- By Abhishek Sheoran
- Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:55 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The district administration of Bhopal has issued an order prohibiting the practice of begging. The directive, issued by the office of the district magistrate, mandates penal action against both individuals involved in begging and those who give alms, as reported by PTI. Bhopal District Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh enforced this ban on Monday evening under Section 163(2) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita.
“Using the powers conferred under Section 163 of the Indian Citizen Security Code 2023, beggary is completely prohibited in all the revenue areas of Bhopal district. It is prohibited to give anything in the form of alms to beggars or to buy any items from them. Any person who gives something in the form of alms to beggars or buys goods from them will also face legal action for violating this order,” the order stated.
The order acknowledges that individuals from other states, some with criminal backgrounds, contribute to promoting drug abuse and creating law and order issues in the city. Additionally, the presence of beggars on the roads and at traffic lights often leads to traffic disruptions and accidents.
“Most of the people engaged in begging are also involved in substance abuse or other activities. In this way, several criminal activities are carried out under the guise of begging. The practice of begging at traffic signals often poses a risk of accidents. It is also well known that begging is a social evil. The government has issued appropriate directives from time to time to curb begging,” it added.
A shelter facility located at the Community Health Centre Kolar (in Bhopal) is reserved as a beggar home for their accommodation, it added. Last year, the Indore district administration also banned begging and prohibited people from giving alms to beggars.
