Babies used for begging....

PLEASE HELP THESE BABIES - DO NOT GIVE SUCH WOMEN MONEY.

A personal appeal to readers: If approached by women carrying a baby and begging for money. Please do not give them money.

These women actually make the babies look pathetic so as to try and appeal to the public’s sympathy, by using such babies. I have heard that when one woman takes rest, the baby is handed over to other women, who continue to walk to streets in the hot sun carrying the baby.

The baby is kept out continuously under the hot sun or extremely cold weather depending on the time of the year. While these women rest periodically they hand the baby over to other women who continue to use the babies as begging tools.

 I am appalled at the thought that a small babies are made to suffer for endless hours.Some people say that these women keep the babies drugged so they do not cry and appear to be sleeping. I am not certain if this is true or not but the babies that I have seen women using have always appeared to be asleep.

One cannot imagine a real mother using her own baby in this fashion.  There have also been reports of babies being rented by beggars on a day to day basis!If possible, in such cases buy food for the child and even the women carrying the baby but please do not give cash. On one such occasion I was told by a beggar carrying a baby that the child had just been fed and she would prefer money.

Make it clear to such beggars that you will not give them money because you do not like the fact that they are making the baby suffer. 

I am not against giving money to beggars and believe that we should all show compassion. I am however, totally against the use of babies being used as a begging tool.

There are several organizations formed with the aim of helping children worldwide. Save the Children is one such organization that does work in India. Perhaps this organization has not heard of babies being used as begging tools.

Charitable groups should  use their clout with governments to ban the use of babies by beggars. Such babies need help.

Travelers are also cautioned to be careful of small children who walk around the streets begging. Some of these children appear to be only five or six years old. There are reports of these children stealing purses and chains etc. and running away in the crowds.