Charity commissioner aims to make Maharashtra first beggar-free state

 Productive workforce

Mumbai : In a first-of-its-kind initiative, over 70,000 beggars of Maharashtra may soon become a productive workforce of the state. A beggar-free scheme, initiated by a Charity Commission and supported by 20-25 individuals, government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) is aimed at proving vocational training to homeless people. It will start within two weeks.

The scheme is a brainchild of Shivkumar Dighe, charity commissioner, Maharashtra who is in talks with district officers of women and child development department (WCD), trusts and NGO members running shelter homes in the state to create a framework for this scheme.

“We aim to rehabilitate beggars towards such employment or providing odd jobs like security guards to many. Those who are unskilled or physically challenged will not be left behind either and will be given training in fields like tailoring, carpentry and others. These men will live a new life of respect in society and earn a decent amount of money to fend for themselves,” said Dighe.

Officials from women and child development department and Maharashtra police are expected to play a major role as they share close contact with the homeless living on the streets. A pilot project will kick off in Mumbai, which is home to over 20,000 beggars.

The officials and all participating organisations will draft this unique education plan that extends not just to adults, but also thousands of minor beggar children. “Several NGOs of the state will start skill development and train lakhs of impoverished persons into a new workforce and schooling for those below 18 years of age,” said Dighe.

Pravin Bhaskar, district WCD officer (Mumbai City) told Free Press Journal, for over a fortnight the participants will closely watch the success stories of individuals who have previously had little or no resources in a video format. Some of these speakers will also be invited to give motivational talks.

Education programmes will be imparted to minors to ensure that more number of children enrol in civic schools. Those who wish to go back to their families will be reunited so that they can support their families.

Begging is considered a crime in the country under the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959. Its aim is to remove beggars from their current illegal profession so that they may be detained, trained and eventually employed elsewhere. However, individuals working for the homeless accused police of detaining and releasing the homeless in exchange of minor bribes, which forces them back to the streets.