I felt helpless today!!

@sjvg1976 (41132)
Delhi, India
June 2, 2011 1:43am CST
Hi friends this is the normal day i left my house for work when i was nearby my office i saw a lady carrying a baby girl in her lap. The girls was looking as if she did not take bath or even washed her face for 2~3 days. I think the lady was her mother. The girl was looking so weak as if she is hungry since yesterday but was not even complaining when i just passed them the lady told me to give some money to feed her child i was so much moved not because of this lady but due to the baby she was carrying with her. I immmediately took 50 rupees note from my pocket & gave it to the lady which i normally donot do for other beggars. And i moved for my office and my mind was thinking & thinking about the act if i did right or not by giving her money. Will that lady really going to feed her baby of she had just made me a fool and added one more in the list.Please suggest if i did it right or wrong????
1 person likes this
11 responses
@LilacFaye (204)
• Philippines
2 Jun 11
You did something right. Whether she made a fool of you or not, still you did try to help somebody and it's counted as RIGHT. There are also plenty of beggars like that here in the Philippines, but my husband and I don't give them money. We give them food or drink instead. Never money.
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
3 Jun 11
You & your husband always do it right lilac.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
2 Jun 11
I think you did what you could to help...unfortunately how much it helped is determined by this other person's actions. It was a nice thing to do. I would have done the same.
2 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
3 Jun 11
Yes my friend that is the only consolation i got from it at least i have satisfaction in my mind & heart that i tried to help that baby at least whatever happens after it thats up to that lady.
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
9 Jun 11
Hi Sjvg, I have been into this situation most times, but I really avoiding myself not to encourage them. But what you have did is right for the baby, but not sure if the lady would feed the child. Its still pathetic to see people do use babies for begging. But I would feel so bad to say 'no' and if i find really moved like you, i would never mind giving them. Even if they cheat us, atleast she will have little curtsy to give little food so the baby will live to help her .Sad. I would say you are right and that's were the humanity raises up! Cheers!!
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
14 Aug 11
Hello Besthope, Thats right i performed my part and gave money to the beggar in hope that she will feed the baby but its her will if she feeds the baby or not.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
2 Jun 11
Well.. You were trying to help. So nothing wrong in it. But I heard that in India beggars take such baby on rent for getting more money... i am not sure but if this is true than better we give some food packet instead of money.
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
2 Jun 11
Hi akp i still could not make my avtar jumping i tried it alot last night. I know in INDIA people have their own companies who kidnaps children & sell them to 3rd party to deploy them for begging or assist beggars to gain more attention from people. I tried before to give food to beggars but almost all of them refused to take it they rarely take it they need just money.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
2 Jun 11
@sjvg... Then better don't give money. You were worried because that baby looked hungry. so its the best to offer food rather than money. Then its their choice to either accept or decline. About your avatar.. just save that image i have uploaded in that discussion .. And upload it from this link : www.mylot.com/nr/editcustomize.aspx Reply me if you are still confused.. @suny.. is it you ??? What is the difference between your old and new username.. About moving avatar.. Like the user above and me you don't having animated avatar.. Otherwise i would have help you for that.
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
2 Jun 11
Thanks Akp i will try to do what you are suggesting me. But many times it happens whenever you are in such situation you forget everything & do what your heart says even you don't listen to your brain. Thanks for sending me the link i will try to upload it in the evenong & give you the feedback. thanks Akp once again!!!
@polaris77 (2040)
• Bacau, Romania
2 Jun 11
I think you should have a clear conscience because you tried to help,there was no way to know whether that woman was indeed was indeed very poor or she was just an evil person trying to take advantage of the baby she was carrying to impress people.Anyway,if she intentionally lets her baby unwashed and hungry she doesn't deserve to be called a mother,she's a really bad person and the baby should be taken away from her as soon as possible,but maybe it's not that case.Anyway,you did the right thing,I have no doubt about it.
2 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
2 Jun 11
I think you said the right thing she doesn't deserve to be called a mother because mother don't keep their babies dirty & hungry.Mother herself can remain hungry but don't keep her child unfed.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
2 Jun 11
I understand your concern. Whether or not the mother will really use it to buy food to feed the little girl is really up to her. But, at least, your intentions was good when you did what you did. Next time, if you have doubts, buy the food yourself and give it to the beggars so you'd be sure that they really receive what they needed. :)
1 person likes this
• China
2 Jun 11
As you said,his purpose only is get money from you using child.Don't upset, even if you didn't support money to her.This is a socity issue, we can't resolve it.Maybe her income more than our.
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
2 Jun 11
Thanks for your reponse rdm and your suggestion. I tried it also but beggars here so much money concerned that they usually donot accept food if you offer them they need money & only money.
• Philippines
2 Jun 11
Well, they may need other things like medicine but they're beggars right? They should be grateful if you give them food straightaway so they won't have to spend what money they have left. We also get that here in the Philippines but beggars here are much less choosy when it comes to donations. But, oh well, like Waterfang said, it is a society issue and we can't really do much difference even if we give them a bunch of food and change. :/
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
2 Jun 11
sjvg yes I think you did all you could and was not wrong as although we do not know her story how c an anyone not want to help a starving child and if she is she is the mom she does need help from someone,. How can Indians just let other indians starve? Is there no help in your cou ntrty for poor people?even here in the US we have homeless p eople but there are places they can get some help.I am not wealthy by any means but if I had any money at all on me and met a situation like that I woulk do something to help that poor sick baby and its mom.People can be so thoughtless and cruel and someone has to help a person with a baby.
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
3 Jun 11
Hi hatley nice to hear you Hatley but there are million of beggars in INDIA, its not government don't have the schemes for these poor people but what we or government can do when these beggars make begging a profession. There are lots of cases in INDIA where people buy or rent a child for begging to gain more sympathy from people & money. Lastly but most importantly INDIA don't have that much money there are lots of people who are unemployed.If we start giving money to every beggar then it will be motivation for them & they always remain standing outside your house to get money i have seen these sort of cases too!!
• Philippines
2 Jun 11
Maybe she did, maybe she didn't make a fool out of you. You might know in time. Just remember this, even pity is being used to manipulate others these days so be careful. If you're gonna give, give with all your heart and don't think about what's gonna happen next.
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
2 Jun 11
Thats right front vision next time i will remeber your words.
• China
2 Jun 11
It's normal about your concern.You are a kindly person because of 50 rupees was paying.When we feel pity for the chird,we are warry about whether the mother want to get money from good person.In China,there are many profession beggers living in the city.they are no alone,part of beggers sit beside of business road take a kid in his's arm.Even though there are many children about ten years is lose opportunity to attend school artificially. In china, begging is not shamefull when it become a profession. Their income many be beyone some families who living in village.So you don't think whether the monther will buy food for his child, because you have done a thing for this child.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
3 Jun 11
At least you have done your part, giving her alms, for the sake of the baby. Don't just think of th what ifs, because doing so would just make you feel bad. Here in the Philippines, there are beggars who are from one tribe , who carries their baby with them to beg. They are pitiful to look at, but the moment you give an alm, the rest of them will follow too. Better not give them anymore, because doing so, would encourage them more to beg.
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
3 Jun 11
Hi Simpld, Thats why do not give a peeny to beggars normally because if you something to a beggar all beggars will run after you & it will become difficult for a person ot get rid of them without paying them. But end of the day i have astisfaction that at least i did my role & only GOD knows i did well or not.
• Singapore
2 Jun 11
=,( s0 sad t0 hear abt such thing.. because if it is me, i w0nt kn0w what t0 do.. i w0uld had walked away wit my guilty c0nscious.. because i fear if i did what u did, it w0uld means im enc0uraging them t0 beg for living.. if i was given a ch0ice, i w0uld rather treat them t0 s0me f0od then just give them m0ney... even s0, i d0nt kn0w if what i said is the right thing to do.. =((
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41132)
• Delhi, India
2 Jun 11
Your are right Intan but i normally donot move by other beggars & i am too against these beggars and in any case donot motivate them to beg by giving them money but this is the baby girl which shattered me from inside due to which i immediately gave her the money. But i still feel i should have given her the food/milk to feed her child.