They are everywhere. On the streets, at almost every traffic signal, at the entrance of every temple, at every tourist spot, in electric trains, in buses, in villages, towns, cities and metros. They are omni-present.

These days you travel by AC cars, with the window glasses almost sealed. This doesn't deter them in any way. They knock and watch if there is any reaction. In Chennai at least, they exploit infants, so that their appeal is heard. There is a wide-spread belief that they are all borrowed or rented infants!

Some feel that their sense of guilt is washed away by giving alms. I beg to differ. Why should at all there be beggars? There is a school that believes that but for the beggars, our conscience wouldn't be alive. I beg to disagree.

Some beggars have Bank Accounts. I happened to help in securing an old beggar-woman accommodation in an Old-age Home. The very next day she was seen at her usual spot, in front of the Pillayar Temple at Besant Nagar. She told me she didn't want to lose her daily income of One Hundred Rupees and her freedom!

You may ask me as to what prompted me to think of our beggars. I beg your pardon.

Beggars of Erode district held their first conference yesterday at Bannari and discussed their problems. Beggars from Thalavadi, Bhavanisagar and Sathyamangalam participated. The office bearers of the Association want government to announce welfare measures for them. Another of their resolutions is that the minimum amount of alms that they would accept will be one rupee.

Well, beggars can be choosers!

HR