Beggar Colony Fact Finding Report
A fact-finding report on the situation & deaths at the Beggars’ Colony (Magadi Road),
& Isolation Ward, Indiranagar, Bangalore
Conducted by
St. Joseph’s College,
SICHREM,
Indian Social Institute,
Sangama,
& Global Concern, India, Ananya
The Concerned for Working Children,
With Inputs from
Vimochana,
Karnataka Kolalagiri Nivasigara Sanghatana
Women’s Voice
On 19th & 20th August 2010
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
There have been several tragedies affecting the poor in Karnataka and India. But the latest one concerning several deaths due to the gross cruelty, negligence and inhuman treatment in the Beggars’ Colony of Bangalore is the worst we have ever witnessed. What has disturbed the citizens of Karnataka is the total apathy, indifference and even collaboration of the state in these deaths. Instead of addressing the concerns of the beggars, the Officials of the state have been responsible for their deaths through cruelty, physical assault and torture.
There is a lot the state has to explain about the misdeeds of its Officials in the beggary home. The home was established with laudable goals to provide solace and comfort to the homeless, the penniless and the defenseless. But the only experience both the dead and the living in the place have is one of pain, suffering and torture. They are treated worse than animals. Many must have died in the last few years due to an attitude of inhumanity among the Officials in the Colony.
Bangalore is known across the world as an IT city, a city of technology as well as of affluence. What is unfortunate is that the affluence of the city has not been shared with all. In the deaths and inhuman treatment of the Beggars, one sees the other face of Bangalore. While the poor are being hounded all over the country, with an anti-beggary law, the Karnataka state has imprisoned the poor behind bars. Instead of addressing deep-rooted issues of inequity,
& Isolation Ward, Indiranagar, Bangalore
Conducted by
St. Joseph’s College,
SICHREM,
Indian Social Institute,
Sangama,
& Global Concern, India, Ananya
The Concerned for Working Children,
With Inputs from
Vimochana,
Karnataka Kolalagiri Nivasigara Sanghatana
Women’s Voice
On 19th & 20th August 2010
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
There have been several tragedies affecting the poor in Karnataka and India. But the latest one concerning several deaths due to the gross cruelty, negligence and inhuman treatment in the Beggars’ Colony of Bangalore is the worst we have ever witnessed. What has disturbed the citizens of Karnataka is the total apathy, indifference and even collaboration of the state in these deaths. Instead of addressing the concerns of the beggars, the Officials of the state have been responsible for their deaths through cruelty, physical assault and torture.
There is a lot the state has to explain about the misdeeds of its Officials in the beggary home. The home was established with laudable goals to provide solace and comfort to the homeless, the penniless and the defenseless. But the only experience both the dead and the living in the place have is one of pain, suffering and torture. They are treated worse than animals. Many must have died in the last few years due to an attitude of inhumanity among the Officials in the Colony.
Bangalore is known across the world as an IT city, a city of technology as well as of affluence. What is unfortunate is that the affluence of the city has not been shared with all. In the deaths and inhuman treatment of the Beggars, one sees the other face of Bangalore. While the poor are being hounded all over the country, with an anti-beggary law, the Karnataka state has imprisoned the poor behind bars. Instead of addressing deep-rooted issues of inequity,