Lok Sabha Question No. 339 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Begging Cases
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.339

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 01ST DECEMBER, 2015/ AGRAHAYANA 10, 1937(SAKA)

## BEGGING CASES

†339. SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  children  and  women  are  found  begging  at  red lights in Delhi;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to check beggary?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

- (a) Yes, Madam.
- (b)  The details of anti begging operations and trials by the beggars' courts are as under for the year 2015 (upto Sept.):-
-  Persons arrested by Anti begging squads/teams: 2960
-  Beggars committed by Court to beggar home: 919
-  Beggars released by the court: 2041

Children found begging on streets fall under the category of children in need of  care  and  protection  under  the  provisions  of  Juvenile  Justice  (Care  & Protection of Children) Act,2000

- (c)  Following  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  of  NCT  of  Delhi (GNCTD) to check begging:
- (i)    The  Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 has been extended to the NCT  of  Delhi  in  the  year  1960.  The  GNCTD  has  also  framed  the  Delhi Prevention of Begging Rules, 1960 to check beggary in Delhi.
- (ii)  11 certified institutions have been set up under the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 with the sanctioned capacity of 2,180 inmates.

(iii)    Anti  begging  squads/teams  are  operational  to  apprehend  the  beggars from all over Delhi.

(iv)   In addition to one regular Beggar Court at Sewa Kutir, Kingsway Camp, two Mobile beggar Courts have already become functional since 1.9.2009 to decentralize the work of Beggar Courts.

(v)   Biometric machines are installed at Reception-Cum-Classification centre (RCC)  to  identify  repeat  offenders  and  to  keep  up  -  to  -  date  record  of beggars.

(vi)    Advisory  Committee  has  been  constituted  under  the  provision  of  the Bombay prevention of Begging Act 1959 for a period of three years to advise and suggest measures for improvement in the Beggars Home.

(vii)  GNCTD  is  running  20  bedded  Drug  De-addiction  Centre  in  partnership with  an  NGO  at  Beggar  Home-I,  Lampur  for  the  beggars  indulging  in substance abuse convicted by Hon'ble Beggars Court.

(viii)  A  mechanism  is  in  place  that  whenever  the  information  of  child indulging in beggary is received by Police or Child helpline (1098), the rescue operation  is  accordingly  conducted.  The  child  is  produced  before  the concerned  Child  Welfare  Committee  setup  under  the  provisions  of  the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2000 which inturn, after considering the facts and merits of each case, either restores the child to his /her family or orders for his/her institutionalization in any of the Child Care Institutes run by Govt. or NGO.

(ix)   Govt. of NCT of Delhi has set up 14 Child Care Institutions for children in need of care and protection.  The children are housed as per their age and sex in different Child Care Institutions where they are provided with all basic facilities including boarding, lodging, food, education (basic education / non formal education), mental and physical health services. Efforts are made by the  staff  of  the  institution  to  contact  the  parents/  guardians  for  their restoration and repatriation.

(x)      There  are  68  NGO  run  Children  Homes,  08  Shelter  Homes,  13  Open Shelters and 12 Adoption Agencies which are also taking care of the children who need care & protection  and  are  making  all  efforts  to  mainstream  the children through education and social reintegration. In most cases of child beggary, the children are released back to their parents by the Child Welfare Committee after taking into consideration the best interest of the child.

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