The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

At present, at least 14,000 children are being used in begging in the country.

A beggar earns Tk 200 to 250 everyday in the metropolitan area. They have to pay tolls to muggers and police personnel from their earning money everyday. There are four organised beggars' associations in the city and most of the beggars use children for their professional reasons.

This was disclosed at a view exchange meeting organised by Projanmo Bachao, an alliance working against child abuse, at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday. Wahida Banu, Convener of the organisation and Chairperson of Bangladesh Shishu Odhikar Forum, said as chief gust that children in begging were on the rise and they were also being used in different forms of violence.

"The government as well as NGOs, media, teachers, cultural activists and social workers should come forward to stop using children in begging," she said.

The organisation urged the NGOs to launch shelter home, education centre, day-care centre, drop-in centre, child development centre and rehabilitation centre for children who are being used in different forms of violence.

The speakers suggested using the religious institutions like mosques, churches and temples as well as developing the banks, government offices, garments and business centre as children's education centre during off time.

The government could increase the number of safe shelter homes and upgrade their services with modern facilities, they said.

They urged the police professionals, especially the traffic police, to take part to stop using children in begging.

Speakers appealed to the mobile phone operators to send SMS to their subscribers for raising awareness on the issue.

Zia International Airport, Farmgate, High Court Mazar and Azimpur Graveyard are the most desirable places for beggars in the city.

Eminent Bhawaiya singer and Projanmo Bachao leader Mostafa Zaman Abbasi, Jasim Uddin, ABM Sazzad Hossain, Babul Odhikari, Mahbubul Haque, Taslima Huda, among others, were present at the conference.