'No More Begging In Indore': India's 'Cleanest City' Undertakes Drive To Rehabilitate Beggars

Indore, ranked number 1 in cleanliness, has launched a campaign to eliminate street begging. Check out the MP government's drive to eliminate begging in the city.

Old woman begging on the street. (Picture for representation)

Source : PTI

Indore News: A campaign has been launched to curb roadside begging in Madhya Pradesh's Indore. Indore is ranked number one in the country in terms of cleanliness as per the Swachh Sarvekhsan (Cleanliness Survey) 2023.

Indore Collector Ashish Singh said that a sustained campaign is being undertaken to make Indore free from begging. Under this campaign, action is being taken to rescue and rehabilitate beggars. Singh said the administration's efforts are bearing fruits and exuded confidence that Indore will be a "begging-free city" very soon.

He said, "To make the campaign a success, the Women and Child Development Department is working in the city through seven teams. Wherever reports of begging are being received, the beggars are being counselled at home with their families. Those who continue to beg despite counselling are being rescued and kept in rehabilitation centres."

22 'Beggars' Sent To Rajasthan

Ashish Singh further said that a complaint was received on the Child Helpline that 22 people had allegedly arrived in Indore from Rajasthan to beg. The migrants — 11 women and 11 children — had reportedly put up at a hotel in Indore.

The administration immediately took action and sent them back to Rajasthan.

Ultimatum To Hotel And Dharamshala Operators

The Collector said that the operators running hotels, lodges, dharamshalas, guest houses, etc. have been clearly instructed that they should not provide shelter to beggars at their hotels or lodges. He said action will be taken against those who provide shelter to beggars in the future.

A team from the Women and Child Development Department conducted an anti-begging campaign for a week at Annapurna Temple, Ranjit Hanuman Temple, Bhanwar Kua Chowk, Tower Chowk, Agrasen Chowk, Khajrana Ganesh Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Balaji Temple, and Satya Sai Chowk. The team rehabilitated more than 100 beggars during the campaign.