Delhi to have new anti-begging law
November 7th, 2010 - 6:46 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Nov 7 (IANS) The national capital, which has been using a 51-year-old law to deal with begging, is drafting a more “humane” legislation incorporating various welfare schemes, an official said.
Delhi, along with 17 other states, adopted the (Bombay) Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, which authorises police to detain anyone found begging on the streets.
The official said that implementing the law leads to court cases which “takes much of the government’s time” instead of keeping the focus on welfare of beggars.
“So as a step forward, we planned to go for a new legislation,” he added.
The government also wants to facilitate various welfare measures like vocational training, rehabilitation and shelter. In a bid to allocate funds for their welfare, a process is also under way to find the number of beggars and homeless in the capital.
According to a government estimate, there are around 60,000 beggars in the capital, 30 percent of whom are below 18 years of age. Around 69.94 percent are men and 30.06 percent are women.
NGOs, however, say the actual number of beggars is over a lakh (100,000).
The Delhi government’s social welfare department, that is supposed to work for the welfare of beggars, has so far failed to do its job. Their move to round up hundreds of beggars ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2010 drew the ire of human rights activists.
- Beggars play hide and seek with Delhi authorities - Jul 31, 2010
- Games around, beggars made to disappear from Delhi streets - Oct 01, 2010
- Delhi sends home 200 beggars - Sep 05, 2010
- Wiped off streets for CWG, vendors scramble for living - Nov 14, 2010
- Beggars off Delhi roads before Games, court assured - Mar 14, 2010
- Delhi temples, gurudwaras roped in for anti-begging drive - Apr 29, 2010
- No data on number of beggars in country: Minister - Aug 29, 2011
- Delhi's homeless prefer sheltering sky to night shelters - Aug 20, 2011
- In Bangalore, beggary is booming profession - Jun 17, 2009
- Transgender held for begging set free by court - Jun 18, 2011
- Delhi's homeless prefer streets to night shelters - Jan 11, 2011
- Beijing move to end street begging by children - Feb 11, 2012
- Traffic police to clear beggar hazards from Delhi roads - May 10, 2010
- Devise concrete anti-begging plan, Court to Delhi government - Apr 06, 2009
- Delhi to banish beggars ahead of Commonwealth Games - Sep 01, 2009
Tags: 18 years, beggars, bombay, commonwealth games 2010, court cases, delhi government, government estimate, human rights activists, humane legislation, job, lakh, New Delhi, new legislation, prevention, social welfare department, vocational training, welfare measures, welfare schemes