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Do you earn as much as he does?
A beggar earns at least Rs 500 a day, the trade rakes in about Rs 15 cr a month; MiD DAY's decoy mendicant gets more dope on the art of begging
You've seen it in the movies, in Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal, in recent times. It's about how begging is an organised crime syndicate.
MiD DAY corroborated this by sending out a decoy to learn the various tricks of the trade as shown in the film.
The film touched upon how beggars have a 'boss' who organises and controls them.
Which strategic spot to choose to beg, how to appeal to people's sense of generosity, how babies are let out and hired to evoke sympathy... yes, there are far too many dimensions to the entire 'profession' of begging.
Beggars are taught how to fall down and roll over on the road, especially those who are physically challenged
No, it does not happen only in films; it's for real. Why, even the Mumbai police confirm this, albeit off the record.
"When you may press a Re 1 coin into the palm of an old, aged and disabled beggar, it's almost certain that the money will be shared by a kingpin," said a senior police officer who did not wish to be named.
In the late '90s, the anti-begging squad comprised 10 cops, two of whom were officers. Those caught begging were taken to a special court in Kurla before being sent to a rehabilitation home.
Decoy lessons
Typically, here's how it works.
If a village lad is lost in the city, chances are that he'll find his way to Dharavi or Malwani, to learn the basics of begging.
There he will be tutored by gurus who are only identified by their first names Aftab, Salimbhai and Ahmedbhai.
MiD DAY used a decoy to get a few tips from a 'school for beggars' in Dharavi. Trainees are taught the skill of being tenacious and trail a quarry kajeda in begging parlance till he pays up something.
Trainees are recruited and their begging skills honed before they are sent out on the streets. They are also trained to escape the fury of a mob or the police, if cornered.
The decoy (name withheld) told MiD DAY that children are initially trained to carry out routine tasks like carrying food and water for beggars deployed at regular spots.
The apprentice beggars are expected to pick up the traits from their seniors. Talk of professional hierarchy.
Among the brutal lessons learnt over a week, a student learns how to be patient and face the vagaries of nature rain, sun and shine.
This includes inhaling chemical-based solutions like ink whiteners and substance thinners which give them the ability to withstand extreme conditions like the sweltering heat of the sun, for instance.
They also learn to drag their disabled bodies, sometimes bruised and bleeding to spur bystanders and passers-by to drop in a coin or two.
The eyes mirror the sentiment of a potential donor that's another golden rule that the beggars are taught. One look into the giver's eye and the beggar is taught how to size up and read whether a currency note will follow.
They are also taught how to fall and roll dramatically on the road, if the situation so demands. This happens especially in the cases of those beggars who do not have one or more limbs.
Trainees are even taught how to slash their own face and forearms with blades if caught while picking a pocket.
The ploy works as the police are unwilling to take on the task of sending them for medical treatment, as has been prescribed under the detention act.
Other lessons include reciting verses from religious books. Profiling the targets closely before accosting them for money. Stealing is also part of the curriculum.
"Every beggar has something unique about him or her. It is about exploiting his or her talents to the hilt," said a former member of the anti-begging squad.
Profit-sharing
The day's collection is shared by the beggar and the kingpin. Usually, the beggar takes home a quarter of the share while the kingpin pockets the larger chunk.
Salimbhai's team members earn between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 on normal days after initial training. The income doubles during festivals.
Aftabbhai, who holds sway between Mahim and Bandra, has hired an army of toughies to collect the money on his behalf.
The toughies ensure that the beggar's undergarments are also checked so that no money is stolen. The clothes given to Aftabbhai's beggars do not have any pockets.
"It is a kind of long-term employment. Bhai takes care of our basic needs. All we need to do is sit or beg in a particular area," said Sahil, who was initially trained in Dharavi.
Another kingpin, Abdul Gafoor from Kurla, said parents approach him and offer their children for "employment".
He pays them 50 per cent of the income and retains some after paying the police and other local authorities.
Mustaqbhai from Kurla supplies babies for begging.
He charges Rs 100 for a three-month-old baby taken from an immigrant (mostly from Andhra Pradesh) for begging.
A one-year-old could fetch Rs 50 and Rs 30 for a three-year-old. He works on 50 per cent commission.
"The demand for young babies is high. People pay money on seeing the plight of the baby and the surrogate mother who, in any case, is good at acting," admitted another kingpin.
Eunuchs known as lallanwalla among begging who beg at traffic signals are trained at Bhandup Sonapur, Goregaon (east) and Parksite in Vikhroli. Most of those who pass for eunuchs are in fact males in a woman's attire.
10,000
No of beggars that operate on traffic signals
Rs 500
The amount a beggar makes per day
What the cops say
There is not a single policeman to deal with the 10,000-odd beggars that lurk the city streets. "The anti-begging squad was disbanded nearly a decade ago," said a police source.
Joint Commissioner of Police (law & order) Rajnish Seth refused to comment on the issue. He did not reply to text message sent by MiD DAY.
Each beggar makes at least Rs 500 a day. Conservative estimates have it that the begging business rakes in about Rs 15 crore a month.
A beggar earns at least Rs 500 a day, the trade rakes in about Rs 15 cr a month; MiD DAY's decoy mendicant gets more dope on the art of begging
You've seen it in the movies, in Madhur Bhandarkar's Traffic Signal, in recent times. It's about how begging is an organised crime syndicate.
MiD DAY corroborated this by sending out a decoy to learn the various tricks of the trade as shown in the film.
The film touched upon how beggars have a 'boss' who organises and controls them.
Which strategic spot to choose to beg, how to appeal to people's sense of generosity, how babies are let out and hired to evoke sympathy... yes, there are far too many dimensions to the entire 'profession' of begging.
Beggars are taught how to fall down and roll over on the road, especially those who are physically challenged
No, it does not happen only in films; it's for real. Why, even the Mumbai police confirm this, albeit off the record.
"When you may press a Re 1 coin into the palm of an old, aged and disabled beggar, it's almost certain that the money will be shared by a kingpin," said a senior police officer who did not wish to be named.
In the late '90s, the anti-begging squad comprised 10 cops, two of whom were officers. Those caught begging were taken to a special court in Kurla before being sent to a rehabilitation home.
Decoy lessons
Typically, here's how it works.
If a village lad is lost in the city, chances are that he'll find his way to Dharavi or Malwani, to learn the basics of begging.
There he will be tutored by gurus who are only identified by their first names Aftab, Salimbhai and Ahmedbhai.
MiD DAY used a decoy to get a few tips from a 'school for beggars' in Dharavi. Trainees are taught the skill of being tenacious and trail a quarry kajeda in begging parlance till he pays up something.
Trainees are recruited and their begging skills honed before they are sent out on the streets. They are also trained to escape the fury of a mob or the police, if cornered.
The decoy (name withheld) told MiD DAY that children are initially trained to carry out routine tasks like carrying food and water for beggars deployed at regular spots.
The apprentice beggars are expected to pick up the traits from their seniors. Talk of professional hierarchy.
Among the brutal lessons learnt over a week, a student learns how to be patient and face the vagaries of nature rain, sun and shine.
This includes inhaling chemical-based solutions like ink whiteners and substance thinners which give them the ability to withstand extreme conditions like the sweltering heat of the sun, for instance.
They also learn to drag their disabled bodies, sometimes bruised and bleeding to spur bystanders and passers-by to drop in a coin or two.
The eyes mirror the sentiment of a potential donor that's another golden rule that the beggars are taught. One look into the giver's eye and the beggar is taught how to size up and read whether a currency note will follow.
They are also taught how to fall and roll dramatically on the road, if the situation so demands. This happens especially in the cases of those beggars who do not have one or more limbs.
Trainees are even taught how to slash their own face and forearms with blades if caught while picking a pocket.
The ploy works as the police are unwilling to take on the task of sending them for medical treatment, as has been prescribed under the detention act.
Other lessons include reciting verses from religious books. Profiling the targets closely before accosting them for money. Stealing is also part of the curriculum.
"Every beggar has something unique about him or her. It is about exploiting his or her talents to the hilt," said a former member of the anti-begging squad.
Profit-sharing
The day's collection is shared by the beggar and the kingpin. Usually, the beggar takes home a quarter of the share while the kingpin pockets the larger chunk.
Salimbhai's team members earn between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 on normal days after initial training. The income doubles during festivals.
Aftabbhai, who holds sway between Mahim and Bandra, has hired an army of toughies to collect the money on his behalf.
The toughies ensure that the beggar's undergarments are also checked so that no money is stolen. The clothes given to Aftabbhai's beggars do not have any pockets.
"It is a kind of long-term employment. Bhai takes care of our basic needs. All we need to do is sit or beg in a particular area," said Sahil, who was initially trained in Dharavi.
Another kingpin, Abdul Gafoor from Kurla, said parents approach him and offer their children for "employment".
He pays them 50 per cent of the income and retains some after paying the police and other local authorities.
Mustaqbhai from Kurla supplies babies for begging.
He charges Rs 100 for a three-month-old baby taken from an immigrant (mostly from Andhra Pradesh) for begging.
A one-year-old could fetch Rs 50 and Rs 30 for a three-year-old. He works on 50 per cent commission.
"The demand for young babies is high. People pay money on seeing the plight of the baby and the surrogate mother who, in any case, is good at acting," admitted another kingpin.
Eunuchs known as lallanwalla among begging who beg at traffic signals are trained at Bhandup Sonapur, Goregaon (east) and Parksite in Vikhroli. Most of those who pass for eunuchs are in fact males in a woman's attire.
10,000
No of beggars that operate on traffic signals
Rs 500
The amount a beggar makes per day
What the cops say
There is not a single policeman to deal with the 10,000-odd beggars that lurk the city streets. "The anti-begging squad was disbanded nearly a decade ago," said a police source.
Joint Commissioner of Police (law & order) Rajnish Seth refused to comment on the issue. He did not reply to text message sent by MiD DAY.
Each beggar makes at least Rs 500 a day. Conservative estimates have it that the begging business rakes in about Rs 15 crore a month.
