People from foreign countries identify India as a land of Beggars.I don't really know whether they are happy or not. But they don't have an ambition in life which is really wrong.So,I don't encourage beggars and I cannot compare them with business people.
Also, I really pity people who have a strong will to work hard,but the society neglecting them as beggars..
I personally feel that beggars cannot live happily,particularly women. They don't have a place to stay,no proper food,no clothes to cover up their body. Harassment by lorry drivers and police.They cannot even sleep peacefully on the road sides. :(
Friends beggars are happier than us. Government has made our condition much worst than before. Our respected Finance Minister has squezed of more than half of our earnings. Bad budget! Adhere to this, abonormal price rise due to Commonwealth Games, etc. has made market conditions even worst. Job sector is deteriorating days after days.Poor salary is provided to highly educated people. Even a beggars can earn better than that.
You are right... Recession had made many more beggars on the streets... :(
As stated by you, we can see many small kids wiping the cars at the traffic signals, and selling toys... :(
I feel bad to see those very small kids.. :(
I have come across two types of beggars- one who have been forced to it under very tragic circumstances and mostly comprises of old,disabled and sick and there another category which deserves neither sumpathy nor help and they need to be identified and dealt with very firmly they consist of people -tricksters,lazybones and frauds!
The beggars have no ambitions other than to some how satisfy the barest physical needs. So, they do not suffer from frustration caused by failures. Hence, they may be happier.