Hyderabad: The GHMC has flagged begging as a serious issue, but the government has not put in place strong measures to end the practice, especially when it involves children of school-going age.
A recent example of official apathy was seen at a roadside slum at Kukatpally, opposite Usha Mullapudi Hospital. Only one boy from the settlement went to school, the rest used to go out begging every day and would procure leftover food from restaurants.
Ms K. Yuvaneshwari, an employee of a well-known pharmaceutical firm, who conducts classes in Kukatpally and Chandanagar for children from slums, lodged a complaint with the 1098 Child Line two months ago regarding children begging in the area. No action was taken.
Ms Yuvaneshwari said, “A person came and took photographs of the children begging, saying that it was required as evidence. He said that it was an observational study and would be done in nearby areas too to identify child beggars and action would be taken. However, it has been two months and the children are still begging.”
When contacted, an official of the women development and child welfare department said, “Rescuing child beggars is a tough task. When we went to Kukatpally to rescue children, the parents stopped us. Sometimes they attack rescuers even in the presence of police. Often ministers and MLAs have called us after rescue operations to release the rescued children. Even lawyers are sent to free them.”
The officer narrated an incident in Kukatpally, where four boys were rescued and sent to a residential school. Three of them were brought back by their parents. “Parents camp outside rehabilitation homes and create ruckus until their children are freed,” he said.
The official added, “Rescuing children won’t be of any use as they will return to begging. The government should counsel families against making their children beg. Begging must be prohibited and people should be barred from giving alms, at least to child beggars.”
Residence proof proves big hurdle for parents
Parents who want their kids in school rather than out in the streets begging don’t know how to go ahead, as school officials ask for residence proof to give admission.
Mr Yallesh from RR district has been living in a shack at Kukatpally since years. He said, “I want my 7-year-old daughter to go to school. I tried at the government school in Kukatpally and at a residential government school in RR district. At both schools, the headmaster told us to furnish Aadhaar card as residence proof. I do not have a house. How can I furnish residence proof?”
He said that representatives of some NGOs had offered to admit his daughter in a school but there is no word from them. Parents of child beggars want their children go to residential schools.
Another parent from the same slum said, “The government school nearby is of no use. They will go to school, but once they are back they will go begging. If they are sent to residential schools they will get basic necessities and their attention will not get diverted to begging.”
