Sultry sun, dusty roads and unfriendly countenances greet them everyday. The beggars seek the shelter of footpaths and shady trees. Stale food, leftovers, food packets thrown in garbage bins, all these form the daily bread of the beggars.
The rising temperatures is making it difficult for the citizens to come out of the houses, especially during the afternoon hours. Irrespective of the weather conditions, the beggars begin their daily routine of begging.
A disabled woman, who is unable to walk, is seen crawling on the roads, while her three children are ‘dragged’ into beggary. They try to stir the compassion of the passersby by showing their disabled mother and beg for mercy.
Her husband is a drunkard and is found lying on the streets in inebriated condition most of the time. Her elder son is admitted in a hospital in Bangalore and is being treated for a fracture in the leg. Her second son is also an alcoholic. Her other three children support her in beggary. This is the fate of the family.
Violence on children
It is really sad to see the children collecting leftovers from the garbage bins. What is even more pitiable is the mother hitting the children with stones, when they refuse to go for begging.
The negligence of the father, the helpless mother, innocent children forced into beggary, these sights really turn the passersby. If this is the fate of one family, elsewhere in the town, three children are seen crying below a tree near the market grounds. They are clueless about their parents’ whereabouts. Starving, neglected, left on the roads to fend for themselves, their cries reach the sky. Is there anybody to listen to their sufferings?
It is learnt that some of the families from Guvvalawaripalli village (the village belonging to Hakki-Pakki tribes), have migrated to Bagepalli town. Probably, some of the families might have resorted to beggary, unable to find suitable employment in the town.
Crores of rupees sanctioned
It can be recollected that former MLA of Chintamani K M Krishna Reddy had strived a lot for the development of this community. As the Minister for Social Welfare Department, he had created several plans and projects for their welfare.
These projects helped the members to become economically strong and also receive proper education. Krishna Reddy was aware of the conditions the Guvvalawaripalli people were in and closely understood their way of life.
Unfortunately, though the plans were made, they were never properly implemented by the officials of the Social Welfare Department. Though crores of rupees were sanctioned for the development of their community, these projects only remained on the papers. They never got materialised. Houses, borewells, Samudaya Bhavans, agriculture equipment, schools, roads, drainage, etc were all provided for the Guvvalawaripalli community members, which are yet to see the light of the day.
Hence, even today, these members are forced into beggary.
No inquiry
It is surprising to note that no inquiry was made into the matter nor anybody bothered to investigate. Infact, parents who force their children into beggary should be stringently punished.
The children should be sent to residential schools and should be given proper education. Atleast these basic measures should be taken by the Social Welfare Department, the citizens feel.
DH News Service