Mon Dec 16 12:47:32 UTC 2024: ## Indore to Prosecute Alms Givers in Bid to Eradicate Begging
**Indore, India** – In its ongoing effort to maintain its title as India’s cleanest city, Indore is taking drastic measures to eliminate begging. Starting January 1st, the district administration will file police reports (FIRs) against anyone caught giving money to beggars.
This unprecedented move follows a pre-existing ban on begging in the city and an ongoing public awareness campaign. District Collector Ashish Singh stated that the campaign aims to discourage the public from inadvertently supporting the practice. He appealed to Indore residents to refrain from giving alms, urging them not to become “partners in the sin.”
The initiative is part of a nationwide pilot project by the central government targeting ten major cities, including Indore, to rehabilitate beggars. Recent investigations by Indore authorities have revealed surprising findings, including beggars owning property, having children employed in professional jobs, and possessing significant sums of money. One case even uncovered a begging gang operating from a hotel.
Support for the project is growing, with an Indore-based organization pledging to provide six months of shelter and job placement assistance to those removed from the streets. Madhya Pradesh Social Welfare Minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha voiced confidence in the program’s potential to successfully free individuals from the cycle of begging.
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