Children from India being used for begging

By Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel

Damak, Oct. 24: Children are being used to beg by their own parents in different parts of Damak in Jhapa district recently.

When inspected, most of the children had arrived in the city with their families from India. The children can be seen wearing tattered clothes with a bamboo-made basket to collect money while walking without shoes or slippers.  “Some children even act as disabled to beg,” said Gyanu Poudyal, a local businessman in Ward No. 6 of Damak Municipality.

According to Poudyal, around five groups containing 5-6 children each arrive at his shop daily asking for money. “People visiting the shops around the city also get disturbed by seeing multiple children begging continuously,” he added.

“The parents also beg separately while the children beg in groups. Meanwhile, some of the children even come with their parents to beg,” Poudyal said.

The children and their families are found to be living in public spaces and open lands in different parts of Damak by putting up temporary tents.

“Unless we give some money, the children don’t leave. 

They even grab our hands and legs to plead for money. It creates a difficult situation in the middle of the city,” said Dayasagar Acharya, a businessman in Damak.

Locals informed that more than 100 children along with women can be seen begging throughout the city in the afternoon and evening. 

While women and children beg, the men of the families are said to stay in the tents drinking and gambling.

Jivanchakra Society Nepal, an organisation working to prevent road accidents, said, “The children even beg along the roadsides. It has increased the risk of accidents. The local government should immediately take necessary action because the children shouldn’t be misused like this.”