The Rajasthan government’s initiative to bring beggars to the mainstream of society seems to be yielding desired results. In the last two years, about 800 beggars have been rehabilitated and trained and Most of them have given up beg- ging.
While some of them have learned parlour work, some other haven shown interest in sewing. A good number of them are even taking training in playing harmonium, tabla, sarangi, algoja, dholak, etc.
Avinash Gehlot, Minister, Social Justice and Empowerment Department, said “Our efforts are to make the state beggar-free. Training and rehabilitation is our priority. The government is working to connect them to the main- stream. Efforts are also be- ing made to connect their children with education.”
The state government runs a programme for the rehabilitation of beggars. At rehabilitation centres, they are given food and lodging besides imparting life skills. In the first stage, efforts are made to wean them off their bad habits. Before integrating them into the mainstream of society, they are placed under close supervision. Counselling is also provided. they are given training based on their interests. Apart from ‘Meri Pehal Sanstha’ located in Nangal Jaisa Bohra of Jhotwara, rehabilitation centres have been set up at three other places. Girraj Singh Shekhawat of Meri Pehal Sanstha said that hundreds of beggars have been trained at their centre so far.
Dr. Anita Gautam, a psychiatrist, said it is very important to understand the mental state of beggars and to bring them out of it. Today, the situation is such that beggars are also making their children do this work. It is very important to educate these children as well as to get their parents away from begging. For this, the government should run a big campaign across the state so that such people can be rehabilitated by giving them training.
Rehabilitation will not happen only by providing them houses or food from the government, but real rehabilitation is possible by training them in some work and employing them in it.
