NHRC advisory on begging recommends nationwide database, rehabilitation

Building a nationwide database and drafting a national policy for protection and rehabilitation of individuals engaged in begging are among the recommendations of an NHRC advisory issued on Friday. The advisory was issued to the Centre and state governments to develop strategies aimed at eliminating the need for begging and enhancing the quality of life for those involved in it, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement. It noted that despite a number of initiatives and welfare programmes implemented by the central and state governments, begging persisted across the country. According to the 2011 census, there were more than 4,13,000 (4.13 lakh) beggars and vagrants in India, it said. In its recommendations, the NHRC asked the authorities to draft a national policy for the protection and rehabilitation of individuals involved in begging to prepare and implement welfare schemes for them with targeted financial assistance, vocational training, poverty alleviatio