Begging: Time to implement ban

The entire Srinagar city is flooded with the non-local beggars, who could be seen begging at the public places, especially at the traffic junctions, which is not only irksome for the commuters, but could also claim the lives of these beggars, who don’t even check the traffic signals cross the road majority of the times. Such an issue has come to the notice despite the government prohibiting begging in 2018 by enforcing the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960. The then Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar had issued an order in this regard ordering police to arrest anyone found soliciting alms in public, at religious places or any other private property. However, such an happening continues to be witnessed today in the markets, public places, outside religious places and especially at traffic junctions, which points towards the failure of the administration with regard to the implementation of the order on the ground. It has also come to the fore that the children are being forced into begging by some brokers while the Child Protection Welfare Team has achieved a success Monday in this regard as after raiding Parimpora area, it has managed to rescue several non-local and local children. The joint rescue operation was carried out by Juvenile Justice Board and Srinagar police. It is the time when the authorities must take a stringent measure in this regard and ensure that no children are involved in begging. The prime focus must be laid on putting an end to the begging at the traffic junctions so that no untoward incident takes place and the precious lives are saved.