The Indore district administration announced that starting January 1, 2025, individuals found giving alms to beggars in the city will face legal action, including the registration of a First Information Report (FIR)
The decision aims to make Indore beggar-free as part of a broader initiative by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
District Collector Ashish Singh stated that an awareness campaign against begging is underway and will continue until the end of December 2024
Speaking to the media, Singh urged residents to refrain from giving alms, stating, “I appeal to all residents of Indore not to become partners in the sin by giving alms to people.”
An order banning begging has already been issued, and enforcement will begin in January. The administration has identified organised gangs exploiting vulnerable individuals for begging and claims to have rehabilitated many people engaged in the practice.
This measure aligns with the Union government’s pilot project under the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme, which aims to make 10 cities, including Indore, free of begging.
The initiative acknowledges that begging is often not a choice but a matter of survival, and its rehabilitation efforts are designed to uphold the dignity of destitute individuals while empowering them to participate in decisions affecting their lives.
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