Urban public spaces in India frequently serve as sites where individuals solicit alms, often prompting a complex discourse on the socio-economic, legal, and ethical dimensions of street begging.
While some individuals rely on alms for survival, authorities have identified an intersection between begging and illicit activities, raising concerns regarding civic order, public safety, and social welfare.
In response, the municipal administration of Bhopal has implemented stringent regulatory measures to mitigate this phenomenon.
In alignment with Indore’s 2023 legislative action, Bhopal—Madhya Pradesh’s capital—has officially prohibited the act of giving alms, imposing punitive measures on violators. This initiative seeks to address the systemic challenges associated with organized begging networks and urban vagrancy.
District Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh, exercising his authority under Section 163(2) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, issued an order on Monday evening instituting a formal ban on begging within the city.
The directive articulates explicit concerns regarding the proliferation of criminal activities, including substance abuse, within the begging population, particularly among individuals soliciting at traffic intersections.
Furthermore, the order underscores the risk of traffic-related incidents exacerbated by pedestrian encroachments into high-mobility vehicular zones.
The mandate unequivocally criminalizes both the solicitation and provision of alms within the jurisdiction of Bhopal. Individuals engaging in these prohibited transactions—whether by donating money or purchasing goods from beggars—will be subject to legal penalties.
The enforcement mechanism incorporates formal legal proceedings under the applicable statutory provisions to ensure adherence.
Recognizing the socio-economic implications of such regulatory measures, the municipal administration has designated a rehabilitative shelter facility in Kolar, Bhopal, situated within the Community Health Centre, as a structured intervention for affected individuals.
This initiative underscores a dual approach—curbing street-based solicitation while concurrently facilitating rehabilitation and reintegration pathways for displaced individuals.
This policy trajectory mirrors Indore’s prior efforts, wherein local authorities similarly proscribed street begging and dissuaded public participation in sustaining the practice. Proponents of these measures argue that such interventions are imperative to dismantle systemic exploitation within begging syndicates and to promote long-term social welfare objectives.
Municipal authorities have appealed for public cooperation, emphasizing that monetary handouts do not constitute a sustainable remedial strategy for the underlying socio-economic vulnerabilities of beggars.
On the contrary, unregulated almsgiving risks perpetuating cycles of dependency and, in some instances, contributes to illicit activities.
As this policy takes effect, it is expected to elicit diverse public responses, reflecting broader societal attitudes towards urban poverty governance. However, the administration asserts that institutionalized shelter provisions and structured legal enforcement will collectively advance the objective of sustainable urban management while safeguarding both civic order and social equity within Bhopal.
