Chennai: A narrow road, ringed by wild bushes from Alapakkam at Chengalpet would take you to Bethel Nagar, a community that was constructed for leprosy patients.
The locality, which is now a haven for 60 beggar families has a community hall surrounded by pucca houses, not even one house is dilapidated.
A total of 273 members including 25 physically challenged live in the community currently. Not only are the houses well painted, but they also possess all the necessary equipment – be it a television set or a fridge or a grinder.
A majority of the people except for few children eke out a living by begging in the city. M.Sameena, a social work student said, “They live in a decent locality; their children study in decent colleges and NGOs provide food to them regularly. The visit to the community is an eye opener as we learnt of what reality is.”
Ever noticed a decrease in beggar population on Mondays? Mondays are time for meetings for the community who discuss about their weekly collections and draw out plans to exploit people.
“They also contribute some money to the community, which is utilised for festivals. If there is a wedding or a similar celebration, the community head gives Rs 3,000 to the family,” said G. Tineshvaar, another student who is part of the survey.
