There is a school in the Bhains Diara area of Barari division of Katihar district in Bihar where children from poor families are trained in the art of begging as part of the school curriculum.
These children are taught on how to beg and get sympathy from people so that they can earn more.
Over two dozen kids are studying in the school. Out of the total strength, many are girls in the age group of 10-12 years.
Students of this school can be heard reciting these lines Allah ke naam par de de baba, bhagwan ke naam par de de maai or I am an orphan, I haven’t eaten from the past two days.
to get perfection in the art of begging, which will ensure them a good earning.
“Residents of the village do not have access to basic facilities like electricity, water, roads, health and school. The parents are helpless. If the poor kids will not beg then what will they eat?” Mehboob Alam, 70-year-old trainer of this school questions.
Once the training is complete, the kids start begging at railway station mostly in trains passing by Katihar. While begging in all of six trains that travel between Katihar junction and Kadagola station, their daily earning comes to around Rs 150.
Agencies