16th MCMC

CASE STUDY

Syndicate - ABeggary in Sindh with Specific

Implication to Karachi

Sponsor ADS: Lt Col (R) Ijaz Ahmad

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, KARACHI

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Composition

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Sr #

Name Sr. #

Name

1. Aijaz Anwer Chohan

7. M. Kamran Khan

2. Ahmed Ali Sirohey

8. M. Ali Chachar

3. Ali Asghar Sial 9. Shahab Qamar Ansari

4. Azhar Erum Memon

10. Shaheen

5. Javed Iqbal 11. Syed Aftab Haider

6. Moazzam Ali Marri

12. Zubair A. Siddiqui

Requirements Discuss causes of beggary and its various modes, in detail. How far is it a syndicated

activity and under what kind of patronage it thrives in Karachi. How far the police and

other public service departments are responsible in this regard

Critically examine the efficacy of various legislations to control Beggary. If the available

legislation is not effective to control this menace what additional practicable legal,

preventive and punitive measure would you suggest in this regard

Beggary is a criminal and a social evil and is largely an outcome of socio-economic,

imbalances in our society. Before it becomes a criminal activity. What corrective

mechanism would you propose to transform beggars into respectable, civilized and

responsible citizens of our society

What role our media and civil society organization can play through investigative

reporting and awareness campaign to educate general public about their role and

responsibility in controlling Beggary

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Introduction

Requirement 1:

Causes of Beggary – its various modes

Beggary – A syndicated activity & the kind of patronage

Responsibility of Police & Other Public Service Departments

Requirement 2:

Legal Provisions & its Efficacy

Additional preventive & Punitive Measures

Requirement 3:

Beggary – an Outcome of Socio-Economic Imbalance

Linkage of Beggary and Criminal Activity

Proposed Corrective Measures

Requirement 4:

Responsibilities of General Public

Role of Media

Role of Civil Society Organization

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Scheme of Presentation

Definition No single definition

Requesting a donation in a supplicating manner

Practice of imploring others to grant a favour, often a gift & money with no expectation of reciprocation*.

“vagrant”** means a person who—(i) solicits or receives alms in a public place;(ii) exposes or exhibits any sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease in a public place for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms;(iii) allows himself to be used as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms;(iv) enters on any private premises without the invitation of the

occupier for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms;

but does not include a person who solicits or receives money, food or gift for a purpose authorized by rules under a prescribed certificate;

Source: *Wikipedia Encyclopedia (www.wkikipedia.com) ** West Pakistan Vagrancy Ordinance, 1958

 

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Causes

Economic

:

• Poverty• Unemployment• Inequalities & Injustices in Society• Lucrative Business • Lack of viable economic alternatives.

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Causes

Social:

• Family Disorganization

• Lack of Parental Control

• Community disorganization

• Social Customs• Demographic

Pressures like Urbanization

• Population Growth

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Causes

Other

Causes:

• Non-implementation of Laws – Public Sector Failure?• Faulty Laws• Internal Displacement • Cultural

Biological Causes:

• Sickness or Disease• Physically Disabled • Mentally Deficient• Old Age

Religious Causes:

• Religious Mendicancy• Indiscriminate Alms-giving• Religious factors such as zakat and madrassas serve to

socially and financially

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Modes of Beggary

Destitute Begging

lacks education & skills to do

work

Handicapped

Begging

sick, disabled, mentally retarded,

aged , incapable to

work

Exploited Begging

syndicated beggar

Professional

Begging

follows as an occupation,

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Modes of Beggary

Rat Children Begging – • Children and adults, who have miniature heads

Child Begging – • a minor who forced into begging

Transgender Beggars- • Hijras, also known as khawajasira, include individuals such as transgendered males, transsexuals, and members of the ‘third sex’.

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Patronage

Beggary – an organized trade - A social evil from ancient time in almost all societies - A Syndicated, lucrative, organized Activity

Patrons:

Government Agencies Police

Beggars Contractors

Drug Barons

Society at large

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Constitutional & Legal Status

Constitution of

Pakistan –

• Article 3 – The state shall ensure the elimination of all forms of exploitation and gradual fulfillment of the fundamental principle from each according to his ability to each according to his work

• Article 33 - The state shall provide basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, housing, education, and medical relief for all such citizens irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race as are permanently or temporarily unable to earn their livelihood on account of infirmity, sickness or unemployment

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Constitutional & Legal Status

West Pakistan Vagrancy Ordinance, 1958 - Punitive in Nature• Police Officer may

arrest without warrant

• One to three Year detention in welfare home

• Applicable to Karachi vide Extension to Karachi Ordinance, 1964

Sindh Local Government Act, 2013 – Preventive in Nature• Section 63 – deals

with prevention of beggary

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Proposed Legal Measures

Consolidate & Update anti-beggary laws Definition of Beggary may be inclusive rather

exclusive Enhance punishment for the person who forced an

individual into beggary Like NGO’s & NPO’s, Tax credit may be introduced in

for individual who adopts a child beggar or a family NGOs may be encouraged to operate Welfare Homes Detained Beggars may be trained to get employment on

mega projects Separate Wing within KMC may be established to curb

this menace, with its own police/ wardens Data Base may be developed by giving license of

beggary as in vogue in European countries. 15

Preventive Measures

Introduction of the social safety nets Encourage community based arrangements

of care and share Public programs-cash transfers, income

generation, social insurance Survey of illegal settlements, katchi abadis,

and slums

Extension of microcredit and small business enterprises schemes and cheap housing to vulnerable, risk prone population sectors

Recovery and rehabilitation of disaster/conflict areas to encourage repatriation of the IDPs

Enforcement mandates to child protection departments/KMC vigilance cells etc.

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Punitive Measures

Rigorous punishments/mandatory

imprisonment for mafia behind organized crimes

Ban on professional and organized begging

National registry of repeated beggary

offenders

Fines

Forced detentions

Resource constraints 17

Beggary – an Outcome of Socio-

Economic Imbalance

Prevalence of beggars is due to breakdown of the socio-economic structure of the country

Beggars in Pakistan, specially in Karachi are the victims and result of an imbalanced socio-economic system

Selfish Parents abandon/ sell their children because of poverty their children

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Linkage of Beggary and Criminal Activity

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Corrective Mechanism

Sr #

Proposed Measure Responsibility

1. Mandatory registration with KMC to develop Data Bank

Local Govt Dept. & KMC

2. Segregation on the basis of a. Gender, Age, & Skillb. Drug Addicts, Careers of Contagious

Diseases

Social Welfare Department

3. Entrusting diseased and drug addicts to NGO’s operating rehabilitation centers.

Social Welfare Department

4. Entrusting begging children to NGO’s like Azad Foundation

Social Welfare Department

5. Ensuring grants from the central Zakat Fund/ Baitul Mal for NGO’s and Welfare homes

Zakat & Ushar Deptt. 20

Responsibilities of General Public

Distinguish between needy and greedy

Deservers for Zakat and Sadqas

Discourage Begging Mafias

Encourage donation

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Role of Media

Investigative Journalism

Advertising Campaign

Arrange Street shows

Through Plays and Morning Shows

Media Campaigns

Talk Shows

Investigative Reports

FM channels 22

Role of Civil Society Organizations

Awareness Campaign through:-

Street Walks

Distribution of hand bills, pamphlets and posters

Arrange Seminars and workshops

Mosques

Encourage Civil Society to channelize charity to

establish Welfare Homes, Vocational Centers & Free

Kitchens23

Thanks

Q & A

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