Let beggar rehabilitation project work

Photo: STAR

In the proposed budget of FY 2012-13, the finance minister proposed to allocate Tk 10 crore to rehabilitate beggars with a view to making Dhaka city free from beggars. Finance minister said that they would take steps to rehabilitate 2000 beggars in Dhaka, Barisal, Jamalpur and Mymensingh area.
Begging is a curse to society; it can not be a livelihood. According to a survey, there are 1000 beggars in Dhaka city. They lead a very inhuman life. They even eat from dustbins, sleep on footpaths and commit many crimes. Such initiative to eradicate begging is undoubtedly praiseworthy. If every year we can rehabilitate a number of beggars, the country will be free from beggars in the future.
But many good initiatives end in smoke because of irregularities and corruption. It is a good initiative and should not end in smoke because of corruption. We hope the government would monitor the project's implementation properly.