Nagpur, a city in Maharashtra, India, is known for its oranges, its cultural diversity and its strategic location. But soon, it may also be known for something else: being a city with no beggars.
In March 2021, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar launched a new initiative called 'beggar-free city' to ban begging at public places such as traffic signals and squares . The initiative was motivated by the upcoming G20 summit in 2023, which will be hosted by India and may see Nagpur as one of the venues.
According to Kumar, a notification of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been issued in this regard, which prohibits any assembly of five or more people or any unlawful activity in public places . Notices have been served to people who are found begging, and they will be strictly enforced by the police .
The initiative aims to make Nagpur more beautiful and attractive for visitors and residents alike. It also seeks to address the social and economic issues that drive people to beggary, such as poverty, illiteracy, addiction and exploitation.
To this end, the NMC and the police have partnered with various NGOs and social welfare organizations to provide rehabilitation and alternative livelihood options for beggars. These include vocational training, skill development, education, health care and shelter homes. The NMC has also set up a toll-free helpline number (1800-233-0022) for citizens to report any cases of begging or harassment by beggars.
The 'beggar-free city' initiative has received mixed reactions from different stakeholders. Some have welcomed it as a positive step towards improving the city's image and dignity of human life. Others have criticized it as a violation of human rights and an attempt to hide the harsh realities of inequality and injustice.