KOCHI: Kochi is besieged by alms seekers and is no longer the beggar free-zone that it was hailed as in 2003. With over 5,000 beggars coming in every day, begging has become a serious problem. The most common haunts of these people are the junctions, traffic signals, public places like the parks and also places of worship. Some of their favourite spots in the city are the North Overbridge, Kaloor bus stand, MG Road and Vyttila hub. Even places like Perumbavoor, Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam and Aluva are plagued by beggars.
One of the reasons behind a spurt in the number of alms seekers in the city is the lack of space at the relief and rehabilitation centres in the district. Even though many organisations are working towards rehabilitating beggars, their efforts get restricted by their inability to accommodate more.
The magnitude of the problem is highlighted by the space issue faced by Palluruthy Relief Settlement. “The centre has over 220 inhabitants although it can actually accommodate only 120 to 150 persons,” said A B Sabu, Welfare Standing Committee Chairman, Kochi Corporation.
The space problem at Palluruthy centre might get mitigated. A new centre is coming up, Sabu said. “Under the NULM programme of the Central government, we bought a property at Edakochi. A new centre which can accommodate more will be built on this plot. We are, however, facing some opposition from groups in the area who want an open-air auditorium or a playground on the plot. We are trying to solve the issue,” he added.
Inflow, Hesitation and Expense
According to social workers, the number of alms seekers in the city has gone up due to fresh arrivals from other states. Majority of them are brought into the city by organised gangs. “Even though some of them are genuinely homeless or unable to eke out a living through physical labour, a majority of them belong to groups which have turned begging into a means of making money without shedding sweat,” said Murugan, founder Theruvoram, an NGO. According to him, beggars belonging to organised gangs are dropped off at specific places in trucks and mini lorries in the night. In the morning they disperse, collect money and regroup again at the appointed places to be picked up.
“Beggars in the city collect up to Rs 1,500 per day. I feel distributing food in the streets must stop. Most of these people are part of begging gangs and hence should not be encouraged. The people who go about distributing food are not aware of the reality,” he added.He said Theruvoram in collaboration with the Social Justice Department runs Theruvu velicham programme under which beggars are rehabilitated.
“There are many with mental disabilities, contagious diseases and open wounds languishing on the streets. When we take them in we must be equipped to take care of them. Theruvu velicham has just five staffers who are paid meagre amounts as a grant. At present we have 85 inmates, which is beyond our actual capacity of 50. We are forced to shift many to centres in other districts,” he said. “The government gives Rs 100 per person to meet their medical expenses.”
Menace in trains
Thumping sticks, clanging cymbals and singing songs many are a frequent sight in trains. Though their styles might be different, their aim same. Extorting money from the gullible by playing on their sympathetic side. A lady police officer who is posted at the South Railway Station has apprehended more than 40 beggars in the past four months.
“At first I used to buy them food but soon realised it was not practical since their numbers kept increasing. One of the most heartbreaking incidents happened a month ago. I found a woman on the platform. She was sleeping in her own faeces and urine. I called an organisation and they took her to a government hospital. I saw her at North railway station sometime later, again in a similar state.
When I contacted the organisation, they took her to another health care and rehabilitation centre. She is getting better now,” said Reema Jeevan, WCPO, South Railway Station.
At traffic signals
Not only these alms seekers hassle you with their persistence, but also sometimes have been found to be violent. They station themselves at the traffic junctions and pester drivers who stop their vehicles at the signal. According to a motorist, a woman at MG Road becomes aggressive and lashes at the windows of the vehicles with her cane if not obliged with. There have been many incidences of people getting pinched or being at the receiving end of foul language when they refuse to cede to the demands of these alms-seekers. Isha, a student, shared her experience. “A beggar comes to our house every month. He is from Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. My father managed to get that much information out of him. The guy speaks Malayalam well and becomes very aggressive if we give him a rupee or two,” she said. According to Reema, the rehabilitation centres can’t tackle the problem all by themselves. “The traffic and railway police can work together with the rehabilitation organisations and can put a stop to this menace while helping the genuine cases,” said the police officer.