Action plan in the offing to end beggary in Hyderbad

Hyderabad: A city action plan would be framed and implemented from the month of April in Hyderabad to provide solution to the beggary in view of increasing number of beggars especially children and women.

Several speakers in a workshop 'National campaign for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of People Involved in Begging', opined that the problem of beggary was a major concern warranting urgent attention in view of the increasing numbers especially of children and women.

They also stressed on the need to have regular convergence and coordination committee meetings and bring beggary regulations and enforce them strictly.

Union Social Justice and Empowerment Department Secretary R Subramanyam said that the greatness of the city would be measured by the way it takes care of its poorest of the poor.

He complimented Hyderabad city for taking up 2 BHK and Annapurna schemes in the city stating that these were role models for the rest of the country. "The success of Hyderabad city in successfully implementing these schemes has resulted in the Union Government choosing this city for the pilot project towards comprehensive rescue and rehabilitation of the persons involved in begging.

The Government of India would provide Rs 10 crore for this project," said Subramanyam. The Secretary asked officials and stakeholders to prepare a city action plan which should be implemented from April 2020. Providing shelter to the homeless, access to medical services and providing sustainable livelihoods to the beggars should be discussed and deliberated in the workshop, he said.

Joint Secretary Radhika Chakravarthy said that a strategy was formulated at the national level after discussing with social activists, academicians, NGOs and other stakeholders involved in the rehabilitation of beggars and as a result ten cities across the country, including Hyderabad were identified for the pilot project.

The city action plan should include survey and identification of beggars, mobilisation, setting up of shelter homes and comprehensive resettlement which should also include providing health care, education to the children and skill development training to take up economic activity.

MAUD Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar said that begging was a crucial problem but very often neglected. He recalled that in 2005-06 when he was Collector of Hyderabad, a survey along with socio-economic profile of the persons involved in begging was done.

Various initiatives towards beggar free Hyderabad were also taken including having 17 shelter homes equipped with sufficient infrastructure and basic facilities and serving the need as short stay homes.