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Beggary Prevention |
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| Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 |
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| The Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 (‘the Act’ in short) has been extended to the NCT of Delhi in the year 1960. |
| Summary Inquiry |
| As per the provisions of the Act, Section 4, ibid, any police officer or other person authorized in this behalf may arrest without warrant any person who is found begging. After arrest, such police officer or other person shall take or send the person so arrested to a Court. Section 5, ibid, provides for summary inquiry of the persons found begging and their detention. The summary inquiry is conducted before the Metropolitan Magistrate appointed under the Act. |
| Beggars |
| There are 12 Institutions for the beggars in various parts of Delhi, which look after beggars as and when beggars are rounded up and sent to these homes under the Bombay Prevention of begging Act, 1959 as extended to NCT of Delhi. In addition to the regularBeggar court, two Mobile Beggar courts have been started in year 2009. |
| Detention |
| In case, the Court is not satisfied that the person was found begging, it shall order that such person be released forthwith and in case if satisfied that the person was found begging, the Court shall order the person to be a beggar to be detained in a Certified Institution for a period not less than one year. Under Section 6 of the Act, if the previously detained person is found begging, on conviction for the first time, the Court shall detain him for more than 3 years, and for a period of 10 years if the convicted beggar is found begging for the second or subsequent time. Section 6(3), provides that in case of beggar convicted for 2nd or subsequent time, the Court may convert any period of such detention (not exceeding 2 years) into a sentence of imprisonment extended to a like period. |
| Institutional Care to Beggars |
| During the pendency of inquiry or trial, the beggars stay at Reception-cum-Classification Centre (R.C.C.) where lodging and medical facilities are provided. At present the Department is running eleven certified custodial/residential institutions for beggars in Delhi with a total capacity of housing 2180 inmates. At these institutions various facilities are provided free-of-cost boarding, lodging, food, medical care, recreation, health, vocational training, counseling etc. to wean them away from the habit of begging. Home wise strength of the Certified homes is as follows: |
| At present, there are 3 Courts notified under the Act i.e. One Court at Sewa Kutir, Kingsway Camp and Two Mobile Courts. Further at the level of Department of Social Welfare, 13 Anti begging squad teams have been made i.e 10 squads under the District Social Welfare Officers, 2 squads attached with 2 Mobile Courts, and one squad with RCC, Kingsway Camp. These squads are regularly conducting raids at various places in the NCT of Delhi and rounding up the beggars who are found begging. |
| Welfare of Leprosy Affected Persons |
| A Rehabilitation Center for Leprosy [RCL] affected persons was established during the year 1980-81. At present S.W. Department is paying Rs. 1800/- p.m. to RCL beneficiaries as financial assistance. The RCL is not a residential home. Most of the beneficiaries are residing in different areas of Delhi such as Tahirpur [Trans Yamuna], R.K. Puram, Sri Niwas Puri & Patel Nagar etc. The major colony of Leprosy affected persons is Tahirpur where Shelter workshop & Training-cum-Production center are located. Department provides production work facilities in enable leprosy affected persons to make them economically independent. In these centers, department provides training facilities in handloom weaving, shoe-making, chalk making, handloom class etc. |
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The RCL (Rehabilitation Centre for Leprosy affected persons) scheme was implemented from 1981. This scheme was meant for those Leprosy Affected Persons who were permanently residing in Delhi prior to 1981. This cut off date of 1981 was later extended to 1993. In the beginning, these leprosy affected persons were provided with facilities like dry ration, clothing, bedding, medicines etc. |
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In 1989, it was decided that a cash amount of Rs. 300 per month would be given in lieu of these items. This amount was increased after every few years and at present it is Rs. 1800/- per month. | |
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Local Services 