The Central government has identified 30 cities for conducting a survey and relocating adults engaged in begging, especially women and children.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is trying to assist district and local authorities in pin-pointing the hotspots located in these cities across the nation. Their aim is to make these locations ‘beggar-free’ by 2026, officials said, adding that more cities might be added to the list over this period.
These cities are all known for their religious centres, historical significance and tourism. The implementation is being done under a subset scheme of ‘Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprises’ (SMILE).
To align with the uniform survey and rehab guidelines and achieve the ‘Bhiksha-Vritti Mukt Bharat‘, the ministry will launch national-level portal and a mobile app by mid-February. This will enable the authorities to update and track the data in real-time.
The action plan for 25 cities is ready, while approval for the rest 5 — Kangra, Cuttack, Udaipur and Kushinagar — is awaited.
Notably, authorities in Madhya Pradesh’s Sanchi district have said that no persons are engaged in begging in the area, adding that another city for the program could be considered.
Meanwhile, the survey has already been completed in Kozhikode, Madurai, Vijayawada and Mysuru.
The ministry funds the implementation of the action plan in each of the identified districts. The blueprint of the plan begins with survey, mobilization, rescue and finally relocation to a shelter.
The goal of inclusively rehabilitating these people will be achieved through education, skill development and employment. This will also help the rescue persons to reunite with the mainstream population.
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