India has 413,670 flat-broke beggars, the most vulnerable and downtrodden section of society. However, human rights activists say the number is three times higher, with West Bengal ranking top with 81,224 panhandlers followed by 65,835 in Uttar Pradesh, 30,218 in Andhra Pradesh, 29,723 in Bihar, 28,695 in Madhya Pradesh and 25,853 in Rajasthan.
Even after some 60 years, the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 has abysmally failed to eradicate begging in the country. The dirtpoor freeloaders in tattered clothes could be seen soliciting alms at bustling public places like bus terminals, railway stations, traffic signals, street markets and religious shrines. The penniless ragamuffins roaming the streets are branded as ‘pickpockets’, ‘trespassers’, anarchists’ and also ‘unhygienic elements’.
Not a crime
Though there are countless wandering mendicants without a rupee to their name, the....
