Hi, I’m Gurkaran. I work for HCL as a Technical Lead, and I’m originally from Amritsar, currently living in Mohali. Every day, I drive an hour to my office, which is about 22 km from my home. During these drives, I tend to observe things around me, noticing people, the changes in the city, and sometimes, the realities that go unnoticed by most.

Today, I want to talk about something that’s become a big part of our street culture—the presence of beggars. For a long time, I believed in helping the needy. I remember my first job; I was so excited and determined to follow the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji by donating to those who struggled. I used to buy groceries for an elderly rickshaw driver who worked hard despite his age to support his family. I even gave money—20 or 30 rupees here and there—to the children who ran around at street signals.

My friend Vinay would often tell me, “Why are you giving them money? They’ll get used to it and never try to work for themselves.” At the time, I brushed it off, thinking I was doing something good. But looking back, I realize Vinay had a point. In Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings, there’s also a lesson about encouraging hard work, not just giving away money.

Over time, I saw that my act of kindness was doing more harm than good. Instead of helping, it was spoiling them, making them more inclined to beg than to work. So, I decided to stop giving money to beggars and started observing them more closely.

Real Encounters on My Daily Commute

On my way to work, I pass several traffic signals. The first one is at Radha Swami Chowk. One day, I was stopped there, looking around, when a transgender person came up, knocked on my window, and clapped, asking for money. I politely declined, and she moved to the next car, visibly annoyed. I began noticing that she only approached people in cars, never bothering with those on two-wheelers. It struck me that she seemed almost proud of begging, treating it like a job, with a specific “target audience.” This made me curious.

The same pattern continued daily. The more I observed, the more I saw that begging was not just random; it was organized. I started researching and came across videos and reports revealing shocking details. Some beggars, it turns out, make as much as 50,000 to 100,000 rupees a month. They have their “spots,” and there’s a kind of system to how they operate. Further digging revealed the involvement of mafias—some even bring people from Bangladesh, mutilate or disfigure them to evoke sympathy, and then force them to beg.

The Dark Reality Behind Street Begging

These mafias operate like businesses, with beggars working almost on “salary,” passing the collected money to their gang leaders. Some victims of these gangs have horrifying stories—injuries inflicted on purpose, or being forced into addiction to keep them in control.

Then there are women who roam the streets with babies, claiming they need money for their child’s needs. In some cases, these babies aren’t even their own. Others become pregnant while on the streets and use their children as emotional tools to get money. Sadly, even in these cases, the money often goes to the gangs controlling them.

What I Learned

Looking back, I realize that blindly giving money to beggars isn’t helping. It’s feeding a system of exploitation. If we truly want to make a difference, there are better ways to help. Donating to trusted charities or providing essentials, like food or clothing, can be more effective and ensures that our compassion doesn’t unintentionally harm the very people we want to support.

My experiences and research have shown me a side of street life I hadn’t considered before. While kindness is valuable, it’s just as important to be mindful about how we show it. Let’s be compassionate, but also wise, in how we help others.