Does giving Alms to beggars take you to Heaven?

Begging has reached epidemic proportions in the city. Even the Virtual Tourist - one of the best online guides for any city tour - gives a word of caution on the Kolkata beggars.

"Kolkata is mostly full of beggars. You'll find every designs and patterns of beggars in Kolkata. You'll see them when you are in traffic, hanging out with friends, eating, walking on the roads. Mostly they are attracted to the foreigners. Please avoid them as much as you can or else they can spoil your peaceful visit to Kolkata. If you give money to one of them, the whole flock will come and chase you," it warns.

According to the south division police, a woman - a resident of the Ram Mandir area near Girish Park - had gone to the Maidan area along with her friend on Monday around 3.15pm. "The victim was coming out of the eastern gate of the Victoria Memorial Hall when a beggar, Soma Saha, stopped her and asked her for some money. When the victim refused, Saha allegedly verbally abused her. This led to an heated exchange of words. Saha suddenly lunged forward, caught hold of both hands of the victim and then bit her twice on both her hands. As the victim screamed, others present at the spot raised an alarm," said an investigating officer.

DC (south) Murlidhar Sharma said they have arrested the beggar. "We have registered a case against her at the Hastings police station. IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (wrongful restraint) have been slapped on her. Further probe is on," he added.

It is our Hindu custom of giving alms to the beggar for a smooth passage to Heaven which is the main cause of begging.

In Bangur Avenue, where I live, there were hardly any beggars on the streets when I came in 1987 and even up to a few years back.

Nowadays, every Saturday and on Amawasyays, at the junction of VIP Road and Bangur Avenue, at least 50 beggars collect with their spouse and children.

They sit the whole day on the pavement waiting for the Marwaris to come and give them food, biscuit, money whatsoever.

This has happened because of the Marwaris who have infested Bangur Avenue in the last few years in swarms.

They make ill-gotten wealth and then to appease their conscience and the gods they give alms to beggars.

By the way, I am myself a Marwari and hence can point out the defects without appearing to criticize any particular community.

You ask any beggar if he/she will do any house-work.

They will refuse.

Why should they work when there is an easier way.

It is the government's fault.

Begging should be banned.

Anyone found begging should be arrested and taught some trade and the government should market the product made by these people.

If necessary NGOs may be roped in to do the work.

Having beggars on the street is a shame to the country but what do our leaders care, they are thick-skinned and shameless.

If after that, beggars are still found on the street, they should be castrated so that they do not produce any more beggars.

Children found begging should be taken away by the government from the parents and their schooling arranged by the government.

This would remove one of the crimes committed by unscrupulous people of kidnapping and maiming children and putting them on the streets to beg for them like in the story of Oliver Twist.