Khem Saran Paudel

The sight of young boys begging on the streets of Kathmandu is very distressing. Having resigned to their fates, I can sense the lack of motivation every time I walk past one of them. Don’t they ever want to live with dignity? I question myself repeatedly. I come to the conclusion that they have chosen their vocation because it comes easy. All one has to do is gape helplessly at the face of the passersby and beg for alms.

As I was crossing the overhead bridge at Jamal the other day, I heard a familiar voice. A half-naked boy was frantically swinging his legs and pressing hard against his stomach with both his hands. He was begging for some food. I had seen the same guy outside the bus-park only a month ago.

All his limbs were functioning well; he seemed healthy. I was disheartened to find that he had not stopped begging since our earlier rendezvous. But this time, I walked past pretending not to notice him. I didn’t want to give him any further motivation to keep begging. I wonder why people encourage these children to beg by providing them with easy food and money, when they are well capable of earning their livelihood through hard work! Nothing is wrong in helping people who cannot work due to physical handicap or senescence. These people indeed need someone to look after them. And I am not against helping the poor either. But let us not help make the children beggars for their lives

Recently, another boy of 16 came to our house clasping a worn-out letter in hand. He was gloomy and irresponsive. On reading the letter, I learned that both his parents had passed away. Therefore, the letter said, the boy had to take care of his young brothers and sisters. His sorry face was enough to convince me that he was telling the truth. My mother sent him away with enough money to feed him for the day. But to my horror, the very next day, I saw the same boy with a ‘wad’ of marijuana in his little hands.

This incident has made me indifferent towards all young beggars. I have vowed that I will never again help young and healthy youngsters with undeserved alms. I don’t want to see them on the streets forever. Nowadays, nothing but harsh words greet all young beggars to our house.