Question : Problem of Beggary

(a) whether the Government has any data/estimates of the total number of beggars in the country and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has any proposal/scheme to solve the problem of beggary in the country, if so, the details and the salient features thereof;
(c) whether reports of beggars being controlled by some exploitative gangs have been received by the Government, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) whether the Government has any proposal to provide Aadhaar Card to beggars to help them avail the social security benefits from the Government and if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken in this regard; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to provide alternative employment to beggars and bring them into mainstream of the society?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)
(a) The Office of Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India has informed that according to the Census 2011, the total population of Beggars, Vagrants etc. in India is 413670. The State-wise details are enclosed as Annexure.

(b) The States are responsible for taking necessary preventive and rehabilitative steps. As per available information, 20 States and 2 Union Territories have either enacted their own Anti-Beggary Legislation or adopted legislations enacted by other States/UTs. Presently, there is no scheme of the Central Government on Beggary. National Consultation Meetings were held with the representatives of Central/State Governments, NGOs, Institutes and Individual Experts in the field of Beggary to discuss the issues related to Beggary. In these meetings, it was inter-alia, recommended to explore the feasibility of framing a Central Scheme for rehabilitation of Beggars. Accordingly, a Scheme for Protection, Care and Rehabilitation of Destitutes is under formulation which has, inter-alia, provision for providing skill development training to the able bodies destitute.

(c) No such information is available in the Ministry.

(d) Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has informed that they are mandated to issue Aadhaar to the residents of India. Any individual, who is a resident in India and satisfies the verification process laid down by the UIDAI, can enrol for Aadhaar. Use of Aadhaar for delivering services to the residents depends upon the Ministries/Departments providing those services.

(e) As stated in part (b) above.