Bengaluru, May 13 (Karnataka News):
The state government has implemented the Karnataka Prohibition of Begging Act and Rules, 1975, to eradicate begging as it is a social evil. Under this Act and Rules, a Central Relief Committee has been established. Under it, relief centers for the homeless are functioning in the districts of Bangalore, Belgaum, Chitradurga, Davangere, Dakshina Kannada, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Kolar, Mysore, Raichur, Shivamogga, Tumkur and Vijayapura.
Beggars who are engaged in begging are being rescued and rehabilitated in refugee relief centers. At present, an average of 3500 refugees are being rehabilitated and they are being provided with regular food, uniform, bed-clothes, medical treatment and various vocational trainings to change their minds so that they do not engage in begging again. The training allowance is Rs. 75/- per day for 8 hours and Rs. 35/- for less than that duration.
In the state of Karnataka, the government is making the public aware of the facilities being provided to them by the government through advertisements as per the Prohibition of Begging Act and Rules, 1975. If the public registers complaints about begging on the toll-free helpline number 10581 and the Social Welfare Department’s Kalyan Mitra number 9482300400, those involved in begging are being protected and rehabilitated.
Steps are being taken to start refugee relief centers in the remaining districts. As per the budget announcement for 2017-18, land has been allotted in Hassan, Haveri, Chamarajanagar, Yadgir and Koppal districts, posts have been created and the government has issued orders to start refugee relief centers. Basic facilities are being provided in these districts, and the work in Chamarajanagar district is in the final stage and will be started after handover.
Land has been sanctioned in Chikkamagaluru, Chikkaballapur, Bagalkot, Uttara Kannada, and Bidar districts, and steps are being taken to construct compound walls and borewells to secure the land in Chikkamagaluru and Chikkaballapur as per the government’s directives.
As Bangalore city is growing exponentially and begging is on the rise due to overcrowding, steps have been taken to sanction land to start a refugee relief center in the eastern zone of Bangalore city, as announced in the government’s budget for 2024-25.
Approval has been given to start in a rented building until the land is allocated. Until a rented building is available, those involved in begging in the eastern zone of Bengaluru city are being protected and rehabilitated at the Refugee Relief Center on Magadi Road in Bengaluru city.
Mrs. Sakamma of Danananayaka Kere village in Ballari district escaped from Danananayaka Kerehalli village in Hospet taluk of Ballari district about 25 years ago and lived in Balakot Old Age Home in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh by train. Karnataka-based Superintendent of Police Mr. Ravinandan identified her as a Karnataka resident and contacted the Principal Secretary of the Social Welfare Department over the phone. As per the information provided and as per the instructions of the government, Smt. Sakamma’s children and relatives have been traced. The staff of the Social Welfare Department and the Refugee Relief Center of Ballari district visited the Balakot Old Age Home in Himachal Pradesh and brought her back to the state of Karnataka on 24-12-2024. The government honored Smt. Sakamma and successfully brought her back to her native village along with her children and relatives.
