JAIPUR: The state’s social justice and empowerment department has written to all the district collectors to conduct a survey to identify beggars to be rehabilitated for implementation of the beggar-free scheme in the whole state, an official of the department said.
At present, the state government’s beggar-free scheme is in operation only in Jaipur city. As announced in the state budget by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, 100-bedded capacity rehabilitation centres would be built in all the 33 districts. “We have instructions to all the districts to conduct a survey for identification of beggars in their respective districts. The expression of interest (EOI) has been issued and we have invited proposals from all districts,” said a senior official at the social justice and empowerment department.
“The rehabilitation centres will have provisions for lodging, dining and rehabilitation,” the official added.
Meanwhile, as a part of rehabilitation of beggars in Jaipur, the department has launched two vans for identification and counselling of beggars in the district. “The vans will be used for identification and counselling of beggars in the Jaipur city for rehabilitation. The officials have been directed that if they witness beggars at traffic signals or religious places, they should be counselled immediately by calling the vans and sent to the rehabilitation homes. Two helpline numbers have also been launched for this purpose and this campaign will continue in Jaipur city,” the official added.
There are two 50-bedded rehabilitation homes in Jaipur city - one at Mansarovar and the other at Jalupura.
