Indore: Giving money to beggars may now land you in jail

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In an effort to make the city of Indore a beggar-free, district administration has announced on Monday that FIRs will be registered against individuals giving alms to the beggars starting January 1, 2025.

Indore's district collector Asheesh Singh informed the media that the administration has already issued a formal ban on begging in the city. 

"Our awareness campaign against begging will continue until the end of December. From January 1, anyone found giving alms will have to face an FIR," the collector stated.

He urged residents not to ‘become the part of the sin’ by offering alms to beggars as it makes them hopeful and habitual. The collector informed that recent investigations have uncovered organized gangs exploiting people for begging. Efforts have also been made to rehabilitate many individuals involved in begging.

Indore is among 10 cities selected for a pilot project under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aimed at making them beggar-free.

The Indore administration had been conducting constant search and rescue operations for beggars in the city. Last time, 12 beggars were rescued from Khajrana Temple Square in September. Just a few days before this incident, 10 beggars and 4 children were rescued from the city's Annapurna Temple area. Also, 12 beggars were also rescued from Balaji Temple in front of the zoo.