Comments on: Alms for the…Mafia? http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/alms-for-the%e2%80%a6mafia/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Tue, 22 May 2012 21:39:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jason Silver http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/alms-for-the%e2%80%a6mafia/#comment-18121 Jason Silver Thu, 20 May 2010 21:49:17 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2506#comment-18121 In a country of close to one billion people, I would say that regulation of these begging mafias is near impossible. With the structure or lack there of when it comes to policing, these children will run rampant on the street. It seems like the government isn't doing enough to curb this horrible trade. In a country of vast wealth and unspeakable poverty, why don't the glamorous families of India, such as the Tata's, donate, set up foundations, take steps to mitigate this tragedy. I think that the breakdown lies between central government and the regional authorities which enforce the laws. There should should be more urgency to cure this problem, but corruption holds this process back. Something must be done, and I think that the "first families" of India, the one's with huge family fortunes, could do a great deal to help. In a country of close to one billion people, I would say that regulation of these begging mafias is near impossible. With the structure or lack there of when it comes to policing, these children will run rampant on the street. It seems like the government isn’t doing enough to curb this horrible trade. In a country of vast wealth and unspeakable poverty, why don’t the glamorous families of India, such as the Tata’s, donate, set up foundations, take steps to mitigate this tragedy. I think that the breakdown lies between central government and the regional authorities which enforce the laws. There should should be more urgency to cure this problem, but corruption holds this process back. Something must be done, and I think that the “first families” of India, the one’s with huge family fortunes, could do a great deal to help.

]]> By: Jordan Wente http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/alms-for-the%e2%80%a6mafia/#comment-18058 Jordan Wente Sat, 10 Apr 2010 23:47:46 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2506#comment-18058 Wow that is really sad. The last time I was in India, I was instructed not to give out any kind of money to the children. However, it was not because of the begging mafia but rather as a precaution to avoid a swarm of children begging for money. We were instructed to bring candy or snack to give to children rather than any type of currency. It turned out that was pretty good advice. I watched a female tourist give money to a child and the result was 20 more children running up to her begging for money. It almost seemed like it was never ending. How can you give money to one and not to the rest? In a sense you are trapped. During my trip, I took little things like tootsie rolls and granola bars. These items came in handy when you are in a position where not being able to give them money just tore at your heart. The children loved the treats and hopefully they were able to enjoy them rather than have to give them away to a mafia boss. After reading this article I thought about the children lining the streets and many of them had missing limbs or horrible burns all over their body. I had never really thought much into why so many of the children were in this condition. This article has shed some light as to why. It seems to be a very complicated issue and like most black market type interactions probably extremely hard to stop. Hopefully the Indian government can start to deal with the corruption and strengthen its police force because something needs to be done to put and end to this. Wow that is really sad. The last time I was in India, I was instructed not to give out any kind of money to the children. However, it was not because of the begging mafia but rather as a precaution to avoid a swarm of children begging for money. We were instructed to bring candy or snack to give to children rather than any type of currency. It turned out that was pretty good advice. I watched a female tourist give money to a child and the result was 20 more children running up to her begging for money. It almost seemed like it was never ending. How can you give money to one and not to the rest? In a sense you are trapped. During my trip, I took little things like tootsie rolls and granola bars. These items came in handy when you are in a position where not being able to give them money just tore at your heart. The children loved the treats and hopefully they were able to enjoy them rather than have to give them away to a mafia boss.

After reading this article I thought about the children lining the streets and many of them had missing limbs or horrible burns all over their body. I had never really thought much into why so many of the children were in this condition. This article has shed some light as to why. It seems to be a very complicated issue and like most black market type interactions probably extremely hard to stop. Hopefully the Indian government can start to deal with the corruption and strengthen its police force because something needs to be done to put and end to this.

]]> By: Hemanth http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/alms-for-the%e2%80%a6mafia/#comment-18030 Hemanth Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:15:31 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2506#comment-18030 Thanks Leslie. It is an excellent article, well researched and very much true, in some places. It brought tears to my eyes too and this is very unfortunate that this happens at all. The government doesn't turn blind eye to these things however. They can only do what they can do sometimes. On an average in India, we have 1 cop for 1040 people while here in America it is 1 for 350 people. Also the cops are very much underpaid. US and some European countries can afford money to pay their cops. That way, you can buy honesty and sincerity of purpose. Although the wording could have been better, I feel that is true. The mafia operates underground and police sometimes can just be bystanders. Sometimes the mafia are hand-in-glove with the politicians. They will be arrested and then immediately they will be released. When a politician applies political pressure, they have to release them. Unfortunately, to keep their job, or avoid being transferred, the cops release them. I don't want to give a clean chit to the cops either. Like every other profession unfortunately, there are sour apples too. That is how system works in India. In a bollywood movie, an honest policeman mentors a junior policeman thus: " We are like whores. Before a client has left and another has arrived....we got to get decked up, wait at the window and solicit. Its' the system that decides things and we simply follow." Thanks Leslie. It is an excellent article, well researched and very much true, in some places. It brought tears to my eyes too and this is very unfortunate that this happens at all. The government doesn’t turn blind eye to these things however. They can only do what they can do sometimes. On an average in India, we have 1 cop for 1040 people while here in America it is 1 for 350 people. Also the cops are very much underpaid. US and some European countries can afford money to pay their cops. That way, you can buy honesty and sincerity of purpose. Although the wording could have been better, I feel that is true. The mafia operates underground and police sometimes can just be bystanders. Sometimes the mafia are hand-in-glove with the politicians. They will be arrested and then immediately they will be released. When a politician applies political pressure, they have to release them. Unfortunately, to keep their job, or avoid being transferred, the cops release them. I don’t want to give a clean chit to the cops either. Like every other profession unfortunately, there are sour apples too.
That is how system works in India. In a bollywood movie, an honest policeman mentors a junior policeman thus:
” We are like whores. Before a client has left and another has arrived….we got to get decked up, wait at the window and solicit. Its’ the system that decides things and we simply follow.”

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