TISS tasked with suggesting changes to begging Act

After 56 years, the Maharashtra government has woken up to the need for updating the Prevention of Begging Act, 1959. In a recent decision, the Department for Women and Child Development has asked Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to look into the Act and file a report on the changes/upgrade required.

Sources claimed that the institute has already presented its first draft report before the department which has been sent back for another review.

"As of now, we have only asked the institute to see if the Act needs a major rework or just a few upgrade. However, as per the first report, the institute has suggested minor changes like increasing the pension amount paid to old people who turn into beggars. Way back in 1959, it was fixed at Rs200 per month, which was a decent amount for then. However, these days it is impossible to sustain in that amount, said a senior officer.

In December 2014, the department had set up a committee to look into the Act. This committee is being headed by the state Women and Child Commission based in Pune. Sources also claimed that revamp of the old Act was slotted as one of the priority areas for this year's key result areas.

Meanwhile, with Simhastha Kumbh Mela starting from July 2015, a drive to remove beggars from Nashik was undertaken as part of preparations. As per an estimate, 80 lakh devotees from different parts of the country are expected to attend the mela.

"We undertook the drive since homeless beggars stay on river banks and in old temples, dirtying these places. Some of them have criminal backgrounds. Considering the previous Kumbh Mela, which had witnessed incidents like theft and picking pocketing, we undertook the drive," a police officer said, adding that anti-social elements could create problems by pretending to be beggars.

"We have also started collecting detailed information on beggars, like their names, original places from where they have come to Nashik and their diseases," the officer informed.