Lok Sabha Question No. 2311 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Beggar Free Country
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra, M.K. Vishnu Prasad

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2311 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2021

## BEGGAR FREE COUNTRY

+2311. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA: DR VISHNU PRASAD MK:

## 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;
- (6) if so, the details thereof with the targets set in this regard; along
3. the details of the action taken against the culprits forcing children into begging at railway stations and other public places; and
4. (d) the   steps taken   by the Government to educate   beggars and   provide   employment opportunity to them?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI A. NARAYANASWAMY)

- (a) & (b): The Ministry of Social  Justice and Empowerment has   formulated a scheme SSMILE Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise" , which includes sub-scheme Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging' \_ The focus of the scheme is 0n rehabilitation, provision of medical  facilities, counseling  basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages of the persons found to the engaged in begging:

Financial targets under this Scheme, for the next five years, are attached in Annexure.

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has identified ten cities namely   Ahmadabad, undertaking pilot projects on Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons engaged in the act of Begging  which provides for 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 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 watch out for hapless victims, who could be in the process of being trafficked through Railways  Further; MHA has also requested all StatesMUTs to sensitize police personnel posted on Bus Depots/Bus Terminals etc to keep a close watch on suspicious activities at such places MHA has also requested all StatesMUTs 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.

(d): Department of  School Education & Literacy in partnership with the States and UT Governments have taken steps to ensure that the children into begging are  released and enrolled in schools to complete their elementary education.

Further, Ministry has released an amount of Rs 1.50 crore to National Backward Classes Finance & beggars, through which 514 persons   engaged in Begging have been provided skill development trainings

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Annexure No

| (Serial   | Year    |   Funds requirement (Rs: in Cr) |
|-----------|---------|---------------------------------|
| 1.        | 2021-22 |                              50 |
| 2.        | 2022-23 |                              33 |
| 3.        | 2023-24 |                              33 |
| 4.        | 2024-25 |                              33 |
| 5_        | 2025-26 |                              33 |
|           | TOTAL   |                             182 |

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