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My last blog on Paris was 3 years back. this blog is not about Paris per se but about the people living on the fringes of the city - Beggars / streetwalkers / vagabonds / gypsies / idlers / destitutes / wastrels ..
The under written are my own thoughts and observations . Hope I don't sound judgemental or critical .
Having lived in London for a decade , these tramps are not new to us . They are found in every nook and corner in India and other neighbouring countries for sure . But when I came to London I came with stars in my eyes . It never stuck me that big cities too might have their share of these vagabonds . Those days they were innocuous , some even apologetic . I also ended up exchanging friendly familiar smiles with the regular ones. One just gets used to these harmless men and women politely asking for money or food at traffic signals I suppose .
The early 2000s were the days of the " pre unrest in the West Asia and East Europe "days.
When I came to Paris in the 2007 , I did expect a fair share of mendicants in the main streets. It has increased 10 fold in the past year .
Initially only the city centres used to be focus of these tramps but of late they have started penetrating areas outside too a few KM outside from the main city . Only the congested cities in and around Paris used to be corrupted with mendicants but now no place is safe .
Muggers/ pickpockets / thugs are lurking around everywhere and whats more , its tough to identify them .
Previously you can make out a person with evil intentions a mile away thanx to his unkempt look / scruffy hair / awkward gait / darting eyes ....
Today they are well dressed with costly but ill-fitting clothes and shoes ( all embezzled of course ) and just take a stroll in residential areas in small groups taking a closer look at windows and houses when they think that no ones watching . Many such streetside rustlers in Paris and other big cities drug their children or train them to go and ask money. Its scary to stop at traffic signals . They also carry a placard citing " Please help us . we are a decent family from < insert the latest country which is having a turmoil > country "
Villages around our residential areas have been victims of break-ins more than once . Holidays and vacation times are most fertile seasons for thefts . The police is most helpful and sympathetic but what can they do anyways. they surely fix your broken pane or door for free .
I myself have been mugged a couple of times by small bands of sweetly giggling teenaged girls .
Yesterday I met this cute young woman who kept on chatting with me in the train station .I was travelling to La defence which is the centre of Paris . She said she's from Algeria and was here with her two girls who had come for some operation one year ago. she sounded all normal . Once inside the train , she slowly asked me if I can get something to eat . I realised her intentions and told her I don't have any cash , albeit if she can come with me to la defence I can buy her food . all through the journey she was interested in my family / jewels / dresses ... Each time I asked about her daughters she would manage to talk about something else . She only spoke Arabic . I had a tough time interacting with her . But Very clearly , she has overstayed her visa . Her " poor - little -thing " image was slipping off by the time we reached our destination.
once we reached the station , I asked her what she wanted to eat .sweetly she led me to an ATM and told me I can withdraw cash there and she " does not mind " having cash in place of food .
many of these so -called have-nots gamble away their money or are addicted to substances . Why indirectly fund their vices ?
equally sweetly I told her I can only buy her food else she can go elsewhere . She became all quite suddenly . I bought her some buns for 25,00 Euros she was all sulky pouty by the time I finished paying the bill .She then wandered off needless to say to find another " patron " or benefactor who will gallantly give her some liquid cash .
liquid cash in hand temps many evils .
anyway my good deed of the day was done and I walked off .
I know several people who have outstayed their welcome like this and resort to undesirable money making activities like pilferage / robberies/ begging / snatching ... The state has many schemes to fit these people in the mainstream but these clans deliberately live on the brink away from the regular stream . They are invisible as far as the prime society is concerned. Truth be told , I myself know many people who have integrated into their host countries gratefully after escaping from a ravaged region . They might start at the lowest rung but have slowly risen above with disciple and control . they now indulge in a lot of charity activities to show their obligations and acknowledgements .
some of these so-called impoverished are from countries which had heavy battles for the past several decades but now have come back to normalcy . they refuse to leave saying they are used to this country for 30 odd years and live on public benefits . I personally find them most undeserving .
I can narrate first hand instances of " training sessions " for these undesirable bums going on during non peak hours in underground metros or sparsely populated places .
Not just tramps but the city and surrounding areas are abound with street walkers even during peak office hours . I often wonder how all of them find takers . Paris has a thick foliage in and around . The region around these mini forests are fertile with men and women playing hide and seek with the motorists on the main road . They are found hanging colourful plastic covers to the trees behind which they " hide " . some of them have several plastic covers hanging . Insiders have told me that the colour of the plastic cover announces the various services they offer .
At times I do pity them standing like this in harsh weathers looking for pickups to fund their next meal.
Religion /race / caste/ creed/ region does not matter. The mean streets are the most secular of all places. they are all driven by necessity or needs ( in many cases , self inflicted ) .
I have friends and associates in all religions /races/ castes/ creeds / regions . Its the status which matters. We see eye to eye on many issues . We can chat for hours together without bringing our doctrine into the conversation .
So its not fair to pin point a particular region or race for these abominable activities.
The ultimate rule of the thumb is that we need to be careful. prevention is better than cure . A good trick which helps you in many cases is keeping a flashy wallet openly in your hand bag with false notes and a smaller obscure looking one deep inside with genuine essentials . When any one asks you for money , try not to escape too much depending on the crowds around you . Some of them are armed and dangerous even in crowded places . A needle prick is all it takes to numb you . Your limbs / life is more precious than a few pennies. Better to part with some money than showing bravado and fall in danger trying to avoid or dodge them .
My last blog on Paris was 3 years back. this blog is not about Paris per se but about the people living on the fringes of the city - Beggars / streetwalkers / vagabonds / gypsies / idlers / destitutes / wastrels ..
The under written are my own thoughts and observations . Hope I don't sound judgemental or critical .
Having lived in London for a decade , these tramps are not new to us . They are found in every nook and corner in India and other neighbouring countries for sure . But when I came to London I came with stars in my eyes . It never stuck me that big cities too might have their share of these vagabonds . Those days they were innocuous , some even apologetic . I also ended up exchanging friendly familiar smiles with the regular ones. One just gets used to these harmless men and women politely asking for money or food at traffic signals I suppose .
The early 2000s were the days of the " pre unrest in the West Asia and East Europe "days.
When I came to Paris in the 2007 , I did expect a fair share of mendicants in the main streets. It has increased 10 fold in the past year .
Initially only the city centres used to be focus of these tramps but of late they have started penetrating areas outside too a few KM outside from the main city . Only the congested cities in and around Paris used to be corrupted with mendicants but now no place is safe .
Muggers/ pickpockets / thugs are lurking around everywhere and whats more , its tough to identify them .
Previously you can make out a person with evil intentions a mile away thanx to his unkempt look / scruffy hair / awkward gait / darting eyes ....
Today they are well dressed with costly but ill-fitting clothes and shoes ( all embezzled of course ) and just take a stroll in residential areas in small groups taking a closer look at windows and houses when they think that no ones watching . Many such streetside rustlers in Paris and other big cities drug their children or train them to go and ask money. Its scary to stop at traffic signals . They also carry a placard citing " Please help us . we are a decent family from < insert the latest country which is having a turmoil > country "
Villages around our residential areas have been victims of break-ins more than once . Holidays and vacation times are most fertile seasons for thefts . The police is most helpful and sympathetic but what can they do anyways. they surely fix your broken pane or door for free .
I myself have been mugged a couple of times by small bands of sweetly giggling teenaged girls .
Yesterday I met this cute young woman who kept on chatting with me in the train station .I was travelling to La defence which is the centre of Paris . She said she's from Algeria and was here with her two girls who had come for some operation one year ago. she sounded all normal . Once inside the train , she slowly asked me if I can get something to eat . I realised her intentions and told her I don't have any cash , albeit if she can come with me to la defence I can buy her food . all through the journey she was interested in my family / jewels / dresses ... Each time I asked about her daughters she would manage to talk about something else . She only spoke Arabic . I had a tough time interacting with her . But Very clearly , she has overstayed her visa . Her " poor - little -thing " image was slipping off by the time we reached our destination.
once we reached the station , I asked her what she wanted to eat .sweetly she led me to an ATM and told me I can withdraw cash there and she " does not mind " having cash in place of food .
many of these so -called have-nots gamble away their money or are addicted to substances . Why indirectly fund their vices ?
equally sweetly I told her I can only buy her food else she can go elsewhere . She became all quite suddenly . I bought her some buns for 25,00 Euros she was all sulky pouty by the time I finished paying the bill .She then wandered off needless to say to find another " patron " or benefactor who will gallantly give her some liquid cash .
liquid cash in hand temps many evils .
anyway my good deed of the day was done and I walked off .
I know several people who have outstayed their welcome like this and resort to undesirable money making activities like pilferage / robberies/ begging / snatching ... The state has many schemes to fit these people in the mainstream but these clans deliberately live on the brink away from the regular stream . They are invisible as far as the prime society is concerned. Truth be told , I myself know many people who have integrated into their host countries gratefully after escaping from a ravaged region . They might start at the lowest rung but have slowly risen above with disciple and control . they now indulge in a lot of charity activities to show their obligations and acknowledgements .
some of these so-called impoverished are from countries which had heavy battles for the past several decades but now have come back to normalcy . they refuse to leave saying they are used to this country for 30 odd years and live on public benefits . I personally find them most undeserving .
I can narrate first hand instances of " training sessions " for these undesirable bums going on during non peak hours in underground metros or sparsely populated places .
Not just tramps but the city and surrounding areas are abound with street walkers even during peak office hours . I often wonder how all of them find takers . Paris has a thick foliage in and around . The region around these mini forests are fertile with men and women playing hide and seek with the motorists on the main road . They are found hanging colourful plastic covers to the trees behind which they " hide " . some of them have several plastic covers hanging . Insiders have told me that the colour of the plastic cover announces the various services they offer .
At times I do pity them standing like this in harsh weathers looking for pickups to fund their next meal.
Religion /race / caste/ creed/ region does not matter. The mean streets are the most secular of all places. they are all driven by necessity or needs ( in many cases , self inflicted ) .
I have friends and associates in all religions /races/ castes/ creeds / regions . Its the status which matters. We see eye to eye on many issues . We can chat for hours together without bringing our doctrine into the conversation .
So its not fair to pin point a particular region or race for these abominable activities.
The ultimate rule of the thumb is that we need to be careful. prevention is better than cure . A good trick which helps you in many cases is keeping a flashy wallet openly in your hand bag with false notes and a smaller obscure looking one deep inside with genuine essentials . When any one asks you for money , try not to escape too much depending on the crowds around you . Some of them are armed and dangerous even in crowded places . A needle prick is all it takes to numb you . Your limbs / life is more precious than a few pennies. Better to part with some money than showing bravado and fall in danger trying to avoid or dodge them .
