Varieties of conventional begging

Confusion in Exchanging Something for Nothing (Part #4)

---

[Parts: First | Prev | Next | Last | All] [Links: To-K | From-K | From-Kx | Refs ]

---

It is perhaps appropriate that an early categorization of beggars in India continues to be cited in distinguishing the varieties of begging (Katayun Cama, Types of Beggars, in Our Beggar Problem: how to tackle it, 1945). The scheme has been slightly adapted by Nadia Azam (Beggarization: beggary as an organized crime in Pakistan, University of Kansas, 2011). The purpose here is to adapt that framework further in order to clarify the argument regarding begging as a template for recognition of functionally equivalent processes, which may be caricatured as "begging" -- notably as employed by groups, . The process at the individual level thus serves as a metaphor for highlighting issues and insights at a collective level.

Varieties of conventional begging
	Types	Characteristics	Public response	Government policy		Collective analogue
Defective Disabled	Physically Defective	Crippled, deformed, blind, deaf-mute, under nourished, weakness of vital organs	Public sympathetic towards disabled/deformed beggars; lack of government-provided welfare services Profitable to beg; Public and/or beggars disinterested in institutional services for disabled	Contributions should be given to organizations, rather than individual beggars		Organizationally dysfunctional and under-resourced groups -- fundamentally disorganized "Failed states"
	Mentally Defective / Ill	Microcephalic (rat children), hydrocephalic, paralytic, traumatic	Socially inefficient, immoral, impoverished, delinquent, criminal People are ignorant about mental disorders like melancholia, maniacdepressive, dementia,	No comprehensive strategy for such beggars		Groups variously recognized as deluded (possibly as cults) and unable to "get their act together" "Failed states"
	Diseased	Leprosy, epilepsy, TB, skin diseases	May pose public health hazards	National program to prevent and treat diseases. Public education and awareness		Groups suffering from characteristic organizational and operational "diseases" (as recognized by management consultants) Countries evoking critical assessment and remedial recommendations by the World Bank, UNDP, etc
Able	Able-bodied	Aggressive, harasses, bullies, abusive language	Generational beggars, "the family business"	Legislation to prohibit begging, arrest, rehabilitation		Groups acting aggressively in society in relation to others to obtain resources (harassment, intimidation, abusive language, etc). Terrorist groups "Rogue states"
Lifestyle	Religious mendicant	Live on charity, spiritually devoted to God; people go to them when they have lost all hope in other forms of salvation	Isolated individuals and/or Mendicant orders	Collaboration of mendicant and government		Intentional communities notably dependent on social support by conviction, deriving from an unconventional worldview Countries adopting alternative policies reliant to some degree on external support
	Bogus religious mendicant	Invalidated spiritual leaders	Mendicant orders Distinguishable with difficulty from legitimate religious mendicants			Intentional communities (notably challenged as cults) disguising abusive solicitation and use of funds Countries deliberately exploiting availability of external support
	Tribal beggar a) Seasonal b) Permanent	Nomads, live in colonies or temporary settlements. Artistic performers, skillful beggars a) Agricultural work and trade during season, beg in big cities when off season b) Non-workers	Petty criminals, may also work other short term jobs Live in temporary colonies or settlements. a) Live in public places such as parks b) Caravans, no fixed place to live, wanderers	Social reconstruction		Gypsy and "Traveller" communities Indigenous communities and Tribal nations
Temporarily unemployed	Unemployable	Socially disenchanted to the extent that they are unemployable. Low wages, unskilled, irregularity in industries	Hazardous working conditions, breakdown of selfrespect/ esteem/pride. Overcrowded and demoralizing working conditions, long hours, hard work, tough bosses Honest, hard working, resort to professional begging and become unemployable			Organizations without viable contracts and deemed incapable of delivering contract requirements
	Employable	Inefficient for any work. Work for food and shelter. Physical or mental disabilities.				Organizations without viable contracts but potentially capable of minimal productivity, despite disabilities
Permanently unemployed	Incorrigibly unwilling to work	Unwilling to work, stubborn, potentially criminal	Malicious, danger to society Anti-social	Drastic measures to keep them under control, rehabilitation centers for psychological and physical needs		Organizations permanently without productivity activity and unwilling to engage in work valuable to society
Somewhat permanently unemployed	Employable	Willing and able to work	Demoralized and degenerated Unemployment due to economic disruptions	Provide job opportunities to keep motivated, hopeful, and encouraged		Organizations in a fragile condition (possibly due to socio-economic circumstances) but indicating preparedness to work
Employed	Small trade beggar	Earned enough money to open small truck shops. Continue to beg	May have small shops where they sell items such as fruits and vegetables Family members beg and tend shop by rotation. Begging is the main business, shop is the side business	Government should facilitate them as they have potential to forgo begging and earn profits from small business		Organizations engaged in marginal productive activity requiring supplementary sources of income from society in order to be viable
	Employed beggar	Work by night, beg by day	Low wages necessitate begging Earn more money by begging than by working			Organizations engaged in marginal productive activity requiring supplementary sources of income from society in order to be viable
Modern (hi-tech)	iBeggars E-Beggars	Beg via cell phone Beg via email		Requires international collaboration		Telemarketing
	Rap beggars	Perform rap songs and acrobats to attract attention				Promotional shows
	High profile beggars	Seemingly well-to-do

---

[Parts: First | Prev | Next | Last | All] [Links: To-K | From-K | From-Kx | Refs ]