Centre shortlists 30 key cities to make them beggar-free, more likely to be included in next two years

The Centre has shortlisted 30 cities spanning from Ayodhya in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south and Guwahati in the east to Trimbakeshwar in the west for the survey and rehabilitation of adults, especially women and children, involved in begging, according to a Times of India report. According to the report, citing officials, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aims to assist district and municipal authorities in identifying ‘hotspots’ within these cities to eradicate beggary by 2026. More cities are likely to be included in this initiative over the next two years, added the officials. This effort, focusing on 30 cities with significant cultural, historical, or tourist importance, falls under a sub-scheme named ‘Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprises’ (SMILE). To ensure compliance with uniform survey and rehabilitation guidelines, in pursuit of the ‘Bhiksha-Vritti Mukt Bharat’ (beggary-free India) initiative, the ministry plans to launch a national portal and a mobile app by mid-February. These platforms will facilitate real-time updates of data on individuals identified as beggars. While action plans have been submitted by 25 out of 30 cities, approval is pending from Kangra, Cuttack, Udaipur, and Kushinagar, added the report. Interestingly, authorities in Sanchi have notified the ministry that there are no individuals engaged in begging within the area. Therefore, consideration of a different city is suggested. According to Times of India, Kozhikode, Vijayawada, Madurai and Mysuru have already completed their survey. The ministry releases funds to the implementing district and municipal authorities based on the action plan. The roadmap includes survey, mobilisation, rescue and relocation to a shelter and comprehensive rehabilitation through education, skill development and employment for re-integration with the mainstream. With inputs from agencies