Indore Becomes India's First Beggar-Free City
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Indore declared as India's first beggar-free city. |
| Key Initiative | Rehabilitation of beggars through employment opportunities and school enrolment for children. |
| Campaign Launch | February 2024 under the Women and Child Development Department. |
| Number of Beggars Identified | Around 5,000 beggars, including 500 children. |
| Campaign Phases | Phase 1: Awareness drives. Phase 2: Rehabilitation efforts. |
| Inter-State Issue | Many beggars migrated from Rajasthan. |
| Recognition | Recognised as a model project by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. |
| Pilot Project | Indore among 10 cities selected for a pilot project to eliminate begging. |
| World Bank Acknowledgment | World Bank team acknowledged the campaign's impact. |
| Colonial Law | Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 criminalised nomadic tribes. |
| Current Legal Framework | Constitution of India allows laws on vagrancy under Concurrent List (List III, Entry 15). |
| State Laws | Many states base laws on the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959. |
| Delhi High Court Ruling | 2018: Bombay Act ruled arbitrary, violating the right to live with dignity. |
| Supreme Court Ruling | 2021: Begging is a socio-economic problem, not a criminal issue. |
| SMILE Initiative | Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) launched in 2022. |
| SMILE Goal | Beggar-free India by 2026. |
| SMILE Progress | As of 2024, 970 individuals rehabilitated, including 352 children. |