Indore, recognized as India’s cleanest city, is taking a bold step towards becoming beggar-free by implementing stringent measures against almsgiving. Beginning January 1, the district administration will register First Information Reports (FIRs) against individuals who give money to beggars.
District Collector Ashish Singh announced the initiative, stating that the administration has already issued an order banning begging in Indore. “Our awareness campaign against begging will continue until the end of this month. If any person is found giving alms from January 1, an FIR will be registered against him/her,” Singh said. He urged residents to refrain from contributing to the issue by giving alms, calling it a “sin.”
The efforts to eliminate begging from Indore’s streets are part of a pilot project initiated by the central government aimed at rehabilitating beggars. This project encompasses ten cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, and Ahmedabad.
During the anti-begging campaign, the Indore administration uncovered some surprising facts. Project Officer Dinesh Mishra revealed, “When we prepare reports, we find some beggars have a pucca house, and others’ children work in a bank. Once we found ₹29,000 on a beggar. Another beggar loaned money and claimed interest. One gang came with children from Rajasthan to beg here. They were rescued from a hotel where they were staying.”
Madhya Pradesh Social Welfare Minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha announced that an Indore-based organization has stepped forward to assist the government in its efforts. “The organization will provide shelter to them for six months and try to find work for them. We are working tirelessly to free people from begging,” he stated.
