Jammu has become a hub of begging mafia. Hundreds of children are being pushed into the inhuman practice by well-coordinated rackets allegedly being run by Bangladeshi and Burmese Rohingya refugees, who are illegally living in the state.
In the absence of stringent anti-begging law, no effort has been made by law enforcement agencies and the administration to carry background check of people roaming in the city along with children seeking alms.
Though Jammu and Kashmir had enacted the Prevention of Beggary Act-1962, but it has failed to stop beggary. The fact was even accepted by the state government in Legislative Assembly. Mostly children are found outside temples and mosques seeking alms from the visitors. Other favourite destinations are the bus stand, Raghunath Temple, railway station, taxi stand, Jewel Chowk and Kachi Chawani areas, which remain abuzz with pilgrim tourists.
A senior official in the district administration claimed that several people from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are also involved in the racket and are pushing poor families towards Jammu and Srinagar every month. “Due to weak laws, the administration and police have turned a blind eye towards beggars and people handling them. The influx of Rohingya refugees from Burma could emerge as a major security threat in future,” the official said.
The administration is also silent on the issue. No efforts are being made to prevent children from indulging in begging and take reformative steps. The police are also silent on the issue and no efforts have been made against the syndicate running it as a business in the city. “No steps are being taken for reforming them, especially the children. Everyday you will see people entering the city in inter-state buses and camping below the flyover on the BC road for days and then they disappear,” said Gautam Sharma, a trader at the bus stand. They have become a nuisance for the people, particularly tourists, as they follow them in the markets. Several times shopkeepers have complained to the police, but no action has been taken.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu, Uttam Chand said they were trying to discourage child begging. “Checking the background of everyone is very difficult but we are keeping an eye on their activities. The problem is that there are no juvenile homes where rescued children could be sheltered,” said Uttam Chand.
Further, hundreds of child rag-pickers roam in the city in search of solid waste, who are the symbol of the failed government campaign for eradication of child labour, which has remained limited to advertisement boards and seminars by the NGOs.
