Lok Sabha Question No. 2579 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-14
Subject: Survey on Beggars
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Su Thirunavukkarasar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2579 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2021

## SURVEY ON BEGGARS

## 2579. SHRI THIRUNA VUKKARASAR SU:

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

- (@) whether the Government has conducted a comprehensive survey on beggars in the country;
- (6) if the details thereof; State-wise; SO,
- (c) whether the   Government has   convened a meeting of State  representatives   ad  NGOs regarding rehabilitation plan for beggars;
- (d) if s0, the details thereof; and
- (e) the time by which the above proposal is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (DR VIRENDRA KUMAR)

- (a) & (): No Sir: However; as per Census 2011, there are 4,13,670 beggars and vagrants in the country: The State-wise information is given in Annexure:
- (c) to (e): A Meeting was held with some of the NGOs/Experts/States working in the field of beggary for Comprehensive   rehabilitation of persons  engaged in the act of Begging on 14.01.2020. After the   discussion   Ministry had initiated   pilot  project on Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging in seven (7) cities  namely Delhi; Bangalore, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Nagpur and Patna. These pilots are implemented with the support of State Governments/UTs/Local Urban Bodies and Voluntary Organizations rehabilitation provision of medical facilities, awareness generation; counseling  education, skill development and sustainable settlement of persons engaged in begging: being

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme *SMILE Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise" , which includes a sub-scheme 'Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging' This scheme covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation; provision of medical facilities, counseling, basic documentation, education, skill development; economic linkages and so on.

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## and (b)of\_the\_Lok Sabha Unstarred Question\_No

|       | India/StatelUT       | Beggars_Vagrants etc   | Beggars_Vagrants etc   | Beggars_Vagrants etc   |
|-------|----------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
|       |                      | Persons                | Males                  | Females                |
|       | JAMMU & KASHMIR      | 4134                   | 2550                   | 1584                   |
|       | HIMACHAL PRADESH     | 809                    | 504                    | 305                    |
| 3     | PUNJAB               | 7939                   | 5197                   | 2742                   |
| 5     | CHANDIGARH           | 121                    | 87                     | 34                     |
|       | UTTARAKHAND          | 3320                   | 2374                   | 946                    |
| {     | HARYANA              | 8682                   | 6504                   | 2178                   |
|       | NCT OF DELHI         | 2187                   | 1343                   | 844                    |
|       | RAJASTHAN            | 25853                  | 15271                  | 10582                  |
| 9     | UTTAR PRADESH        | 65835                  | 41859                  | 23976                  |
| 10    | BIHAR                | 29723                  | 14842                  | 14881                  |
| 11    | SIKKIM               | 68                     | 46                     | 22                     |
| 12    | ARUNACHAL PRADESH    | 114                    | 59                     | 55                     |
| 13    | NAGALAND             | 124                    | 65                     | 59                     |
| 14    | MANIPUR              | 263                    | 117                    | 146                    |
| 15    | MIZORAM              | 53                     | 33                     | 20                     |
| 16    | TRIPURA              | 1490                   | 607                    | 883                    |
| 17    | MEGHALAYA            | 396                    | 172                    | 224                    |
| 18    | ASSAM                | 22116                  | 7269                   | 14847                  |
| 19    | WEST BENGAL          | 81244                  | 33086                  | 48158                  |
| 20    | JHARKHAND            | 10819                  | 5522                   | 5297                   |
| 21    | ODISHA               | 17965                  | 9981                   | 7984                   |
| 22    | CHHATTISGARH         | 10198                  | 4995                   | 5203                   |
| 23    | MADHYA PRADESH       | 28695                  | 17506                  | 11189                  |
| 24    | GUJARAT              | 13445                  | 8549                   | 4896                   |
| 25    | DAMAN & DIU          | 22                     | 15                     | 7                      |
| 26    | DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI | 19                     | 7                      | 12                     |
| 27    | MAHARASHTRA          | 24307                  | 14020                  | 10287                  |
| 28    | ANDHRA PRADESH       | 30218                  | 16264                  | 13954                  |
| 29    | KARNATAKA            | 12270                  | 6436                   | 5834                   |
| 30    | GOA                  | 247                    | 131                    | 116                    |
| 31    | LAKSHADWEEP          | 2                      |                        | 2                      |
| 32    | KERALA               | 4023                   | 2397                   | 1626                   |
| 33    | TAMIL NADU           | 6814                   | 3789                   | 3025                   |
| 34    | PUDUCHERRY           | 99                     | 54                     | 45                     |
| 35    | A & N ISLANDS        | 56                     | 22                     | 34                     |
| HNDIA | HNDIA                | 4,13,670               | 221,673                | 1,91,997               |

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