Most Nigerians have turned social media to where they go for commercial begging and such was the case of this user who was caught asking for two thousand Naira from Popular On Air Personality, Daddy Freeze.
The controversial OAP, however, replied him by asking him to join the ongoing resurrection challenge he is overseeing with the same data he is using to beg for money on social media.
The conversation:
I do not think that elimination of begging means eradication of poverty. Here I am referring to absolute poverty. There will always be relative poverty.
The controversial OAP, however, replied him by asking him to join the ongoing resurrection challenge he is overseeing with the same data he is using to beg for money on social media.
The conversation:
Is the elimination of begging the best sign of the eradication of poverty ?
I am tempted to say "YES" because it is such a visible indicator rather than the very complex Human Development Index. But I am afraid that I will go with NO.
I do not think that elimination of begging means eradication of poverty. Here I am referring to absolute poverty. There will always be relative poverty.
Before I give my reasons for saying ‘no’, I must say that I believe that barring a few exceptions, begging is the last resort for most people to ensure survival.
The reason I said no is because there may be no beggars because
1.Not everyone who is poor resorts to begging. People undertake other, sometimes destructive, means like borrowing from money lenders, starvation, organ sale, commercial sex work, crime etc to fulfil their needs.
2. The poor people may be continue to be poor but their needs are being met through welfare measures like soup kitchens (a foreign concept but a langar is a Gurudwara will be the Indian equivalent), shelter, rehabilitation and support for getting beggars into work.
3. The law may forbid begging; not far fetched. Rwanda discourages beggars and legally prohibits children begging.
Comments
At least begging is better than stealing....