The Hindu : `Penalise almsgivers to eradicate begging'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

`Penalise almsgivers to eradicate begging'

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD OCT. 9. What is the solution to the problem posed by beggars in the City? Penalise those who are being generous with their money. Yes, this was one of the suggestions at the weekly "Face to face programme'' here on Wednesday.

The complainant Narsimha Reddy stated that in Delhi the police impose heavy fines on persons who gave alms to beggars. The same should be implemented in Hyderabad, he said.

The Additional DCP, Traffic, Prabhakara Rao, said there was no such provision in the law to punish almsgivers. The police, however, were picking up beggars from traffic intersections and imposing fines on them. Rehabilitation was the only permanent solution, he said.

A woman from Bagh Lingampally complained about the refusal of auto rickshaw drivers to ply on certain routes. The Additional DCP, Traffic, asked her to note down the auto number and pass on the information to the control room whenever she faced the problem.

Another caller Padma Rao of Karkhana, complained about the row between him and his brother over the sharing of ancestral property. The Additional DCP, Traffic asked Mr. Rao to meet the inspector of Karkhana police station and lodge a complaint. At this, Mr. Rao remarked that he was facing problem from the inspector himself! To everyone's surprise, the complainant turned up at the MCH office where the programme was on and lodged a complaint with the Additional DCP, Traffic.

One Reddy of Vanasthalipuram said in spite of his paying the bill in time at the e-seva centre, arrears were being shown in the next bill. The Chief Engineer, Metro Zone, said there might be a problem with the accounts section and promised to look into the matter.

One Subba Rao of Vanasthalipuram complained about provision of only one seat in the RTC buses for senior citizens and physically handicapped persons. If both of them turned up, who should occupy the seat, he wanted to know. He further stated that as per the RTC policy, 40 per cent of seats should be reserved for senior citizens, women and physically handicapped persons. The Mayor T. Krishna Reddy promised to look into the matter.

The weekly fare also included complaints about mosquito and monkey menace besides the nuisance created by a mad woman. For all this, the Mayor had the stock reply: "I have noted down your telephone number and our officials will contact you.''

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Mother Theresa bank chairman, held

`Penalise almsgivers to eradicate begging'

Unidentified body: cops seek information

Minority college students seek probe