As part of the campaign to make the city beggar-free, a Bhikshugrah (shelter home for beggars) with a capacity to house 30 people has been established in the Kolar area of the state capital.
Once fully operational, the shelter will provide lodging, boarding, health, and rehabilitation facilities to inmates, drawing on various government schemes.
Currently, five elderly beggars are lodged at the shelter, and more are expected to arrive as a district administration team surveys city streets to remove those who beg for a living.
Rough estimates suggest around 4,000 people in the city rely on begging. They are scheduled for rehabilitation, with the city administration earmarking an estimated Rs 100 crore to make the city free of beggars.
Earlier this month, the district administration issued an order to take action against both begging and giving alms, following the model of Indore, where a similar initiative was first introduced.
Drawing participation from citizens to ensure the success of the initiative, Indore offers cash rewards to residents calling a dedicated toll-free number to report incidents of begging in the city. Bhopal is yet to announce such a move.
Soon after the ban in the state capital, the Social Justice Welfare Department requested the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) to convert a night shelter into a Bhikshugrah or home for beggars.
The facility at Kolar is a result of efforts from the police and non-governmental agencies to ensure the success of the initiative.
This Bhikshugrah is managed by a private institution. Sangeeta Nellore, director of the Nellore Education Committee and in charge of the centre, said, "The Kolar Bhikshugrah has a capacity of 30 people, currently accommodating five elderly beggars."
Nellore added that separate accommodation will be arranged for females when they arrive.
Beggars undergo medical check-ups at the Primary Health Centre as part of the facility's services.
While there are no specific guidelines for the length of stay, the decision will depend on each individual's readiness to reintegrate into society.
The Bhikshugrah employs ten people, including two guards and two caretakers. Bringing beggars to the facility remains challenging, as many refuse to leave the streets, where they reportedly earn significant amounts of money.
Staff often face aggression from inmates who wish to return to begging.
Upon arrival, beggars must present their Aadhaar card. If they do not have one, arrangements are made to help them create the necessary documentation for accessing welfare benefits.
Plans are underway to issue Ayushman Cards to all inmates for free medical treatment at government-approved health facilities. Welfare workers are preparing a plan to train shelter residents in various skills to help them become self-sufficient.
India has multiple laws regarding begging. The Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, makes begging in public places illegal. The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, deems forcing children to beg a punishable offence.
Under Section 363A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), forcing children to beg can lead to up to 10 years of imprisonment. The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, includes provisions against organised begging rackets. The shelter provides three meals a day, along with tea in the evening. Some beggars attempt to leave, claiming they need to visit their relatives.
A 15-member team has been formed to bring more beggars to the Bhikshugrah. However, Nodal Officer Sunil Rai stated, "Our current team size is too small to cover the entire city." Rai noted that begging networks operate as organised systems, making it difficult to convince beggars to relocate. District Social Justice and Welfare Officer RK Singh, however, remains optimistic about the success of the campaign. He says, "We are actively monitoring the situation."
Although the district administration is yet to establish a dedicated number to report incidents of begging, Singh assured that further steps would be initiated to ensure compliance with the ban on begging in Bhopal.