Children and the vicious trap of beggary – Newspaper – DAWN.COM

THIS refers to the report ‘Security guard kills minor boy selling toys in Clifton' (Nov 14). The incident in an affluent urban area is yet another slap in the face for our social system and lawmakers at large.

A while ago in the same area, two men were reported to have abducted and raped a minor street beggar child, and there are uncounted similar incidents that are perhaps just brushed under the rug by the mighty and the powerful.

Regardless of which party is heading the government at any point in time, the evil of beggary, especially involving minors, is the ugliest and the most disgusting sight one comes across on the streets. It is a shame that we talk about child labour all the time, but leave our children to fend for themselves on the streets.

Hundreds and thousands of street children roam the streets of Karachi. They are exposed to molestation, drug abuse, child trafficking and all sort of heinous crimes. The criminals keep an eye on them because society does not.

Everyone knows that it is not merely a poverty-driven issue. There is a well-knit and highly influential mafia behind the malaise. Needless to say, such mafias can be crushed should our lawmakers use proper force and stringent measures against them.

The government should put a strict ban on beggary, put the beggars in rehabilitation centres and minors in children rehabilitation centres or orphanages. Adult beggars must be employed to do whatever work the government can find for them, and if they escape and indulge in beggary again, they should be nabbed and put behind bars.

Farrukh Safdar
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2022