From January 1, Indore seeks "beggar-free" status; giving alms may lead individuals to jail!

Starting 1 January 2025, giving alms to beggars, be it children or elderly, will land individuals in trouble, with the Indore District Administration set to penalise violators by registering FIRs. Further, buying goods from minors is also prohibited.

Indore is one of 10 cities chosen under a national pilot project by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to eliminate begging. To prepare, an awareness campaign launching this month will educate citizens on the ‘Negative Impacts of Giving Alms’.

While the initiative initially targeted only children, the focus has now expanded. Earlier efforts saw over 35 children rescued and placed in government shelters after a temporary ban was announced in July 2023 under Section 163 of BNS. However, enforcement fell short, prompting tougher measures.

The urgency became clear after an elderly woman reportedly collected ₹75,000 in just one week outside a temple. A February crackdown revealed a woman forcing her children to beg, astonishing authorities with her six-month earnings of ₹2.5 lakh, which funded property, a house, a smartphone and a motorcycle.

By discouraging almsgiving and cracking down on exploitation, Indore aims to break the begging cycle while providing sustainable rehabilitation for those in need.