i've only been to india once and i have given to people twice
1st time was day 2 of my holidays and i gave a small child beggign 50r which someone told me that night was to much
a few days later whilst walking down candolin main road, an old man was working amongst others, when i say old, he looked 80 but was probably only 50, just before i walked past him, he put his pick down and leaned against the wall, wiping his hand over his head, i don't know why i did it, but i just gave him my bottle of un-opened water, i smiled and walked on.
turning around he was drinking out of the bottle, and gave me a big smile
well all night i couldn't get this guy out of my head, and each day i made hubby buy a big bottle of water and i went to him each day, on our way home from the beach, and handed him the bottle. I can still see his smile as he saw me coming.
just to see the picture on his face was worth it, well on my last day i went with a smaller bottle of water, and i gave it to him, but i also gave him 300r, i had folded it up and handed it over with the water, i just wanted to, he had asked of nothing from me, but was so grateful each day for that water, he wasn't begging but was working day in day out.
as i walked away i saw him just stood there, he hadnt drunk the water he was just looking at me as i walked of, i just smiled.
i wanted to give him more, but hubby wouldn't let me.
wickedchris
That was such a lovely gesture and I imagine that his smile will always stay with you.
well done x
That was such a lovely gesture and I imagine that his smile will always stay with you.
well done x
wickedchris, What a lovely story,very touching, Good on you! 
Paula
Paula
No to beggars. Think of the skilled craftsman that earn very very little in comparison!
hard call this one read about the prof beggars many years ago before i visited goa i personally believe that anybody who will self maim to get to the top of the begging ladder is desperate beyond belief. In manchester we have had stories in the past of dodgey big issue sellers gettin out of posh cars round the corner then pretending to be homeless i could go on for ever the problem is anywhere in the world you go this happens but more so in india i will help the needy all day but knowing who is gen or not stops me.as mentioned before the worst beggers in goa are the taxi drivers worse than mossys even
i never give money.. while we were in goa we had just had dinner nd ws walking down towards the beach, i spotted a woman trying to cook a chappati on a pan lid.. tere wasnt much else so we jumpedon our bike and headed off to a local cafe an bought some poories and samosas along with some water for them, it didnt cst much as we had been going to the same place for ages and the owner was surprised at me takeing the lot..... seeing their faces was enough to know how greatful they were...
I don't give to any one but i will give small change to the lady's you see picking plastic bottles off the streets at night i gave 5 rps worth of change the first time and the lady started crying my taxi driver told me that i had given her a nights pay
Angelswitch,
I like the idea for paying someone for a service they are providing (in your case it was a street cleaner), I would be much happier about this than giving to people young or old who are begging, at least the rag picker was 1. doing something to help her own circumstances (working) and 2. making Goa look cleaner which is really required at the moment with so much junk thrown everywhere. Just a reminder though... Please try not to give to children as this gives them a reason not to be in school... We try so hard to get children into schools from the slums but their families know that they can earn more 'rag picking' and receiving 'goodies' (in any form) from the kind hearted tourists. Sorry to go on about it but it is a huge problem here....
I like the idea for paying someone for a service they are providing (in your case it was a street cleaner), I would be much happier about this than giving to people young or old who are begging, at least the rag picker was 1. doing something to help her own circumstances (working) and 2. making Goa look cleaner which is really required at the moment with so much junk thrown everywhere. Just a reminder though... Please try not to give to children as this gives them a reason not to be in school... We try so hard to get children into schools from the slums but their families know that they can earn more 'rag picking' and receiving 'goodies' (in any form) from the kind hearted tourists. Sorry to go on about it but it is a huge problem here....
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