Begging is an ‘occupation' for 85% of beggars in Maharashtra

Number of beggars not reducing despite detaining 15,246 beggars in 3 years

Criminal background hindering ‘Beggar-free Maharashtra’ drive

– By Pritam Nachankar, Mumbai

Mumbai – The State Government has undertaken a drive for many years to arrest beggars to make this State free of beggars. Legal action is also taken against beggars under ‘Maharashtra Prevention of Begging Act, 1960’. In the last three years, 4,205 drives were undertaken to detain beggars and thousands of beggars were arrested, but the number of beggars has been increasing instead of reduction in their number. The cause of the problem is that 85 % of beggars are begging not out of their helplessness, but as an occupation. The criminal background is also one of the deterrents in making Maharashtra, a beggar-free State. The above information was given to ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ by an officer from the Women and Child Development Commissionerate.

Maharashtra not ‘beggar-free’ due to #Criminal background

85% of beggars in Maharashtra beg as a ‘Profession’

— 15,246 beggars apprehended over 3 years; but the number of beggars does not decrease

— Need for strict action against gangs contributing to beggary#Maharashtra… pic.twitter.com/Q1aAnfAT8E

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) April 26, 2024

Information given by the State Administration about beggars in Maharashtra to a representative of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’

In the drives undertaken in 2021-22 and 2023-24 to arrest beggars in Maharashtra, thousands of beggars were detained. Out of them, 15,246 beggars were sent to the Government’s beggar homes. The behaviour and health of 14,630 beggars out of these beggars improved, and 3,849 beggars were handed over to their respective families.

Proposal of beggar-free Raigad presented to the Government

It has been decided by commissionerate to undertake a drive, on an experimental basis, for a beggar-free Raigad District. A proposal for ‘Beggar-free Raigad’ has been sent to the Government in 2023, informed an officer.

1,014 beggars became self-reliant

The arrested beggars were trained in different vocations as per their competency to overcome their laziness and to make them self-reliant. They were trained in handicrafts, gardening, making brooms, candles, tailoring, etc. It helped 1,014 beggars become self-reliant as per the information given by the Women and Child Development Commissionerate.

Details of the drive to detain beggars

The drive to arrest beggars is carried out under the guidance of the Superintendent of the commissionerate. The detained beggars are taken to their respective Courts and kept in beggar homes till the judicial inquiry is completed. A report is submitted to the Court within fifteen days. Beggars’ personal information such as their family and social background is collected, and their families are contacted. Reasons for begging are checked. A report on their release is submitted to the Court once the department feels sure that the beggar would not indulge in begging again. Else, the beggar is detained in a beggar’s home. Every action is, however, taken based on the Court’s decision.

Unavailability of Police to undertake this drive

Many beggars are lazy. They start begging again after they are released from the beggar’s home. Mumbai has the highest number of beggars in the State. Without Police assistance, the drive cannot be undertaken; but Police are busy with their main job of arresting criminals; therefore, they are not available for such drives. Commissionerate informed that they have written to the respective Police Commissioner and the Government in this matter.

Need to take stringent action against the gangs involved in forcing people to beg

Many gangs of beggars are active in cities like Mumbai as has been exposed in various raids conducted by the Police and women and children are used for begging. This profession has a criminal background; therefore, people feel that the State Home Department should take firm action to eradicate crimes, considering the serious nature of this problem.

Editorial Perspective

To eliminate beggar’s problem, it is essential to create a society which practices Dharma and performs spiritual practice. Only Hindu Rashtra can solve this problem.