Beggar menace plagues Okhla’s streets
Begging menace continues unabated in Jamia Nagar, according to residents. Beggars can be spotted requesting residents at shops and streets much to their annoyance.
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An activist of one NGO Badhte Kadam, who a few months ago started roti bank by distributing food to the needy, said beggars used to refuse food (biryani) and would ask for money.
Some beggars can be seen adopting different measures for winning residents’ sympathy. A resident said a man was seen carrying a grown up man in his arms with a minor girl with him begging in the streets.
Some residents said during Ramzan beggars numbers increase manifold in the locality with some even daring to knock at your home or pressing the bell at odd times. At times residents said it becomes extremely difficult to deal with such people, including children, as they surround them even in streets at a time when there is a pandemic.
Some are very obdurate and they only let you go when you pay them some amount, said another resident. Sharing his experience, a resident said one early morning two women turned up at my house and asked for money and they only left after I paid them.
Residents said beggars can be categorised into professionals and needy. It is the professionals who flock streets in normal days and during Ramzan in the hope to earn money.
