Did you know? Many beggars who croon on trains are trained singers

You must have noticed those people in trains who beg for money in return for a devotional or popular song. Some of them are beggars and hawkers, moving from one train compartment to another, in search of their next meal. But some of them, surprisingly, are also trained singers. A study has revealed that most of these beggars are apparently musically trained or belong to musical families, practicing the art for generations. [caption id=“attachment_2325542” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational Image. Reuters.[/caption] Indian Express reports that a Swaradhar – a group of young citizens from Mumbai have been working towards providing dignity to people who sing on trains – had conducted this study and came to shocking conclusion: out of 22 beggars interviewed in the past year, 16 were trained for several years in music. Nikita Tiwari, a Swaradhar member and researcher told Indian Express, “It is amazing to see the command that the artistes have on music. If given better opportunities, they can shine on the stage. We have been striving for the same.” This comes as a bit of respite since the plight of beggars in metro cities like Mumbai is abysmal. Most of them are a part of organised crime rackets, where begging is used as a means to extort money illegally. The railway police reportedly fine these beggars to add to their woes, and sometimes even confiscate all their belongings. ““Most of these beggars are not homeless, they beg in an urbanised manner. There are often links between the railway police and these beggars”, said Brijesh Arya, Founder of Pehchaan, a Mumbai-based NGO, to NDTV in this report.