Cuttack district has the highest number of beggars in the State, informed Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Minister Ashok Chandra Panda in the State Assembly on Saturday.
Giving data about beggars, Panda said that a total of 6,390 beggars have been identified in Odisha and Cuttack district is ranked first in the list with 1,060 beggars followed by Balangir (708), Mayurbhanj (485) and Ganjam (458).
Puri district has 120 beggars, Baleswar 131, Bhadrak 220, Angul 97, Dhenkanal 97, Jagatsinghpur 53, Jajpur 196, Jharsuguda 41, Kalahandi 214, Kandhamal 117, Malkangiri 21, Kendrapada 22, Keonjhar 135, Khordha 53 and Boudh 19. Deogarh district has the lowest number of 16 beggars, the Minister said.
Last year, the SSEPD Department had launched a special drive to make the State beggar-free, he pointed out, replying to a question by MLA Prashant Behera. The Minister said the Government has introduced a scheme called ‘Sahaya’ to rehabilitate and provide self-employment opportunities to the beggars. Under the programme, a total of 2,886 beggars have been provided assistance so far for their livelihoods.