GUWAHATI: The Indore government has announced a ban on almsgiving starting 1 January 2025, as part of a larger effort to make cities across India beggar-free.
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To implement the project effectively, the Central government had earlier identified ten religiously significant locations in January for intensified efforts, and Guwahati was also selected as one of the ten cities for the beggar-free initiation drive. Ayodhya, Kangra, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Somnath, Pavagadh, Madurai, and Bodhgaya are the other cities included.
District Collector Ashish Singh of Indore stated that residents found giving money to beggars will face legal consequences, including the filing of a First Information Report (FIR). “Our awareness campaign against begging will continue until December-end. From January 1, FIRs will be registered against those giving alms,” Singh said.
“We appeal to residents not to support this sin by giving alms. Instead, direct individuals to rehabilitation centres where they can receive genuine help,” he further added.
The anti-begging drive aligns with the Central government’s SMILE project (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise), aimed at tackling organised begging and rehabilitating individuals forced into it.
