I don’t think it’s a punishment. I think it’s just so low to judge that someone is getting punishment from Allah in that form. I know when new born babies develop some problems people say same things & judge that it’s a punishment from Allah .
They are creations of Allah , they are His Makhlooq. Our society makes fun of them and don’t give them respectable jobs so they end up taking dancing or begging as profession. After all they need to survive too ! If only we think that Allah Has created them & the way they are was not in their hands and we start giving them respect things would be alot different.
As a kid I remember my nani used to tell me to be kind with them because she used to say kay inki dua bhi bohat lagti hai aur bad dua bhi.