A recent article from the New Age reports the average person is approached by about 15 to 25 beggars every day. It is estimated that the current beggar population in the country is around 25 lac, with much over 20,000 in Dhaka itself.
What I find interesting is how the people of Bangladesh, being ranked as the 7th angriest, stressed, saddest population in the world, and the 63rd poorest, is still able to maintain so many beggars. To still continue to ‘give.’
Our people remain emotional, sentimental, religiously driven. For India (alongside Bangladesh) ranks as the top superstitious cultures in the world too.
You’ll notice this trait by ‘how’ our beggars beg. By the message they send, and the holy clothing they wear. Beyond the basic appeals to empathy such as ‘I’m hungry or need surgery,’ more and more ask for money – in exchange of prayer and blessing. To pray for the giver, appealing to their religious beliefs. And it works.
Because then, it’s no longer charity or a grant. It’s a transaction, where the giver is ‘blessed’ for a few seconds in return. Reminded me of how Dale Carnegie mentioned ‘the only way to make someone do anything, is to make them want to do it.’ A true marketing fundamental.
More than taking away hunger and suffering of others, deep down, perhaps people want more to be blessed themselves.