Beggar stories, Diary notes V - Stories of few Women Beggars

Sahjad .B

Sixty-five years old, Sahjad B. is a widow who lost her husband twenty years ago. As her husband was poor, she did not have any money or property to lead a better life. She had responsibilities of looking after her minor children. She started working in others house as maid. When her son came of his age, he would tell her to stop working others house but she continued working. Whatever limited resources she had, she was satisfied with that.  Few years ago, her son died due to heart disease. Her daughter-in-law is weak and always sick. Children are studying in government school. There are seven members in her family but no one is earning member. Children are minor and at this elderly age she cannot work in others house. She has few benevolent relatives who help her in Ramzan month and in any emergency. She feels they cannot help her all the time. She is suffering from blood pressure and stomach related health issues. Her family has PDS card and she is availing the benefits of this scheme. Earlier she was getting old age pension but she is not getting pension from last year. When she asked the reason from officials, they told that her name is not in the list. Why she was removed from the list, she does not know the reason. She feels life is really tough for her and her family. She does not know what to do to ameliorate her condition.

Pittu B.

Seventy years old widow Pittu B had never dreamt in her life that she would have to beg in her advanced age. She has been begging at shamshabad bus stand and around from last three years. She has two daughters and both are married. Their husbands work in Hyderabad city area. She has been abandoned by her daughters. She does not want to talk about her daughters and their husbands. Her health condition is not good, there is swelling in her legs. She does not have any money or anyone who can look after her. She believes God will take care of her. When she was asked – “Do you feel that if you had son, your situation would have been better?” She replied stoically – “My suffering is not about son or daughter. It is all about fate.”

Sharda

Fifty years old widow Sharda lives in the premises of Hanuman temple.  She married to temple priest and lived with him in the temple. Her husband died long back but she continued to live in the temple premises. She has a daughter. Her daughter is married, working in Mall /cinema hall and living with her husband. She does not have any government documents like aadhar card, PDS card etc and she is not the beneficiary of any government scheme .She gets alms from devotee who come temple to worship. Devotees give her food, grains, clothes and money. Every Saturday, she comes to charminar temple to beg and she stays there from 7am to 12 pm. She has been following this routine from long and she would like to continue this until her life. When she was asked – “do you want to quit begging?” she replied – “I am illiterate, I do not have any skill and I am not strong to work now, if I do not beg what will I do? By giving alms people fulfill their religious duty and feel happy.” She has limited needs that get fulfilled by begging.

~~~ Ramanuj Dubey