Begging and beggars are one of the most sore sights on the Indian roads. Huge number of people are either unwillingly drawn in this business by human exploitation and trafficking or are forced by situations also.
There is a section of people who willingly adapt the lifestyle. In a bid to make the conditions better for this group/section of people, Ministry of Women and Child Development has taken an initiative to deal with the existing problem by rehabilitating them.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is in process of formulation of a Scheme for Protection, Care and Rehabilitation of Beggars.
Ministry of Women and Child Development has informed that the Ministry is implementing a centrally sponsored Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) (now “Child Protection Services”) for children in need of care and protection (CNCP). CNCP are defined under section 2(14) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) respectively. As per Section 2(14) (ii) of JJ Act, a child who is found working in contravention of labour laws for the time being in force or is found begging, or living on the street is included as a “child in need of care and protection”.
The primary responsibility in execution of the JJ Act lies with the State Governments/UTs. Under ICPS, financial assistance is provided to the State Governments/UT Administrations for, inter-alia, undertaking a situational analysis of children in difficult circumstances, for setting up and maintenance of various types of Child Care Institutions (CCIs).
The scheme, provides institutional care through CCIs. As a rehabilitative measures in these CCIs, children are provided age appropriate education either within the institution or outside in a formal education system through convergence with other schemes and programs of the Government or Civil Society. The Scheme also provides for family based non-institutional care through adoption, sponsorship and foster-care.
This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
Though this is not the maiden attempt in this direction, The Delhi government planned to resolve the problem by 2010, when the Commonwealth Games were to be held. Chief minister Sheila Dikshit had asked the social welfare department to ensure the city to be beggar-free by then. To facilitate the process, the department had come up with a multi-pronged strategy to apparently clean Delhi of its unwanted beggar populace. But as known, the problem persists.
