To rid Delhi of beggars, govt plans to educate them

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to improve the condition of beggars so as to make Delhi a beggar-free city, the Social Welfare department of the Delhi government is likely to start a project to educate beggars.

The prime focus of the project will be to help beggars become economically independent. The Delhi government will plan the initiative in such a way that it can avoid legal troubles, which, officials said, the government often faces. The Social Welfare department will also discuss with various NGOs on how to work with beggars.

Sources in the Department said the first focus will be on child beggars. Officials informed that the Department will exhort parents of the child beggars to give their children an education and if they agree, the government will take measures to give them classes.

Sources said that Delhi, being the national Capital, is seeing a daily increase in number of beggars. These people are mostly migrants from other states and countries.

The government also has information that illegal rackets are behind these beggars. In prominent places like Connaught Place, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Chandi Chowk, etc, people are even harassed by beggars.

Various media reports and police complaints show that in many cases, thefts and snatching-related incidents are traced back to child beggars. Keeping this in mind, the Delhi government wants to make Delhi beggar-free.

However, the Social Welfare department also expressed its concern for beggars, saying that many initiatives in the past could not take off due to legal issues and lack of infrastructure.

Meanwhile, sources in the government informed that this time Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam will approach the matter seriously. The Department is likely to start final planning just after the upcoming Bawana by-election. The Department informed it also wants to include common people, social workers, lawyers and police in this initiative.

The government said that through this initiative, it aims to make Delhi safer and help beggars earn their own bread.