New Delhi: In a significant move, the Central Government has identified 30 cities, with Cuttack in Odisha being one of them, for a comprehensive survey and rehabilitation effort aimed at adults, particularly women and children, engaged in begging.
Ayodhya, Guwahati, Trimbakeshwar, Bodhgaya, Somnath, Khajuraho, Ujjain, Shimla, Indore, Madurai, Jaisalmer, Mysuru, and Thiruvananthapuram among others are of significance from religious, historical, or tourism perspectives.
The primary objective of this initiative is to assist district and municipal authorities in identifying and eliminating ‘hotspots’ in these cities, making them free of beggars by 2026.
The process involves a thorough survey, mobilization, rescue, and relocation of individuals to shelters, followed by comprehensive rehabilitation through education, skill development, and employment to facilitate their re-integration into mainstream society.
This outreach is set to be executed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under a sub-scheme of ‘Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprises’ (SMILE).
In December 2021, the Odisha government identified 6,970 beggars across the state, with Cuttack district topping the list at 1,060. To address this issue, the state government is implementing the Sahaya scheme for the welfare of beggars. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation has also envisioned the ‘Beggar Home’ initiative for the settlement of beggars in the district.