Lok Sabha Question No. 1152 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Welfare of Beggars
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +1152 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2021

## WELFARE OF BEGGARS

## +1152. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any action plan to make the country beggar free;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the targets fixed in this regard;
- the action taken against the culprits forcing children into begging at rail stations and other public places; and Iway
- the steps taken by the Government for educating and providing employment to beggars?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): Ministry Social   justice and Empowerment has identified ten cities namely Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Chennai; Delhi, Hyderabad,  Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai; Nagpur and Patna for undertaking a pilot project on Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons engaged in the act of Begging  which will provide the whole range of services including awareness generation; identification, rehabilitation, provision of medical  facilities, counseling; education, skill development and sustainable settlement of persons engaged in begging:
- (c): As per information provided by Ministry of Home Affairs, 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India: The responsibilities to maintain law and order; protection of life and property of the citizens rest with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws However, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had written to the Railway Board to sensitize their Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel to keep vigil on Railway stations to out for hapless victims, who could be in the process of being trafficked through Railways Further; MHA has also requested all States/UTs to sensitize police personnel on Bus Depots/Bus Terminals etc to keep a close watch on suspicious activities at such places MHA has also requested all States/UTs to establish mechanisms for effective inter-state coordination between the law enforcement officers concerned for   apprehending and  rescuing the  victims of trafficking and   investigation   and prosecution of the offenders watch posted

(d): Department   of School Education & Literacy in partnership with the States and UT Governments have taken a range of initiatives to ensure that all children including children into begging are enrolled in schools and complete their elementary education: The Department of School & Literacy has launched an Integrated Scheme for School Education Samagra Shikshsa with effect from 2018-19, which subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan; Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education. The scheme envisages school education as a continuum from pre-school to senior secondary level and aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for undertaking various activities to reduce number of out of school children including children into begging, among others for opening strengthening of new schools upto senior secondary level, construction of school buildings & additional classrooms,   setting up, up-gradation and  running  of Kasturba Gandhi Balika   Vidhyalayas, setting up of residential schools/hostels, free uniforms, free text books, transport allowance and undertaking enrollment & retention drives. Further,   special   training for age   appropriate admission of out of school children and residential as well as non-residential training for older children, seasonal hostels residential camps, training centres at worksites, transport/ escort facility are also supported to out of school children to the formal schooling system. Also, mid-day meal is provided to students at the elementary level of education. Further, under children with needs, financial  assistance is provided for identification and assessment of children with special needs, aids and appliances, braille kits and books, appropriate teaching learning material and stipend to students with disability etc. special bring special girl

Further, Ministry has released an 1.50 crore to National Backward Classes Finance & Development   Corporation   (NBCFDC) for skill development   programmes for beggars, through which 560 persons engaged in Begging have been provided skill development trainings

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