GIMME MORE!
Today was one of those days when I discovered something absolutely new about Chennai, albeit being strange. I was at Pudupet, the bike modifier's haven! But I'd been there just to plug my leaking tank, which had been spewing petrol all over me thanks to a few big holes formed as a result of corrosion!
While I was assisting the guys in removing the tank and getting it tinkered there was an intriguing occurance. Beggars kept appearing at the garage and murmuring something and the shop boys would invariably mete out a few coins of currency. The beggars would collect it and then move on, repeating the same procedure in adjacent shops. I then realised that this was the first instance of Organised Begging that I were to ever witness!
Everything was absolutely systematic. The beggars were allowed to visit this particular region on thursdays, and they would have to quote the number of people constituting their group. Depending on that, they were given an amount calculated at 25 paise per beggar. It had earlier been just 10p but a 'consortium' of beggars had decided to hike rates recently, as a result of inflation!
On further inquiry, I learnt that this practice has been going on for ages, and that the beggars would all flock in huge groups to collect their quota. Supposedly between 60-100 groups! The shop men themselves still seemed amused about the whole system. They were sympathetic and yet very amused by the demanding spirit of the beggars.
Ofcourse there were those rogue beggars who'd misquote the number of people in their group, claiming the onset of illness. But then its all a part of the game and donors didn't mind.
Perhpas we'd have to coin a euphemistic term for beggars too, now that they're more organised....Monetary-Seekers, Financial-Demanders, Mobile Collection Personnel(MCP)....
While I was assisting the guys in removing the tank and getting it tinkered there was an intriguing occurance. Beggars kept appearing at the garage and murmuring something and the shop boys would invariably mete out a few coins of currency. The beggars would collect it and then move on, repeating the same procedure in adjacent shops. I then realised that this was the first instance of Organised Begging that I were to ever witness!
Everything was absolutely systematic. The beggars were allowed to visit this particular region on thursdays, and they would have to quote the number of people constituting their group. Depending on that, they were given an amount calculated at 25 paise per beggar. It had earlier been just 10p but a 'consortium' of beggars had decided to hike rates recently, as a result of inflation!
On further inquiry, I learnt that this practice has been going on for ages, and that the beggars would all flock in huge groups to collect their quota. Supposedly between 60-100 groups! The shop men themselves still seemed amused about the whole system. They were sympathetic and yet very amused by the demanding spirit of the beggars.
Ofcourse there were those rogue beggars who'd misquote the number of people in their group, claiming the onset of illness. But then its all a part of the game and donors didn't mind.
Perhpas we'd have to coin a euphemistic term for beggars too, now that they're more organised....Monetary-Seekers, Financial-Demanders, Mobile Collection Personnel(MCP)....
posted by Unknown at
4:20 pm
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3
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