Nearly 12 years have elapsed since the government took initiative to free the capital at first and then the whole country from beggars, but its success story is not worth mentioning. The government agencies are giving their all-out efforts but they are facing a plethora of challenges to curb the rising number of paupers in every nook and corner of the capital city. As begging makes quick money, a number of syndicates are engaged in this business. Until the chain of syndicates is broken, it is hard to entirely eradicate the baggers from the capital.
When the country is moving forward with various development projects including Padma Bridge and Metro Rail, the number of friars is flooded in the capital to earn their livelihoods in the streets. The Ministry of Social Welfare and the Department of Social Services (DSS) said that in the last era they have rehabilitated only 16,207 beggars though they don’t have the exact figures for baggers. In FY 2017-2018, there were around 2.5 lakh beggars in the country. But the figure is rising rapidly. In the initial stage in 2010, the government earmarked several important points in the capital like diplomatic zone, airport, Radisson Hotel, Sonargaon Hotel, Intercontinental Hotel, Bailey Road and VIP roads to free from baggers.
At present, baggers are seen in all the busy intersections, Bijoy Sarani, Parliament area, Secretariat, shopping malls, in front of the hotels and restaurants, foot over-bridges and on the pavements as well. People feel irritated when one after another indignant people approach an individual and ask for alms. Giving alms has reward according to Islam but when you are encountered one after another bagger asking alms, it’s really a nuisance. The government has an acute shortage of manpower and rehabilitation centres which is a major bottleneck for their rehabilitation.
The government has started the construction of 16 beggars’ rehabilitation centres in four districts of Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Mymensingh. Each centre will have a capacity of 52 inmates. As bagging is a social problem, we need concerted efforts of all concerned stakeholders. Beggars don’t want to quit begging because it brings quick money. So job creation is necessary for the able-bodied baggers so that they can lead a dignified life.
