Colony is not a solution to beggary

A visit to Beggars’ Colony six months after 106 inmates  who died due to unhygienic living conditions, lack of proper medical care and food infected with E.coli bacteria showed that pains have been taken to avert such incidents.

As one enters the colony, lush gardens of cabbage, bitter gourd and other vegetables greet the visitor. The rehabilitation centre and training facilities are no longer left to decay. Besides receiving training in weaving, book binding, gardening, carpentry, tailoring and coir making, the inmates also attend literary classes. Those who can read and write have nearly 2,500 books to choose from in the library. And those who cannot are being taught to sign their names, at least.

Whether it was due to the horrible deaths in August, the subsequent enquiry by the CID or the new approach of the administration, the colony in Kamakshipalya is no longer the Auschwitz of Bangalore.

However, the colony does not have a permanent solution to ending beggary in the state. The administration in the colony itself admits to this, when they say, “most people who complete their time here go back to begging.”

One of the officials at the colony, on conditions of anonymity, said, “It is a waste of time conducting these programmes for beggars. They enjoy a life of no work and easy money. The minute they get out of here, they return to begging.”

He recalls that a few months ago, nearly 15 inmates were sent as assistant cooks and cleaners to various hostels, with a pay of Rs3,000 per month, along with food and accommodation. “Not one person remained there. All of them went back to begging,” he said. 

There are several loopholes in the working of the colony. “For instance,” he says, “there is no monitoring facility. While the inmates are here, they do what we say. They take part in the rehabilitation programmes to fight boredom during their stay here. Once they get out, they start begging.”

He admits that occasionally this is because an outsider will not give the beggar a job. “Beggars do not have an address. No person gives someone who has no address a job. Everyone is suspicious,” he adds.

Addiction is another reason for inmates going back to begging. Dr NG Narayan, who replaced Dr Harimurthy at the colony, says, “Some are addicted to tobacco and alcohol. We find  out only when they start showing withdrawal symptoms. But since this is not a de-addiction centre, we do what we can, within our limits.”

There are many child beggars on the streets. They are left out as the colony has provision only to accommodate those above 18 years of age. It avoids female beggars with children. If at all such women are admitted, the child is separated from mother if it is above two years old.

B Nirmala, first division assistant, says. “There is no solution to beggary. None of the inmates here will agree that they were caught in the act of begging. And not one of them will make use of the rehabilitation programmes to start life afresh. It is impossible to rehabilitate the inmates when they themselves do not want it.”