When almighty created our hands, the purpose was not to put the begging bowl in them but to work and strive for existence. In our valley things are topsy-turvy as the people are mired in ills and evils. Begging in Kashmir is an ailment assuming fatal proportions with each passing day. Every day the beggars can be found in large number at shrines, mosques and bus yards, and now changing their strategy they have turned towards tuition centers, schools, colleges, hospitals, business houses troubling students and customers. Despite the presence of police personnel at Kashmir University gates they still manage entry into the campus.
The continuous migration of beggars from outside states of India to Kashmir has made the life of common masses miserable. The limitless presence of migrant beggars is one of the causes of increasing graph of crimes in Kashmir as many of these outsider beggars have been caught pick-pocketing in buses or theft at homes. These beggars, particularly small kids, do not even fear to pull your clothes and legs to ask for money. In some areas these beggars even enter homes to collect not only money but commodities like clothes, raw rice, food articles etc. The irritating behavior of these beggars has disturbed the normal life of people to a great extent. Most of the times while begging you will find them saying “jodi salamath rahagey, chaand saw beta hoga” even if you are with your parents, your friends or relatives. These beggars force people to part with some money to end their pestering. The non hygienic living pattern of migrant beggars causes the spread of communicable and infectious diseases. Wherever the migrant beggar gets settled the atmosphere of that area gets polluted by the waste. The increasing menace is indicating that if the government does not take strict steps, the day is not far when the whole of Kashmir, especially Srinagar city, will get overcrowded by these migrant beggars and the whole city will turn into a big slum.
The government is being a mute spectator and callously watches the valley losing its charm. The migrant beggars must be stopped from entering the valley. During the day time they beg and for night they stay in the rented rooms which they hire for the period of their stay in Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 IST