Government plans to rid city of beggars before Commonwealth Games
Government plans to rid city of beggars before Commonwealth Games
Beggars in Delhi are an endangered clan.
If the Delhi Government succeeds, by next year when the Commonwealth Games take place, there will be no beggars on the streets of the Capital.
In a bid to present Delhi as a world-class city, the government wants to purge it of beggars, at least partially, by October 2010.
Flying squads
The Delhi Government's Social Welfare Department will constitute 12 flying squads to travel across the city and round up beggars from traffic signals and pavements.
Each squad will be assisted by the local cops. The beggars will be taken to two mobile courts, one of which is being set up at Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi. They would then be charged according to the Bombay Prevention of Beggars Act, 1959, which is also applicable in Delhi. Those charged for the offence repeatedly will be sent to the government-run beggar house.
"There is a large population of beggars in the capital and before the Commonwealth Games, we will ensure the streets are free of them," said a senior official working with the Social Welfare Department.
Do your bit
Even citizens who spot beggars can reach the mobile courts through a control room. The courts will reach the spot and take the beggars away. The mobile courts were launched to speed up cases against beggars. Ten more mobile courts will be introduced soon. A separate contact number will be announced in a few days.
"Beggary is an offence and can lead to imprisonment for up to 10 years. Also, the nature of punishment depends on the old records of the beggar. If he or she is found to have been forced into beggary, then he or she will be given only counselled," said Delhi Social Welfare Minister Mangat Ram Singhal
Will it work?
Though the administration is proud of the drive, residents are not convinced.
"The drive against beggars is a temporary solution. It may only aggravate the problem. If the government seriously wants to address the issue, it has to examine the root cause of this menace and take concrete steps," said Ashish Shroti, a South Delhi resident.
60,000u00a0is the approximate number of beggars in Delhi
