Child beggars

Post 114 The vast divide between the rich and the poor

With the rising cost of living, many people are experiencing a lower quality of life. Their purchasing power goes down and there is no propensity for them to save at all. Many people suddenly find themselves out of work and live in poverty. Some will be so depressed that they turn to alcohol and are in a stupor all day without money, job or future. The trend now is for the less privileged to show their discontent towards the mega rich whose wealth is more than envy to them.

There have been reports in newspapers and TV programmes about child beggars who are out on the streets begging for long hours to help bring in extra cash for their families. Some are poverty driven and some are child beggars under the control of syndicates. These unfortunate people live in slums and scavenge for food in the dustbins. The rich who live in great affluence live in an island of their own. It is possible that one day shanty homes and street children may be too near their residences for comfort.

Child beggars are one of the by-products of the vast divide between the rich and the poor. They are also the victims of poor governance due to corruption. The world therefore needs to have a new order in economy and integrity in leadership.

18 October 2011