Begging
Begging (also known in North America as panhandling) is the practice of imploring others to grant a favor, often a gift of money, with little or no expectation of reciprocation.
Their subsistence is reciprocated by providing society with various forms of religious service, moral education, and preservation of culture.
[3] The New Testament contains several references to Jesus' status as the savior of the ptochos, usually translated as "the poor", considered the most wretched portion of society.
From early modern England, another example is Robert Greene in his coney-catching pamphlets, the titles of which included "The Defence of Conny-catching," in which he argued there were worse crimes to be found among "reputable" people.
In France and Britain by the end of the century, an estimated 10 percent of the people depended on charity or begging for their food.
This system developed into the workhouse, a state-operated institution where those unable to obtain other employment were forced to work in often grim conditions in exchange for a small amount of food.
In the medieval and earlier times begging was considered to be an acceptable occupation which was embraced within the traditional social structure.
[8] This view is refuted by grassroots research organizations such as Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan, which claim that beggars and other homeless people are overwhelmingly destitute and vulnerable.
[10] Begging was especially difficult during Ming times due to high taxes that limited the disposable income of most individuals.
A Qing dynasty source states that "professional beggars" were not considered to be destitute, and as such were not allowed to receive government relief, such as food rations, clothing, and shelter.
[11] Although beggars were of low status in Ming, they were considered to have higher social standing than prostitutes, entertainers, runners, and soldiers.
This is, among other reasons, so that Laity can gain religious merit by giving food, medicines, and other essential items to the monks.
Various European Poor Laws prohibited or regulated begging from the Renaissance to modern times, with varying levels of effectiveness and enforcement.
[citation needed] "Aggressive panhandling" has been specifically prohibited by law in various jurisdictions in the United States and Canada, typically defined as persistent or intimidating begging.
According to Article 262(2) or the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, organizing disabled or children under 14 to beg is illegal and will be punished by up to 7 years in prison, and fined.
Local authorities may issue public spaces protection orders for particular areas, making begging subject to a fine.
This may include stricter related laws in cities such as Budapest, which also prohibits picking things from rubbish bins.
If convicted, they are sent to certified institutions called 'beggar homes', also known as Sewa Kutir, for a period ranging from one to ten years for detention, training and employment.
Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan and the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) have criticized this Act and advocated for its repeal.
[48] Section 2(1) of the BPBA broadly defines 'beggars' as those individuals who directly solicit alms, as well as those who have no visible means of subsistence and are found wandering around.
[48] In 2018, the Delhi High Court declared 25 provisions of the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act (1959) as unconstitutional, following petitions filed by Harsh Mander and Karnika Sawhney.
Gardaí (police) can also direct people begging in certain areas to move on, e.g. at an ATM, night safe, vending machine or shop entrance.
[52][53][54][55][56] Prior to this law, begging was outlawed by the Vagrancy (Ireland) Act 1847, adopted during the Great Famine; a 2007 High Court ruling said that it was "too vague and incompatible with constitutional provisions allowing free speech and freedom to communicate.
According to Chachipe, a Roma rights advocacy NGO, 1639 begging cases were reported by Luxembourgish law enforcement authorities.
In Portugal, panhandlers normally beg in front of Catholic churches, at traffic lights or on special places in Lisbon or Oporto downtowns.
[71] Law 61 of 1991[72] forbids the persistent call for the mercy of the public, by a person who is able to work, although begging still remains widespread in the country.
[73] US State Department Human Rights reports note a pattern of Roma children registered for "vagrancy and begging".
On August 14, 2013, the U. S. Court of Appeals struck down a Grand Rapids, Michigan, anti-begging law on free speech grounds.
[77] An Arcata, California, law banning panhandling within twenty feet of stores was struck down on similar grounds in 2012.
[78] In Baltimore, Maryland, several non-profits have been working with the "squeegee kids" to get them off the streets instead of the police having to enforce the law and have the teens arrested.
