Sambalpur: The administration’s drive to make the district beggar free has virtually fallen flat. With an aim to get rid of this ever increasing menace and bring beggars into mainstream, the district administration had conducted a meeting involving 53 male and female beggars in a bid to rehabilitate them. But there is no progress afterwards.
The largest number of beggars is found in this district in this part of western Orissa. They are mostly seen near Samalei, Pataneswari, Sai, Balibandha Somnath, Durgapali Gudeswara, Huma Shiva, Ghanteswari and Maneswara Mandhata temples. They ask for alms from devotees and tourists visiting these temples.
They also make their presence felt at railway station, bus stand and shopping centres, while some opt for house-to-house begging.
A report says 223 beggars have been identified in the first phase of the drive in this district, out of which 66 belong to rural pockets. Among these rural pockets, Rengali has the highest number with 23 beggars, followed by Dhanakauda (15), Maneswar (13), Jamankira (9) and Naktideula (6). It is pointed out these numbers are based on rough estimates; the actual number of beggars could be much higher.
Nevertheless, to dissuade them from begging and to ascertain the causes that force them to beg, the district administration had convened a special meeting May 2, 2017.
When they were asked as to why they had chosen begging, many respondents cited negligence and rejection by their near and dear ones as the main reasons. Others said they were forced to beg as they were poor or landless or physically disabled.
Out of those 53 beggars who participated in the meeting, 20 have been provided loans on differential rate of interest, sewing machines to three and pension to six. Surprisingly, nothing has been done for others.
When contacted, collector Samarth Verma said the first step towards making the district beggar free had been taken. In the first phase, the beggars in Sambalpur Municipality Corporation area were taken into account and measures had been taken to bring them into the mainstream. If the first phase succeeds, it will be replicated for others, he added. PNN