploitation of
children. As part of the rehabilitation program, the
corporation has collaborated with a voluntary organization
towards providing food, clothing, and medicines. To reduce
the economic burden, the government should seek the aid of

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 voluntary organizations. However, the activities of voluntary
organizations should be monitored and evaluated.
 Aid Agency Needed: The rehabilitated should be provided
free medical diagnosis, financial support, and ration to the
beggars. Slums may come up in cities and rehabilitation
should be carried out in a judicious manner.
 Create Awareness: People should discourage beggars.
Begging flourishes because people tend to be generous.
Awareness programs need to be conducted for the poor to
help them realize how shameful it is to beg.

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 SUGGESTIONS TO ELIMINATE CHILD BEGGING

 Compulsory schooling for all children

 Sympathetic teachers and child friendly environment in
schools.
 Ban on corporal punishment.
 Compensation to parents/children in form of stipend on the
basis of attendance.
 Punishment to adult guardians and criminals for coercion of
children.
 Punishment for kidnapping and maiming of children.
 Welfare policies for child beggars and their families such as
monetary help, health and residence etc. Good orphanage/
shelter homes for children without close relatives.
 Help to lower income/ poor including temporary emergency
assistance and long term skill development for stable
income and occupation.
 Elimination of beggar mafia.

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CONCLUSION

The basic needs of men have traditionally been accepted to be

food, clothing, and shelter. The right to life is guaranteed in any
civilized society. That would take within its sweep the right to
food, the right to clothing, the right to decent environment and
reasonable accommodation to live in. It remains a hard reality
that the State has not been able to ensure even the bare
essentials of the right to life to all its citizens. People beg on the
streets not because they wish to, but because they need to.
Begging is their last resort to subsistence, they have no other
means to survive. Begging is a symptom of a disease, of the fact
that the person has fallen through the socially created net. As
India is a social welfare state, it is the responsibility of the
government to develop policies so that all its citizens can achieve
that wholesome life. India is also part of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which has a
provision for a right to live with dignity and the lack of any
concrete policies to deal with the issue of beggary and
homelessness is inconsistent with that provision.

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 BIBLOGRAPHY

 Datta, Sandeep, Child begging: The bane of modern India,

Retrieved on 10 August 2013.
 Dennis J. Baker: Critical Evaluation of the Historical and
Contemporary Justifications for Criminalising Begging
(2009).
 Ramanathan, Usha : Ostensible Poverty, Beggary and the
Law (2008).
 Rao, Amiya: Poverty and Power- The Anti-Begging Act
(1981).

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