I want to bring something to my attention. I have money problems. It’s not that I’m poor, but I am not rich either.

Yesterday, when I reached my college, I withdrew Rs. 200 from the ATM, thinking that it would be enough for the day. While attending my lecture on Advance Planning, a beggar came to our class asking for monetary help. We learned that he was disabled and unable to support his ailing father with monthly dialysis. He needed help. This same person had come to our class last semester, and we all students, had offered him help. I decided to help him this time, too. Since I didn’t have change; I, along with a few classmates, decided to give him Rs. 100. I felt uncomfortable not because I was giving him Rs. 100, but because I needed money too. So, I had to compromise by eating less for the rest of the day. It was uncomfortable because it was my father’s hard-earned money, and I know how much money we need right now.

That’s why I generally prefer walking or taking the bus (though I have my motorcycle, which I have refrained using it lately) instead of using expensive modes of transportation. I don’t know what mode of transportation I’ll use in the future, but if money becomes an important aspect, so I will choose accordingly. Sometimes, giving such large amounts of money affects me, but other times, I feel satisfied that I have helped. Some may say that giving money is not the same as helping and that begging has become a business in India these days. But I don’t know what I should do. Seeing people begging on the streets pains me. How can the society reduce them to such levels? They need our help! But are we really helping them by giving money? I see big TV ads on insurance, cars, etc., but do we really have anything for these of our fellow brothers and sisters? Some say we should help them through other means rather than give them money, and that may be true. But how do each of us help them in that case? Maybe I’m wrong in providing them with money, but what else should I do? Most of the time, even I, too, do not have much money with me. I get confused in this way!