Lok Sabha Question No. 1575 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Rehabilitation of Beggars
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1575 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.07.2019

## REHABILITATION OF BEGGARS

1575. PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

## Will tlie Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the fact that a number of women and children are openly begging at almost all the traffic signals in metropolitan towns, especially in Delhi; large
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to rehabilitate them and provide proper education and housing;
- (c) whether the various welfare schemes of the Government have failed to reach such people; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)

(a): The Office of Registrar General of India has informed that as per Census 2011, the total number of Beggars, Vagrants etc. in India are 4,13,670 and the total number of child Beggars, Vagrants etc. below 15 years of age are 45,296.

(6) to (d): As per entry no. 9 of State List in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India, the subject matter of "Relief of the disabled and unemployable" is a State subject  The States are responsible for taking necessary preventive and rehabilitative steps. However, during the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 an amount of Rs.100 lakh and Rs.50 lakh respectively was released to National Backward Classes Finance and  Development   Corporation for skill   development training of members of beggar community.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development have informed that the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA); a Centrally Sponsored Scheme meant for universalisation of secondary education envisages enhancing the enrolment ratio by providing a secondary school within a reasonable distance of every habitation, improving quality of education imparted -at secondary level through making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms, removal of gender, socio economic and disability barriers The scheme provides for classrooms, science laboratory, library, computer room; artlcraftlculture room, toilets, drinking water facilities etc in newlupgradation and existing   secondary schools. Further; interventions like survey and identification of out of school children, awareness programmes, remedial teaching for learning enhancement; self defence training for girls, provision of girls toilets, introduction of vocational education at Secondary stage, etc have also been supported under RMSA to improve access to school education:

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has informed that as per Section 76 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, whoever employs or uses any child for the purpose of begging or causes any child to shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine of one However; the Ministry of Women and Child Development is   implementing a centrally   sponsored Child   Protecting Services   (CPS) Scheme (erstwhile Integrated   Child Protection Scheme) for supporting the children in difficult circumstances, as envisaged under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act; 2015 (JJ Act) The primary responsibility of execution of the Act lies with the State UTs for undertaking a situational analysis of children in difficult   circumstances, for  setting up and maintenance of various types of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in every district o group of districts, either by itself or through voluntary Or Non-Governmental Organization. Under the scheme institutional care is provided through CCIs, as a rehabilitative measure. In these CCIs, children are provided appropriate education either within the institution Or outside in a formal education system through convergence with other schemes and programs of the Government or civil society. Under the non-institutional care, support is extended for adoption, foster care and sponsorship. beg

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has informed that are implementing National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)" to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage   employment   opportunities, for improvement in their livelihoods on a sustainable basis: The mission also aims at building strong grassroot level institutions of the urban pOOL, including those in vulnerable occupations. Further, the mission aims at providing shelter equipped with essential services to the urban homeless. In addition, the Mission also aims at addressing livelihood concerns of the urban street vendors by facilitating access to suitable spaces, institutional credit, social security, etc. they