Darkness under Lamp: Begging under “Beggar Free Zone” in NCR

                                                                                                                             BY: AMAN & SACHIN 

LINK: REPORTS FROM GROUND:STORY OF PEOPLE LIVING UNDER OVERBRIDGE OF RK PURAM

Nearly half of the global population (4 billion) lacks social protection, says the ILO report. Data, graphs and studies reveal the truth but the implementation of projects & schemes remains hidden. The RK Puram story cannot be called new, as lakhs of renowned people and dignitaries move across the under bridge either leading to educational purposes to JNU or official to Sushma Swaraj Foreign Ministry or for other works. 

Similarly, I also used to go on my daily schedule, to take classes at IIMC, situated on Aruna Asaf Ali Marg. Each day, we were taught about reporting, finding stories, unfolding the truth and more. The search for our story came to an end when we saw a family living under a bridge during the winter season. 

The RK Puram story is not just a story of a handful of people, rather a symbol of large masses suffering from this disease in different corners of the nation & world as well. The problems they are facing, the distance they travel to get their stomach filled, the unexpected future they have are alarming situations for one’s state & nation. 

Just walking distance between RK Puram Metro Gate no. 1 and 2 are in "Begging Free Zone", but they never get the "Free Zone of their problems". They have Aadhaar but are not beneficiary of the government schemes and NGOs. India, on the one hand, celebrates its Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav along with the G20 Presidency, but their pain and misery have run over the celebration & happiness of their life.

We decided to cover the lifestyle of people/family living under bridge, their children on traffic cleaning glasses of vehicle, asking money (begging), cooking food from twigs, sleeping in the open and living without hope.As we moved to ask questions, they refused to answer, saying "bahut log aaya, photo liya kuch nhi karta koi". We gave them hope of providing facilities by showcasing their emotion and future of family to the government and NGOs. The video reports were also hindered by their children, abusing to go back. If the government or police know, they will shift them or remove them by hook or crook. Which will eventually hit their life, stomach and earnings?

Later, we managed to cover their rehabilitation to children's education and sources of income. The people of hyper-local Rajasthan have rehabilitated due to water scarcity &, in search of living, landed in Delhi. They lived the entire cold of NCR and are continuing to volcanic heat. 

They left their village for a better livelihood, fulfilling basic amenities. Many families get together & all are involved in earning through different means. From morning till evening, women are involved in selling pens or other stuff in traffic and men go for work (Labor).The children left behind are unknown about the meaning of the future and importance of education. The pen is sold by women, but the same is not used for teaching. 

This story of RK Puram symbolises the half of the global population lacking social protection. This is not to criticise any government, but to showcase the difference in their words of promises and work on the ground. Who knows, they may not even be enlisted as voters. That's why the government is not focusing on them? 

After a long discussion with the female, she got emotional and said "Kaha jaye humari koi madad nhi karta, bacche aise hi rehte hain, kl kya ho kisi ko pta nhi". Really, who knows what will happen to them tomorrow? Where will they go in the monsoon rain? What would they do? Some questions are left unanswered because they don't affect the vote bank or the priority list. 

The widespread issue of beggars in Delhi, Rajasthan, and other major Indian cities calls for a comprehensive and sustainable approach.Despite the establishment of beggar-free zones, such as the one near RK Puram metro, the government's efforts have fallen short in providing adequate social protection for the beggars.Consequently, these marginalised people continue to struggle with challenges in accessing primary education, proper nutrition, shelter, and basic amenities.

Census 2011 data reveals a staggering 43% of beggars in India are aged between 50-79, indicating an urgent need for social protection measures. Equally alarming is the fact that 48,710 individuals, constituting 12% of the country's beggar population, are between 5 and 19 years old. This vulnerable age group remains excluded from opportunities due to the widespread error of exclusion.