GreaterKashmir.com:Friday, January 27, 2012.
Jammu, Jan 26: The axiom ‘living in fool’s paradise’ suits well to the Social Welfare Department (SWD) which has strongly maintained that there is not even a single beggar in entire Jammu region.
Department provided this information in response to an application filed under Right to Information Act.
Rinku Sharma of Talab Tillo had sought information pertaining to the exact number of beggars in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the details provided by the department reveals that Jammu province has the ‘distinction’ of not having even a single beggar. The information furnished by various district officers of SWD of Jammu province (office letter number DSWJ/130-G/7821-31/2011) has also exposed some bitter truths about how the authorities evade the queries under RTI applications. In reply to the queries pertaining to exact number of beggars, the information furnished by District Social Welfare Officer Udhampur, Reasi and Poonch clearly maintains that there was not any beggar in these districts, but the district officer Jammu in a bid to evade the query simply refused that the question didn’t pertain to their department.
The Directorate of Social Welfare Jammu evaded seven questions of the applicant and provided information on one point but the district officers have given reply to all the questions including number of beggars, number of sick homes and beggar homes established by the government, number of beggars arrested under the prevention of beggary Act 1960 and many others.
While criticizing the state government, Rinku Sharma, said the JK Prevention of Beggary Act 1960 was meant for prevention of begging and to provide beggars an opportunity to live as respectable citizens.
“Under section 3 of the Act, begging is an offence and under section 4 of the Act, a police officer can arrest the beggar without arrest warrant and send him to sick home or beggar home,” he said, adding that the state government was to establish beggar homes and sick homes for their rehabilitation but nothing has been done so far.
He said in blatant violation of Beggary Act 1960, hundreds of beggar including children and old age could be seen begging outside religious establishments, in every nook and corner of Jammu city. The law enforcement authorities have no place to keep these beggars after arresting them so since last many decades they are desisting from taking action against this growing menace in entire Jammu province, he added.
Interestingly all the beggars who are found begging in Jammu city, in matadors, buses, busy market areas or other districts of province are mostly outsiders. Rinku Sharma said that it was only due to negligence of the state government that the begging problem has compounded manifold in last many years but no action has been taken so far to prevent the menace.
Many times it was very amusing to notice that the police officials who have to take action against these beggars, runaway from these people who compel them to shell some alms.
Department provided this information in response to an application filed under Right to Information Act.
Rinku Sharma of Talab Tillo had sought information pertaining to the exact number of beggars in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the details provided by the department reveals that Jammu province has the ‘distinction’ of not having even a single beggar. The information furnished by various district officers of SWD of Jammu province (office letter number DSWJ/130-G/7821-31/2011) has also exposed some bitter truths about how the authorities evade the queries under RTI applications. In reply to the queries pertaining to exact number of beggars, the information furnished by District Social Welfare Officer Udhampur, Reasi and Poonch clearly maintains that there was not any beggar in these districts, but the district officer Jammu in a bid to evade the query simply refused that the question didn’t pertain to their department.
The Directorate of Social Welfare Jammu evaded seven questions of the applicant and provided information on one point but the district officers have given reply to all the questions including number of beggars, number of sick homes and beggar homes established by the government, number of beggars arrested under the prevention of beggary Act 1960 and many others.
While criticizing the state government, Rinku Sharma, said the JK Prevention of Beggary Act 1960 was meant for prevention of begging and to provide beggars an opportunity to live as respectable citizens.
“Under section 3 of the Act, begging is an offence and under section 4 of the Act, a police officer can arrest the beggar without arrest warrant and send him to sick home or beggar home,” he said, adding that the state government was to establish beggar homes and sick homes for their rehabilitation but nothing has been done so far.
He said in blatant violation of Beggary Act 1960, hundreds of beggar including children and old age could be seen begging outside religious establishments, in every nook and corner of Jammu city. The law enforcement authorities have no place to keep these beggars after arresting them so since last many decades they are desisting from taking action against this growing menace in entire Jammu province, he added.
Interestingly all the beggars who are found begging in Jammu city, in matadors, buses, busy market areas or other districts of province are mostly outsiders. Rinku Sharma said that it was only due to negligence of the state government that the begging problem has compounded manifold in last many years but no action has been taken so far to prevent the menace.
Many times it was very amusing to notice that the police officials who have to take action against these beggars, runaway from these people who compel them to shell some alms.
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