Anti-begging drive ordered by DK DC

Anti-begging drive ordered by DK DC

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 26, 2014:  At  a meeting convened at DC office, to discuss the eradication of beggars as per the Anti-begging Act,  on September 25,  Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim directed the police department, social welfare department and women and child welfare department to carry out a continuous anti begging drive in the city. The drive has to be taken up by joining hands with NGOs, he has said.

NGO representatives complained about the complex process of admitting street side beggars to the Rehabilitation Centre.  A beggar can be admitted in the rehabilitation centre only after a police case is registered in the nearest police station, said Suresh Shetty from NGO Okkuta.

To make the process of admitting beggars to the Beggars Rehabilitation Centre at Pachanady hassle-free, the DC directed the registered NGOs that are working on the cause to register themselves with the Rehabilitation Centre.  In order to simplify the process, the DC said that he would issue an order to the beggars rehabilitation centre to compulsorily receive any beggar who is brought by the registered NGO.

Centre Superintendent Sharada said that a large number of beggars in the house were mentally challenged and they need to be treated. The staff at the centre at present are not equipped to do this and they can not handle such beggars. Several beggars need psychiatric intervention. The DC directed the centre to appoint a psychiatrist on a contract basis, who can visit and treat patients on a regular basis.

Wenlock Hospital DMO Dr Rajeshwari revealed that there were 23 destitute admitted in Wenlock Hospital and requested to shift them to the Beggars Rehabilitation Centre. “There are a few destitute who walk out of the hospital in the morning and return to their bed in the evening in a drunken state. They cause nuisance in the hospital and staff can not manage them. They refused to be discharged,” she said.

Beggars Rehabilitation Centre Superintendent said that the total number of inmates at the centre is 126 as against the capacity of 150. It includes 110 men and 16 women.