The sight of children being paraded about by those engaged in seeking charity is a common sight at most junctions and traffic stops. The Government is now moving to conduct a survey of beggars in Sri Lanka, through the Department of Social Services. It is learnt that the survey has been triggered by concerns that children and vulnerable women are being used for begging as a business. While the move is commendable, one has to ask why authorities haven’t already addressed the situation, especially in relation to children. Addressing a parliamentary committee this week, State Minister of Women and Child Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe said that since it has been reported that children and women are mostly being used in begging, steps will be taken to curb this situation. The State Minister is expected to hold preliminary discussions with the relevant institutions including the Police, the Local Authorities, and the National Child Protection Authority. The fact that state officials, and the minister-in-charge has taken this long to notice the prevalence of vulnerable persons being ‘used’ or participate in seeking charity, on the road sides, is a clear indication what the child welfare and elderly-care system in Sri Lanka is lacking.

Like many who turn a blind eye to the practice of begging on the street side, it is well-known that authorities only focus on the beggars, when they become a traffic issue, or receive complaints about begging becoming a public nuisance. Such is how the public welfare and law enforcement structure has worked in the past. Not too long ago, during the short-lived presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Government suddenly woke up one day during a pandemic, to ‘recognise’ that there was a significant number of vagrants in cities, and acted quickly to ‘move’ them by bus loads to various quarantine centres. It was done with the expressed intention of ensuring that COVID variants did not spread to high-populated low-income neighbourhoods located within Colombo. The number of steep dwellers who succumbed to the COVID19 virus is unknown to this date. What became of many who used to call several street corners of public parks in Colombo following the ‘move’ is also unknown. It must also be recalled, that there have been several attempts in the past to deal with the beggars, who were once accused by the Police for hindering flow of traffic. However, none of the measures seem to have delivered results as when some are forcibly moved on, another group replaces them.  

As such, the argument that there may be a ‘business’ of using beggars to solicit charity may be one that needs to be investigated. Why the police and other authorities haven’t looked into the matter thus far remains an unanswered question. Especially due to the involvement of children, which the state has a special responsibility to protect and foster.  Sri Lankan society is no stranger to various parties exploiting vulnerable persons, there is a long and dark track record of such. There are multiple agencies and police units whose responsibility is to inquire into the wellbeing of such children and women. The fact that it hasn’t happened should merit a review of the current procedure.    

The past three years have been particularly harsh on the vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka. With recent reports indicating that a significant increase in those are facing poverty and unemployment since the COIVD19 pandemic and following the economic crisis. With astronomical increases in the cost of living, many vulnerable communities have been worse off. Many have become homeless, and unemployed, thus forced to take to the streets. Earlier this year, with the onset of the International Monetary Fund’s assistance package for Sri Lanka, the United Nations, key lenders and the authorities stressed that expanding a social safety net was a key priority. However, even with the new social welfare system, Aswasuma and the legacy system, Samurdhi, which is still operational in parallel, there are many who have been left behind. As such, while it is important to remove children and vulnerable women who are used as ‘tools’ for begging, to a safer and more supportive environment, and the culprits brought to book, there should also be a long-term programme and support structure, perhaps with the aid of grass-root level civil and community groups to help the homeless community and those who seek charity, to rise above their circumstances to a better lifestyle. Being poor is not a crime, and as such needs understanding and support. Those who exploit them, should face the full force of the law.