Poverty in India

Here's a funny, (0dd) story. On one of my last days in Mumbai, before I flew home, I found I had extra Rupees and didn't want to take them home, as I knew I would get a terrible exchange rate back here. Like many tourists, I felt guilty about having so much while seeing some people living in dire poverty on the streets. While I was thinking these thoughts, a woman holding a baby approached me, tapped me on the arm saying "Mum, (the Indian version of M'am) can you help me... my baby, no milk, etc, etc. To her amazement, I said yes I would help her. The grocery store on the corner wouldn't let her in, so I had to go in with her while she picked out her groceries. She bought a gallon can of oil, two kinds of rice in big bags, and several other items. We checked out and were leaving; how she carried the baby and these heavy items is a mystery to me!

As we were leaving another woman, also carrying a baby and accompanied by a teenager got wind of the scene and began the routine. "Mum, please, my baby is hungry, etc." I turned to the woman I had just bought groceries for and said, You will share your food with her, won't you? A very firm "No!" was the response, and woman #1 disappeared into the crowd. But the second little gaggle (woman, baby and teenager) weren't about to be deterred. "No," I said firmly, I can't buy you food. I have no more money." Please Mum, please was the response. Gently she and the teenager tapped me on the arm. "Please Mum." I offered two hundred rupees (about four dollars), but the duo knew a sucker when they saw one. They were not about to be deterred. Tap, tap, "Please Mum Please. The baby, he's hungry." I felt panic rising in my chest and seeing the bus stop a block away, I began to run. Naturally, my assailants were faster than me. Tap, tap tap, Please Mum!

When I arrived at the bus stop, and sat on the bench, many Indians also waiting for the bus looked at me with condescending smiles. Why don't you ask him! I said, pointing to someone in the audience. These two were not to be diverted. "Please, Mum." After a long period, the women got the message and did leave. The man on the bench next to me said, "Never give to beggars! I had heard this many times before.

"But what are they to do?" I asked." There are no jobs. What are they supposed to do?"

"Beg," he replied. Thus I began to see the blind, circular Indian reasoning.