Begging is a way of life for many people in the world. For some it is the form of earning their livelihood, but for many it is the only means of survival, because either they are physically not fit, or/and have no other skills to work and earn. This is especially true in developing countries, where poverty is rampant.

Begging is a form of petitioning the public for money or food, but it is challenging to distinguish between genuine and fake beggars in the city, as some individuals may use begging as a means of exploitation or deception, to get financial aid. Even then, we, as humans, should be generous enough to help those in need while being mindful of the fake ones.

Beggars often come from difficult backgrounds and live in situations beyond their control. They may have been born in poverty, may have suffered from addiction, or have even been victims of human trafficking. Whatever their background may be, beggars are everywhere, at almost all signals, shopping areas, residential areas, etc.

Some beggars may simply stand and ask for money, while others may employ more sophisticated methods like playing a musical instrument, singing and doing tricks or acts. While there are others, who may offer services like washing the windscreen or cleaning of your car, or selling anything to you in exchange for money.

No matter how it is done, begging is a desperate attempt to survive. Sadly, beggars are usually looked down upon in society. They are seen as a nuisance and an embarrassment. The result is that beggars are often forced to live on the streets and suffer from poverty, abuse and hunger.

Of course, most people agree that begging should not be a permanent solution. The ideal solution would be to reduce poverty by providing job opportunities and financial assistance so that people don’t have to resort to begging. This would allow beggars to make an honest living instead of relying on begging to survive.

Unfortunately, this is not always possible in many parts of the world, especially in Pakistan where the country is already facing several economic challenges, such as soaring inflation, low foreign exchange reserves, and a large trade deficit. So, it is difficult for the government to generate employment even for the educated people at this time, let alone the beggars. Therefore, it leaves a great responsibility on us individually, to show generosity as much as we can.

The importance of generosity in society

Generosity is one of the most vital traits that we can cultivate as individuals and as a society. It’s an essential part of what makes us human, and it’s at the heart of what makes us compassionate and empathetic towards others.

Generosity is the quality of being kind, understanding, and unselfish. It’s also about giving without expecting anything in return, and showing empathy towards those who are less fortunate.

We are living in a society where the economic gap between the rich and poor is growing fast, therefore, the importance of generosity cannot be overstated. Let’s admit that those of you who are reading this, whether online or in print, are fortunate to be educated, to have access to the internet or have the newspaper and magazine in their hands; you are fortunate to have all the necessities of life as well. But beggars are some of the most vulnerable members of society, who have no access to even basic needs, like two meals a day, proper shelter and even healthcare.

Little acts of kindness

Our little acts of kindness can make a big difference in their lives. Whether it’s food, clothes or a kind word, all these can provide hope and dignity to those in need. Because it’s common for beggars to feel invisible and ignored by society, they have accepted that people will scold and would not even like to look at them. But when someone would show them kindness and empathy, it would validate their existence and give them a sense of belonging.

Small acts of kindness from us can also inspire people around us to do the same. When people witness kindness, it can create a ripple effect and inspire them to give back to their communities. It’s a way to create a culture of generosity and empathy that can have a lasting impact on society.

The impact of help

Helping beggars in need can have a positive impact on both the giver and the receiver. For the giver, it provides a sense of purpose and fulfilment; for instance, knowing that your help has made a difference in someone’s life can be incredibly gratifying.

For the receiver, the benefits can be life-changing; for instance, they can buy food, clothes of their choice or even medicine; they can buy anything necessary that they had been waiting to get, in short there are many things that they can get from just a small amount of money that we give to them.

How to differentiate between genuine or fake beggars

It’s important to note that many beggars are struggling to make ends meet and are genuinely in need of assistance. However, it’s also crucial to be aware of those who may be using begging as a means of deception or exploitation to get financial aid.

In this holy month of Ramazan, when the generosity of all Muslims around the world is at its peak, ‘seasonal’ and fraudulent people disguise themselves to be the ones in genuine need and take away the right of the truly needy. It becomes incredibly difficult for people to find or spot those genuinely in need of charity from the frauds taking advantage of our sincere feelings.

While it is not a big deal to give ‘a little’ to anyone asking us for help, but giving to the fake ones and not the deserving will only encourage fraudsters to make it their profession. Oftentimes, the fake ones are clearly distinguishable from the genuine ones, for example:

• Real beggars don’t beg like a pro, but fraudsters use tricks and have more scripted words. They can be persistent to the point of irritating you.

• A fake will have no sign of suffering even when they are bandaged on head or showing their broken limbs, besides many other signs that make it clear to us that they are not the real ones.

If you are in doubt, help those only for whom you feel from inside, and especially those you or your family know to be genuinely in need of help.

Respect those who are selling you something

Whenever we stop at a signal, along with many beggars, some kids or youngsters often come and sell stuff like flower garlands, biscuits, pens, hand towels and sometimes little toys. While we may already have most of these things, I try my best to buy stuff from them and for that, I always keep some change with me, so that they feel encouraged to sell and earn a dignified living.

We should remember that they are not begging, they are earning through the stuff they are selling, which should be encouraged at all levels. Spending little amount on the stuff that is being piled up in my house doesn’t make me poor or make them rich, but that little amount accumulates into their hard-earned money as a salary, with which they can buy more stuff and, who knows, someday they may upgrade to a small cabin, stall or a shop of essentials.

Government’s role

There are several ways to help reduce the number of people who turn to begging as a last resort. There should be government-created programmes to increase employment opportunities in rural and urban areas, such as training and skill-development initiatives, so that the large numbers of people who are migrating to cities in search of employment should get something in their respective areas and not take beggary as a profession. The government can also support initiatives to help beggars develop alternative activities that can generate an income, such as vocational training and microfinance programmes.

As individuals and as a society, we have a responsibility to show generosity and empathy towards those who are less fortunate. Whether it’s a warm meal, clothing, or other essentials; all these small acts of kindness can provide hope and dignity to those in need.

So, the next time you walk past a beggar on the street, remember that even the smallest act of kindness can make a big difference. Together, we can create a culture of generosity and empathy that can have a lasting impact on society.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 15th, 2023