Indore Bans Begging; Giving Money to Beggars Can Lead to Jail
Indore plans to become India’s first beggar-free city by banning alms from January 1, 2025.
Indore, known as India’s cleanest city, is now setting its sights on another ambitious goal – to become the country’s first beggar-free city. The Indore administration has launched an “anti-begging campaign” which will run until the end of this month, December 31, 2024.
The campaign, aimed at reducing begging in the city, has already made some shocking discoveries. Dinesh Mishra, the project officer behind the campaign, revealed that many beggars in the city actually own pucca (permanent) houses. Some even have children working in banks. Mishra also shared a surprising incident where one beggar was found with ?29,000 in cash after another beggar had loaned him money, charging interest on it.
In another shocking revelation, Mishra explained that a gang from Rajasthan had brought children to Indore to beg. The children were later rescued from the hotel where they were staying.
As part of its efforts to stop begging, the Indore administration has announced a ban on begging starting from January 1, 2025. From this date, anyone caught giving money to beggars will face legal consequences. The district administration will begin registering FIRs (First Information Reports) against people who give alms.
Indore’s District Collector, Ashish Singh, emphasized the importance of the initiative, urging residents not to support begging by giving money to beggars. "Do not become partners in this sin," Singh told the media.
This move is in line with the central government’s SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) project, which aims to rehabilitate beggars and help them find work. Social Welfare Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Narayan Singh Kushwaha, announced that an Indore-based organization has stepped forward to help with this effort. The organization will provide shelter to beggars for six months and assist them in finding employment.
Apart from Indore, nine other cities – Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, and Ahmedabad – are also part of the SMILE project. The government hopes that these efforts will help create a more dignified and sustainable life for the marginalized members of society.
Indore’s bold move to tackle begging is part of a larger effort to improve the city's social and economic environment, while also protecting its reputation as one of India’s cleanest and most well-managed cities. As the campaign continues, residents are being urged to support the cause and join the fight to make Indore beggar-free.
