Lok Sabha Question No. 76 (STARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Child Beggars
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Rajeev Rai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*76

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2025

## CHILD BEGGARS

- *76. SHRI RAJEEV RAI:
- Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has conducted any survey on the number of children begging at road crossings and traffic lights in big cities and Tier II towns; (b) if so, the number and average age group of these children; (c) whether the Government has prepared any rehabilitation plan for these children; and (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  alongwith  the  expenditure  incurred  during  the  last  five years to ameliorate their condition?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

- (a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTs (A) TO (D) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.76  FOR  ANSWER  ON  07.02.2025  RAISED  BY SHRI RAJEEV RAI REGARDING CHILD BEGGARS

(a)   to  (d)  :  The  Department  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  which  has  been allocated the subject 'Beggary' has informed that no survey has been conducted on the number of children begging at road crossings and traffic lights in big cities and Tier II towns.

The  Department  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  implements  a  Central  Sector Scheme 'SMILE - Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise', which includes sub-scheme for the 'Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging' including children engaged in the act of begging. The scheme provides  for  food,  shelter  homes,  medical  facilities,  counselling,  rehabilitation,  basic documentation,  skill  development  to  the  children/  children  of  persons  found  to  be engaged in begging.

Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  is  implementing  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme namely 'Mission Vatsalya', through the State/ UT Governments on pre-defined cost sharing basis between the Central and the State Governments to deliver various services for children in difficult circumstances, which include both institutional care and non-institutional  care  services  for  the  Children  in  Need  of  Care  and  Protection  and Children in Conflict with Law. The scheme provides services to children including child beggars  for  their  rehabilitation  and  social  re-integration  into  the  mainstream  of  the society.  The  Child  Care  Institutions  (CCIs)  established  under  the  Mission  Vatsalya scheme support, inter-alia, age-appropriate education, access to vocational training, recreation, health care, counselling etc. Support under non-institutional care is provided by way of sponsorship, foster care, adoption and after care to children in need of care and protection. An expenditure of Rs.4317.14 crore has been incurred under Mission Vatsalya Scheme during the last five years (2019-20 to 2023-24).

Department of Social Justice & Empowerment has further informed that 23 States and UTs have enacted various Acts on prevention of Beggary. Also, 15 States have their own administrative schemes to tackle the challenge of beggary.

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