The Rajamahendravaram Urban Police have stood as a role model in the State as they took to a novel method of preventing attacks on beggars, street vendors and rag-pickers who hailed from various parts of the State, including Tirupati, and from Bhadradri-Kothagudem in Telanagana.
The police arranged mass hair cutting, shaving to these people who are about 300, in and around the city . All were summoned to Pushkara Ghat on the night of May 25 and about a dozen barbers descended on the scene and went about their routine. As the news spread, their Chittoor counterparts followed suit.
Later, all the 300 were counselled by urban Superintendent of Police B. Rajakumari and Central Zone DSP J. Kulasekhar. “About 100 members were sent two homes in the city —Jeeva Karunya Sangham and Swarnandhra Home for Aged. They were also provided food and shelter,” the SP said.
About 200 of them were sent back to their native places by arranging bus fares and clothes.
“I came to city about two years ago as I had differences with my family and I told the police that I did not want to go back,” said 50-year old Subrahmanyam from Vijayawada. He is temporarily staying on the road near Jodugullu centre.
Rama Rao, a rag-picker who has been staying in Rajamahendravaram since Godavari Pushkarams in 2014, said that he along with three others came from Guntur and settled in the city behind the Godavari railway station. In all, about 20 persons are staying there.
Youth to the rescue
“I am penniless. Every day, some youth come and distribute a packet of meal in the afternoon to us, ” he added.
Ms. Rajakumari said that they have decided to help the rest of the beggars and vendors stand on their own feet by offering them work in hotels or as daily labour.
Member of the Nayi Brahmin Association Yanapu Yesu, who brought about a dozen barbers along with him, said that they offered their services voluntarily as it was for a social cause.