Increasing Beggars, Mentally challenged, roadside orphans, old people in Madurai

If you have gone through some main roads in Madurai, you will notice a common scenario around these areas. Some of the areas to coin are - Madurai Bus stands, Madurai Temple areas, Madurai Railway station front and nearby areas, Meenakshi amman temple chithrai streets, Thiruparankundram, Bypass road, Koodal azhagar perumal temple areas, Azhagar Koil area, North Veli Street, Goripalayam areas.

In these areas, there are increasing amount of Beggars, Mentally challenged, roadside orphans, old age people, people from other states begging in different areas.

These people has to be rehabilitated or put them in appropriate orphanages or arrested for any background work of putting children to begging etc., I think this can be only done by Corporation officials, Non-profit organizations in Madurai and Madurai Police Department.

If some action could be taken, that will be helpful. May be corporation could be a partner in these kind of orphanages and fund little bit and have the non-profit organizations to take care of these cases and at most reduce these kind of people in Madurai. This could be a part of Clean Madurai project for Madurai Corporation. Hope someone listens to this advice.

Beggars and Street sellers near Meenakshi Temple Madurai

Last weekend, I and my family visited Meenakshi Temple Madurai and had a great time, but my purpose of this article to mention about the Beggars and Street sellers.

It was a nuissance and torture for us and my child happenned to see these kids and started asking questions about why these people are begging or trying to sell to us very compulsarily! It is nothing harm in selling stuff, instead of begging, but it happens to be a nuissance by pestering us to buy something from them by walking with us all the way to and from the temple.

Will the government do anything in this regard to improve their standard of living or give some kind of shelter or something which will not bother the tourists. Though I am localite, I was frustrated but think of the local tourists or foreigners who might be disturbed or frustrated with this beggary or street selling around the streets of Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.

Beggars are avoided and respected in Madurai

Madurai Corporation is calling to arrest beggars in Madurai.
There was a recent news (couple of months back) that beggars were arrested and they were released very soon.

My question is - what would police do by arresting these beggars? Most of the beggars are helpless. I am thinking - Beggars are of three categories in Madurai. In fact, everywhere...

1) Physically and/or Mentally Handicapped and do not have a way of doing any work or do not have reasoning. Complete helpless.
2) Partially handicapped - like one leg is gone for example.
3) Completely lazy, homeless and ran-away-cases from their hometown.

First category is the one should be helped and placed in homes for homeless.
Other two categories should not be helped at all.

In Madurai, all the three categories are available. There are some organizations and individuals who help these beggars and homeless people. All said, If you help the second and third categories, it is not healthy at all for Madurai - that guy would become more and more lazy.

I support helping the first category, but not the second and third category.

Instead, work on getting a home and put them in homes for homeless. Give them employment and give them food only when they work! That will give self respect and dignity for them. Even if you don't have a leg or a hand, anyone should learn to live by himself or herself.

We cannot feed them all the time and throughout their life. Neither arresting the beggars would help.

We used donate to Akshaya Trust two years back, but now we could not due to lack of human resources for new madurai foundation. On those days, I asked Akshaya Trust Krishnan and I was enquiring about whom does he feed daily. He replied - he feeds only the first category. Good Stuff...I appreciate his efforts, also he said he is aiming towards building a home. I am not sure, what is the status on it currently. If he is still working on his long-term aim, I am sure he is collecting funds for it. Need to contact Akshaya Trust Krishnan and ask about it. If you want to contact Akshaya Krishnan -

Akshaya's Helping in H.E.L.P. Trust
9, West 1st Main Street,
Doak Nagar Extension,
Madurai – 625 010. India
Ph: +91(0)452 4353439/2587104
Cell:+91 98433 19933
E mail : ramdost@sancharnet.in
www.akshayatrust.org