Lok Sabha Question No. 960 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Issue of Begging
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.960 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2022

## ISSUE OF BEGGING

## 960. SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA: SHRI PARBA TBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that thousands of innocent children are used for begging and if so, the details thereof; being
- (b) whether the Government is also aware that a number of children are compelled to at the age when should be getting education and if the details thereof; and beg they
- the steps taken by the Government for helping such children to get rid of such exploitation including the details of children rehabilitated during the last two years? (c)

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): As per the information available on the website of Registrar General of India, number of children (Age up to 14 years) engaged in the act of Begging are attached at Annexure These figures are based on Census 2011.

Department had launched the SMILE scheme however the modalities of the implementation of the scheme namely "SMILE Support for Marginalized Individuals for   Livelihood and Enterprise" are under consideration.

Annexure

| SI No: India/StatelUT   | Child (0-14 Years)   |
|-------------------------|----------------------|
|                         | 990                  |
| 2HHIMACHAL PRADESH      | 178                  |
| 3PUNJAB                 | 1214                 |
| 4CHANDIGARH             | 14                   |
|                         | 274                  |
| HARYANA                 | 1171                 |
| NCT OF DELHI            | 290                  |
| 8RRAJASTHAN             | 7167                 |
| 9UUTTAR PRADESH         | 10167                |
| 10 BIHAR                |                      |
| HSIKKIM                 |                      |
| 12AARUNACHAL PRADESH    | 24                   |
| 13NAGALAND              | 20                   |
| [4MANIPUR               | 34                   |
| 15 MIZORAM              |                      |
| I6TRIPURA               | 43                   |
| 17MEGHALA YA            | 38                   |
| L8AASSAM                | 686]                 |
| 19WEST BENGAL           | 3216                 |
| 20 JHARKHAND            | 1254                 |
| 21/DISHA                | 9051                 |
| 22CHHATTISGARH          |                      |
| 23MADHYA PRADESH        | 25921                |
| 24 GUJARAT              | 1982                 |
| 251DAMAN & DIU          |                      |
| 26DADRA & NAGAR HA VELI |                      |
| 27MAHARASHTRA           | 3026                 |
| 28ANDHRA PRADESH        | 3128                 |
| 29 KARNATAKA            | 16021                |
| 30 GOA                  | 24                   |
| 3IAKSHADWEEP            |                      |
| 32 KERALA               |                      |
| 33AMIL NADU             |                      |
| 34 PUDUCHERRY           |                      |
| 35A & NISLANDS          |                      |
| HNDIA                   | 452961               |