NDMC to Explore Indore's Alms Ban Model for Supporting Beggars
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New Delhi, Dec 22 (NationPress) In addition to providing support for beggars and the homeless during the cold winter months, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is set to examine the Indore model which proposes a prohibition on giving alms to beggars. This initiative aims to better assist the destitute in overcoming issues related to substance abuse.
NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal informed IANS of their intent to study successful approaches from across the nation, indicating a willingness to learn from the Indore model.
Indore, recognized as the cleanest city in India, is also celebrated for its exemplary civic governance and serves as a role model for other cities. Its smart city initiatives have earned it the cleanliness award for seven consecutive years.
To enhance the urban landscape and align with the Union government’s Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme, Indore has declared a ban on giving alms to beggars, which will take effect on January 1, 2025.
This ban is a response to findings from a government study that revealed children and young adults engaged in begging were spending significant amounts collected each week on drug addiction and other anti-social behaviors.
Chahal pointed out the NDMC's efforts to prepare night shelters and sanitation facilities for beggars facing winter hardships, noting that some community centers and barat ghars have been repurposed to offer refuge to the homeless.
The NDMC Vice Chairperson expressed the agency's intention to deepen collaborations with NGOs to assist beggars and the homeless in leaving street life behind and overcoming addiction.
Furthermore, Chahal stated that NDMC and NGOs routinely conduct camps for beggars, but the civic agency now aims to intensify its counseling initiatives to persuade beggars and their families to transition to permanent shelters and abandon begging.
Spanning an area of 42 sq km, the NDMC zone embodies a smart city and is regarded as a gateway to a developed India. The civic agency, ranked 7th in the 2023 Swachh Survekshan rankings, competes against 400 other cities in various sectors including smart mobility, digital payments, EV infrastructure, public spaces, civic services, and beautification, along with essential functions like waste management and sanitation.
