Prayagraj: Ahead of Maha Kumbh, the Mela police on Sunday launched a special drive to make Sangam Nose and the surrounding areas beggar-free and to rehabilitate them in other sectors of Mela campus with the help of NGOs. Acknowledging the startling fact that a huge number of beggars arrive at Sangam Nose and adjoining areas during Magh Mela, Ardh Kumbh, and Kumbh Melas, and pose a major challenge for police authorities to regulate the flow of devotees for entry and exit routes, the Mela police have started working on rehabilitation plans with the help of a dozen NGOs before the beginning of the world's biggest religious and spiritual congregation on the banks of the Ganga.
The 45-day Maha Kumbh, beginning on Jan 13, will continue until Feb 26, 2025.
SSP (Kumbh Mela) Rajesh Dwivedi told TOI that Mela police have launched a special drive to rehabilitate beggars with the help of NGOs and to make the Sangam Nose area beggar-free. He added, "The motive behind this is to regulate the flow of devotees who would be flocking from different parts of the country during Maha Kumbh."
He also said, "As beggars often occupy places on the prime Sangam Nose point and pose a major difficulty to policemen to regulate the flow of devotees on entry and exit routes, their rehabilitation in different sectors would be the perfect example to make the Sangam Nose area beggar-free."
Dwivedi, meanwhile, said, "Mela cops, with the help of the administration and NGOs, have plans to bring positive changes in the lives of beggars so that they choose a better way of living. Mela police are also mooting a plan to provide skill training to beggars once they complete their tenure at the rehabilitation centre in order to help them become financially independent."