Beggary a Social Stigma: Poverty or Mindset
Developing countries like India’s economic growth is quite visible through infrastructural and industrial growth in metros but the same is overshadowed by the poor plight of beggars in these cities, Social security in develop countries prevent begging for some extent but enable to change their mindset.
According to a study in the journal of the Canadian Medical Association, “(70%) of beggars stated that they would prefer a minimum-wage job, typically citing a desire for a ‘steady income’ or ‘getting off the street.’ However, many felt they could not handle conventional jobs because of mental illness, physical disability or lack of skills.” Begging has been restricted or prohibited at various times and for various reasons, typically revolving around a desire to preserve public order or to induce people to work rather than to beg for economic or moral reasons. Various European Poor Laws prohibited or regulated begging from the Renaissance to modern times, with varying levels of effectiveness and enforcement.
Many religions have prescribed begging as the only acceptable means of support for certain classes of adherents, including Christianity, Hinduism, Sufi Islam, Buddhism and Jainism, typically to provide a way for certain adherents to focus exclusively on spiritual development without the possibility of becoming caught up in worldly affairs.
Many NGOs, non-profit private organizations and corporations are helping disadvantaged populace from various segments. But this segment has not received the requisite assistance and attention to change their mindset by proper incentivize and sensitize for alternative means of livelihood.
