Beggars don’t usually have it easy. They literally live off the streets and in addition are considered as criminals under law. They can be picked up by the police and prosecuted
or sent to a remand home where they are sure to die of boredom. The existing law in many States describes anyone having no visible means of subsistence and found wandering about in a public place as a beggar. Maharashtra has enacted a law called Bombay Prevention of Begging Act 1959 to do away with begging which was considered a nuisance. It remains a nuisance, but as citizens, beggars had their rights taken away
by this Act which was copied by other States. In a bid to do away with this law the Central ministry of social justice and
empowerment has finalized a draft bill called the Persons
in Destitution (Protection, Care and Intervention) Model Bill
2016. Once this law is passed it will override State laws and officially
remove the sword that hanged over beggars, who make
a living by hawking sympathy. The question is, what happens
to organised beggary syndicates? The new law does not criminalise
the beggar, but will crackdown on syndicates. It is time
for a change of attitude towards beggars. After all, they have
human rights too, which need to be recognised.
