Beggars throw Act to the wind, rule over Madurai city

MADURAI: It has been nine years since Madras high dcourt's Madurai bench ordered enforcement of Tamil Nadu Prevention of Begging Act in the state, but a day out in the city is all one needs to see who rules its streets even now. Beggars, including visually impaired ones, are everywhere, posing a threat to motorists at crowded traffic signals as well as endangering their own lives as they navigate the narrow spaces.
As traffic congestions have become commonplace during Diwali season, these groups of lonely and organised alm-seekers, many carrying children, have become a law and order problem as they go about their 'trade' with impunity. "They earn at least Rs 500 per day since they stand at these signals for nearly eight hours, even during the hot afternoon hours," says S V Pathy, former president of Star Rotary Club. According to him, many mendicants often fake their visual impairment, often the same couple taking turns to be the beggar and guide.
What is frustrating for drivers is that the traffic police seem to be least bothered about the human hindrance to traffic movement, which could prove fatal for both the beggars and vehicle users. "In the Melamadai signal they can be seen begging right in front of the eyes of the traffic policeman,'' said Pathy.
It was advocate D Muruganantham who filed a public interest litigation a few years ago in the Madurai bench of Madras high court, seeking strict implementation of Tamil Nadu Prevention of Begging Act of 1945. "The court even lauded my action and asked the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu to give me Rs 10000, in appreciation of my efforts, which I got," he said. What prompted Muruganatham to file the PIL was the plight of an infant that a woman beggar was carrying in her sling. "It remained motionless for many hours as I observed it continuously and the beggar refused when I came forward to buy the infant milk. It was then that I was told that these infants were sedated for the purpose of begging and I went ahead and filed the petition,'' he said.
While the beggars at the traffic signals also speak Tamil, most of them are also north Indians, vending toys, while the elderly ones beg. President of Sammam Kudimakkal Iyakkam C J Rajan, says that begging profession which had expanded in recent times is something to be investigated. "We can see that poverty of the north Indians is driving them to this profession, but what is scary is that there are all chances of a big agency operating behind this. We know that it is these agencies that bring the people to work in construction industries here,'' he said. The police also seem to be turning a blind eye to them, he added.
Managing trustee of Madurai Corporation Shelter for Homeless Urban Poor, Sellur and Gandhipuram, P Ramar, says he found it difficult to dissuade the beggars to give up the profession and come and stay in the shelter.
Assistant commissioner of police, (traffic), A Thirumalaikumar, claimed the problem was more at unmanned electronic traffic signals and they were chasing them away in manned signals. "We also use the two-wheeler patrols for the purpose". But, as this was a law and order issue more than traffic, he said that the same would be taken up with his counterpart.