In an effort to make Indore a beggar-free city, the district administration of Madhya Pradesh’s commercial capital has put forward a unique rule. From January 1, 2025, anyone found giving money to beggars in the city will face legal action, including the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against them. This bold move is part of a broader campaign to address the issue of begging and is expected to be enforced across ten cities, including Indore. The administration aims to curb the practice by targeting not just those begging but also those who enable begging by giving alms.
This initiative stems from the belief that to truly eliminate begging, it’s crucial to tackle both ends of the spectrum – the beggars and those who give them money. Hence, alongside the action against alms givers, an order banning begging in Indore has also been issued, to take effect from the start of 2025. This is in line with the administration’s efforts to conduct an awareness campaign about the issue up until December 2024, which will be followed by action against those found begging from January 2025 onwards.
The rationale behind such a directive is grounded in the desire to improve societal conditions by regulating actions that, while seemingly charitable, may perpetuate a cycle of dependency and irregularity. Despite the common perception that giving money to beggars is a good deed, the Indore district administration’s forthcoming rule challenges this notion, emphasizing the need for a more structured approach to philanthropy that doesn’t inadvertently encourage begging.
Indore, being the second-largest city in Madhya Pradesh, has taken a pioneering step with this rule, which could set a precedent for other cities grappling with similar issues. The decision to implement this rule from January 1, 2025, indicates a forward-thinking approach to social welfare and urban management. By including this rule as part of a wider campaign against begging, the administration is signaling its commitment to addressing the root causes of begging and ensuring the city’s public spaces are used in a manner that benefits all residents.
The problem of begging is not unique to Indore or even India, as evidenced by the 2011 census that revealed there are approximately 4.13 lakh beggars and vagrants across the country. This rule could therefore serve as a model for other jurisdictions facing similar challenges. The initiative is a part of a larger vision to enhance the quality of life in urban areas by ensuring that law and order are maintained, and societal norms are respected.