ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI A. NARAYANASWAMY)
(a) & (b): The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE - Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”, which includes sub-scheme - ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’. The focus of the scheme is on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counseling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages of the persons found to the engaged in begging.
Financial targets under this Scheme, for the next five years, are attached in Annexure.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has identified ten cities namely Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur and Patna for undertaking pilot projects on Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons engaged in the act of Begging, which provides for the whole range of services including awareness generation, identification, rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counseling, education, skill development and sustainable settlement of persons engaged in begging.
(c): As per information provided by Ministry of Home Affairs, ''Police'' and ''Public Order'' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens rest with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws. However, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had written to the Railway Board to sensitize their Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel to keep vigil on Railway stations to watch out for hapless victims, who could be in the process of being trafficked through Railways. Further, MHA has also requested all States/UTs to sensitize police personnel posted on Bus Depots/Bus Terminals etc to keep a close watch on suspicious activities at such places. MHA has also requested all States/UTs to establish mechanisms for effective inter-state coordination between the law enforcement officers concerned for apprehending and rescuing the victims of trafficking and investigation and prosecution of the offenders.
(d): Department of School Education & Literacy in partnership with the States and UT Governments have taken steps to ensure that the children into begging are released and enrolled in schools to complete their elementary education.
Further, Ministry has released an amount of Rs. 1.50 crore to National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC) for skill development programmes for beggars, through which 514 persons engaged in Begging have been provided skill development trainings.
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Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Ques. No. 2311 for answer on 03.08.2021 regarding ‘Beggar Free Country’.
Serial
No. Year Funds requirement
(Rs. in Cr)
1. 2021-22 50.00
2. 2022-23 33.00
3. 2023-24 33.00
4. 2024-25 33.00
5. 2025-26 33.00
TOTAL 182.00
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