Kashi may soon be beggar-free as administration launches special campaign

VARANASI: Kashi may soon become beggar-free as the district administration, with the help of other departments concerned and NGOs, has launched a special campaign 'Bhikshavriti Mukt Kashi' (beggary-free Kashi).
The impact of the drive has started becoming visible at the prime pilgrimage and tourist sites like Dashashwamedh Ghat, temples, including Sankat Mochan and city roads and crossings. Providing details to TOI on the special drive to free the temple city of the menace in the next 15 days, DM S Rajalingam said, "We are working with a strategy to end beggary by identifying three categories of beggars active in Kashi."
Rajalingam said: “A drive, which is being carried out by district administration with the cooperation of social welfare organisations, Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC), police and NGOs, had been launched with a directive to ensure strict compliance of human rights and provisions of Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Beggary Act, 1975.”
He said that destitutes have been kept in the first category followed by members of organised rackets engaged in beggary and poor people, who remain engaged in different activities to earn livelihood and come to the temple city to beg on special occasions.
In the initial phase of the drive, joint teams started counselling people found engaged in beggary. Pilgrims, tourists and other people were urged — through announcements, posters, banners and leaflets — to stop giving alms to beggars. In the next phase, the DM said, those found indulging in beggary despite counselling, would be rescued and rehabilitated.