DMRC, CISF confused over tackling charity seekers at metro stations

Both DMRC and CISF look confused about tackling charity seekers operating at crowded entry and exit points of various metro stations.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is not concerned about such charity seekers unless any complaint is received or they are seen causing harassment to metro commuters, says Hemendra Singh, Deputy Commandant and Public Relations Officer of CISF. 

‘CISF keeps an eye on all activities in and around the metro stations and if anything appears to be objectionable or of security concern, action shall be taken immediately,’ he adds. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), on the other hand, keeps itself clear from any such association. ‘We do not promote any such charitable body. And there is no way they can operate within metro premises,’ says Anuj Dayal, Executive Director (PRO) DMRC. These charity seekers can be seen at New Delhi, Kashmere Gate, Rajiv Chowk, Chandni Chowk, Mandi House, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Laxminagar and more than a dozen other metro stations.

They stand at the metro exit gates – and on the stairs at times – seeking charity for various purposes. They usually stand in groups of two – one holding a placard and the other holding a donation box.

‘There are 300 like us working everyday at different metro stations. We choose our preferred shifts and work for three hours a day, after which, we join our duties,’ says Pradeep Pandey, a volunteer who seeks charity for an NGO for cancer patients. Usually after one in the afternoon, he joins his duty as a security guard at a showroom in Connaught Place.

For this job, they get a salary of Rs 5000 per month. ‘It gives us extra income, as working as a security guard doesn’t pay much,’ says Sunil, another volunteer working for the same NGO. But our locations are not fixed, as in, if today I am at New Delhi, tomorrow I may be assigned Ramakrishna Ashram Marg station, he adds.

At the end of the day, the money the collect is handed over to an ‘officer’, who comes from an office at Pahaarganj and visits all volunteers every day. The name and contact details of the ‘officer’ could not be availed.

The concerned NGO claims to provide medical support and financial aid to poor cancer patients from Delhi and other places. ‘We do not have any shelter house, but we support a number of poor cancer victims. Currently, we have a poor patient from Jharkhand too,’ adds the president of the NGO.