PATNA, India (AP) -- One cash-strapped Indian city has launched a unique collection service to dislodge payment from tax deadbeats: Door-to-door eunuchs.
Eunuchs, or men who lack external genitalia, are regarded as powerless in India and traditionally make a living on tips for dancing at weddings or blessing newborns.
But they are also known for extreme stubbornness and Patna, the capital of Bihar state in eastern India, hired scores of them Wednesday to compel shop owners to pay their tax arrears.
"We are confident that their reputation and persuasive skills will come in handy for the municipal authorities to collect taxes from defaulters," said Bharat Sharma, a revenue officer.
Only 2,000 of nearly half a million people have been paying property tax and water supply charges to Patna's municipal authorities, and tax collection is less than one-third of a projected tax base of $15 million, said Atul Prasad, the municipal administrator.
Dancing and singing to the beat of drums and wearing bright saris, the eunuchs met with success in their new role Wednesday. They collected about $9,000 in cash and checks from shop owners in the city, Sharma told The Associated Press.
Revenue officials accompany the eunuchs with records to settle the outstanding dues on the spot. The eunuchs get 4 percent of what they collect from defaulters.
The eunuchs would be asked to help collect outstanding taxes from private homes soon, Prasad said.
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
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Heh. I like how the article tries to be so proper - "their persistance".
Yeah, I bet they're fucking persistent after having to beg every goddamn day and night for their entire lives. There was a beggar in Paris that literally chased me down the street - I can only imagine what a male beggar without a dick could do.
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When I was in China recently I learned that they actually had to make "self-castration" illegal during the Ming Dynasty. You had to be a eunuch to work in the Imperial Palace and some ended up with great power, the jobs were so highly sought after people would hack off thier own junk to try and get in. Crazy buggars.
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punkdavid wrote:
Gimme Some Skin wrote:
So is it the beans AND the frank?
"no external genitalia"
Anyway, the question this begs is, "Why are these people eunuchs in the first place?"
That was my question. I was under the impression that in most cases being a eunuch was a personal choice (or a choice that was inflicted upon you) and not the result of a disease or deformity.
ye olde wikipedia wrote:
A eunuch is a castrated man; the term usually refers to those castrated in order to perform a specific social function, as was common in many societies of the past. The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 21st century BC. Over the millennia since, they have performed a wide variety of functions in many different cultures such as courtiers or equivalent domestics, treble singers, religious specialists, government officials, military commanders, and guardians of women or harem servants. In some societies, the notion of eunuch has been expanded to include men who are impotent with women or are simply celibate
ye olde wikipedia wrote:
Hijra, a Hindi term traditionally translated into English as "eunuch", actually refers to what modern Westerners would call male-to-female transgender people and effeminate homosexuals (although some of them reportedly identify as belonging to a third sex). Some of them undergo ritual castration, but the majority do not. They usually dress in saris (traditional Indian garb worn by women) and wear heavy make-up. They are considered good luck and are often invited to bless the bride and the groom during weddings. They also come uninvited to occasions like childbirth, new shop openings, etc. to give their blessings and receive gifts. When in need, they beg by singing and dancing and usually get the money easily. It is not difficult for Hijra to sustain themselves on such gifts and charity. Recently, there has been a wave of Hijra entering politics. Even better some Indian provincial officials start appointing Hijras as tax collectors as their charm persuades even hardened deadbeats.
What a cultural difference! I mean, can you imagine trying something like that in the US?
Castrated Male: "Hello, Mr. Smith, I know you haven't paid your car payment in three months, but I will sing and dance until you realize the error of your ways."
Deadbeat: "That is the funniest thing I've heard in a while"
*Door slams*
_________________ "Relaxed, but Edgy" - Ed, Raleigh, NC April, 2003
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
Ilium wrote:
What a cultural difference! I mean, can you imagine trying something like that in the US?
Castrated Male: "Hello, Mr. Smith, I know you haven't paid your car payment in three months, but I will sing and dance until you realize the error of your ways."
Deadbeat: "That is the funniest thing I've heard in a while"
*Door slams*
Well, perhaps if people in our culture considered the sexually ambiguous/confused/gay/transgendered to be “luckyâ€, then it would be a different story.
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
Castrated Male: "Hello, Mr. Smith, I know you haven't paid your car payment in three months, but I will sing and dance until you realize the error of your ways."
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