Lok Sabha Question No. 3469 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-10
Subject: Beggars Child
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Sunil Kumar Singh, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Arjunlal Meena, P.P. Chaudhary

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3469 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2021

## CHILD BEGGARS

3469. SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI RANJEETSINGH HINDURAO NAIK NIMBALKAR:

SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any data indicating the number of child beggars in the State of Uttar Pradesh; Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Maharashtra over the last five years;
- (6) if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether the Government is aware of the fact that the above States accounts for over 10 per cent each of total child beggars in India;
- (d) whether any measures have been put in place by the Government to prevent children from being recruited for begging; and
- (e) if So, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c): As per the information available o the website of Registrar General of India, numbers of children engaged in the act of Begging (Age up to 19 years) in the State of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Maharashtra are attached at Annexure: These figures are based on Census 2011.
- (d) to (e): Yes Sir: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme SSMILE Individuals   for Livelihood and  Enterprise" , which includes 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 ad SO The scheme would be implemented Urban  Bodies, Voluntary Organizations, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), institutions and others

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 vigil on Railway stations to watch out for hapless victims, who could be in the process of 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 keep being posted

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## Child Beggars

| State         | Total Number of Children engaged in thel lact of   Begging  (Age up to 19 Years)   |
|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Uttar Pradesh | 14,599                                                                             |
| Rajasthan     | 8,976                                                                              |
| Jharkhand     | 1,604                                                                              |
| Maharashtra   | 4,058                                                                              |
| Total         | 29237                                                                              |