Indore, India’s cleanest city, has taken a drastic step towards its goal of becoming beggar-free. Starting January 1, the district administration will begin filing FIRs against anyone who gives money to beggars.
District Collector Ashish Singh confirmed that an order has been issued to ban begging in the city. “Our awareness campaign against begging will run until the end of this month. From January 1, anyone caught giving alms will face legal action,” Singh said. He also appealed to residents, urging them not to contribute to begging.
This initiative is part of a pilot project by the central government aimed at rehabilitating beggars. The project, which spans 10 cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, and Ahmedabad, seeks to address the issue through rehabilitation efforts.
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As part of the anti-begging campaign, the Indore administration uncovered surprising facts. Project officer Dinesh Mishra revealed that some beggars have homes, while others’ children work in banks. In one instance, ₹29,000 was found with a beggar, and another was involved in money lending. One group of beggars, along with children, was discovered in a hotel, having traveled from Rajasthan.
Madhya Pradesh Social Welfare Minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha announced that a local organization is assisting the government in its mission. “The organization will offer shelter for six months and help these individuals find work. We are committed to eliminating begging,” he stated.