Indore, Madhya Pradesh has been declared India’s first beggar free city under Bhiksha Vriti Mukta Bharat initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This accomplishment is awarded by the world bank and this is as a result of the constant rehabilitation that is carried under the sub-scheme of the SMILE scheme whereby comprehensive rehabilitation of persons involved in begging is targeted at.
Context:
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Indore became the first city of India to be free of begging due to some proper rehabilitation strategies in the ministry of social justice and empowerment’s SMILE scheme.
Key Points:
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Begging in India:
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Involves seeking alms through such actions as singing, selling goods, or showing deformities.
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Census 2011 reported 4.13 lakh beggars nationally; SECC 2011 estimated 6.62 lakhs of rural households who depended on begging.
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The highest numbers are recorded in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
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Legal and Constitutional Framework:
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Concurrent List (entry 15) is what governs the vagrancy and begging, and this gives Centre and states powers to enact laws.
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No uniform central law; Begging is criminalized through the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959.
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SMILE Scheme (Launched 2022):
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Concentrates on the rehabilitation of persons who are involved in begging and the empowerment of transgender persons.
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Stores rehabilitation of at least 8,000 people from FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26.
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Engages in identification, profiling, and empathetic engagement with beggars for rehabilitation on a consent basis.
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Rehabilitation Strategy:
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Includes coordination with district administrations, NGOs, SHGs, temple trusts, and local bodies.
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Provides counseling, education, and reintegration to rehabilitate individuals.
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Photo/ Video documentation for profiling and monitoring.
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Conclusion:
Indore’s becoming India’s first beggar-free city is a stepping stone towards the effectiveness of a combined, compassionate rehabilitation mechanism in government schemes. It establishes a copyable model for other urban centres that seek to solve the intricate social issue of begging using humane and sustainable practices.
