You can't travel far without encountering numerous beggars in Asia. In fact, you'll probably be dealing with them daily. Begging is widespread throughout Asia but it's particularly troublesome in countries such a India, Laos, Cambodia and others.
Simply put, no matter how heartrending the situation, you shouldn't give to strangers who approach you on the street. If they're a part of a begging gang, they will get to keep very little of the assistance you're giving.
By giving money directly, you're perpetuating a harmful practice and dooming others to the same fate one day.
Giving handouts, especially considering how small the amounts seem in local currencies, may appear as a quick way to buy out of an uncomfortable situation. But as visitors in a place, we simply don't have the expertise or experience to differentiate between the charlatans and those who are sincere.
Begging in Asia is profitable, but not for the the people on the streets; the money filters upward. Don't naively believe that someone in need can simply turn up at a tourist attraction or transportation hub and begin asking for help. All areas that tourists frequent are carved into "territories" that are closely controlled by "bosses" in a mafia-style hierarchy. Beggars in these territories are expected to pay dues -- a large portion of their daily intake -- or risk being beaten, sometimes worse.
Children, particularly orphans who were entrusted to a family member who considers them an additional financial burden, are organized into gangs. They are provided with the bare minimums for food and shelter in return for turning over their daily proceeds to a ringleader. Children are treated as assets, deprived of a chance to go to school, and are harshly punished if they don't reach a daily quota.
Begging in Asia is often more complex than someone simply holding a hand out for money. To mask what's really going on to tourists, children are often forced to sell cheap bracelets, booklets, postcards or trinkets to make a profit.
Those cute children selling flowers to couples in bars around Thailand at 03:00 most likely won't be up in time to go to school at 06:00. Remember that you vote with your money; purchasing items from street sellers is a mixed bag. You may be helping them a little temporarily, but at the same time you are perpetuating a practice that harms everyone.
Many of the babies held by begging women actually aren't theirs and are rented for the day to increase success. Babies are even drugged sometimes to make them appear weak(and also to keep them quiet for the renter).
Everyone remembers the disturbing scene in Slumdog Millionaire when the begging ringleader wants to put the boys' eyes out to increase profitability. Unfortunately, in this instance, Hollywood isn't dramatizing: blind children certainly pluck the heartstrings of traveling tourists. Some healthy children are brutally crippled by amputations for the scheme. By giving to these children, you keep them profitable, which means that more will be deliberately blinded by bosses in the future.
Once begging children reach an age when they are no longer considered cute and profitable, they are often forced to graduate up into prostitution. Boys and girls alike who reach puberty are frequently sold by begging bosses to prostitution networks.
As with begging in the West, what little proceeds a beggar gets to keep are often used on drugs and alcohol to escape the harsh realities of such a tough existence. In some instances, beggars are deliberately given addictive drugs by their bosses so that they beg longer and more persistently to pay for fixes.
Begging in Asia has evolved into an elaborate network of cons and profiteers -- sometimes even the local police are involved! For instance, beggars may convince you that you're actually helping them directly by taking you into a shop to purchase food or baby formula. In reality, the shop dramatically increases prices for certain items and they split the difference with others in the scheme.
Never take any item -- no matter how small -- from anyone on the street; once it's in your hand, you won't be able to hand it back. If you walk away, you're stealing. Beggars dressed as monks hand out "blessed" bracelets in places such as Kuala Lumpur.
Beggars in Asia will sometimes place flowers or other items on the table while you are eating. If you pick up the object, even out of curiosity, you've basically bought it and will be expected to give a "donation".
Traveling in impoverished areas certainly creates a burden and desire to help. Rather than give to beggars, better to contribute to a cure.
Don't just give money to NGOs and charitable organizations indiscriminately. Giving to small, local organizations is often more effective than giving through international charities with big operating expenses and well-paid CEOs.
Rather than donating financially, you may want to spend a rewarding day -- or longer -- volunteering to work with locals in need. Again, do a little research before answering a random ad asking for foreigners to volunteer time: scams have popped up where Westerners contribute time by teaching English, but the schools themselves profit by selling the free lessons.
You can also leave positive changes in your wake as you travel through a place just by choosing wisely when booking tours, picking trekking companies, selecting scuba shops, etc. Go with the organizations that give back to the local communities.
Even knowing that you shouldn't, if you still decide to give to beggars in Asia, do so discreetly without making a show of your charity. Keeping the transaction quiet helps save face and also reduces the chances that other beggars in the area will mob you for additional handouts.
Give money in small amounts at a time. If you feel that someone is sincerely hungry, consider buying them something from the market or from a street cart rather than giving money. Sincere adult beggars will sometimes be happy to receive food, but children must meet their daily quotas and will still ask for money after receiving the food.