"NEW DELHI: Beggars often change their names to hoodwink anti-begging teams by posing as first-time offenders. They will not be able to do so any more, for the Delhi government has installed biometric machines at beggar homes to check repeat offenders and maintain a dossier of each arrested beggar.
With an estimated 60,000 beggars, most of who go about their business at traffic intersections and religious places, the Delhi government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it was geared to tackle the problem by taking action under the anti-begging law as well as by implementing rehabilitory measures.
Anti-begging squads apprehended 2,537 beggars in 2007, 2,232 in 2008 and 2,681 last year, the government said through additional solicitor general Mohan Parasaran. 'Biometric machines have been set up at the Sewa Kutir Complex, Kingsway Camp, to identify repeat offenders and update/consolidate the record of apprehended beggars,' the government added.
The Sheila Dikshit government told the Supreme Court in an affidavit that it has decided to set up a quick reaction system and a control room/call centre to attend complaints about begging by citizens. 'The Beggary Control Room will be interactive with citizens and other stake-holders through toll-free phone numbers so that anyone can have an easy access for the purpose of information/complaint/suggestions in respect of beggary related matters,' it said.
On finding that drug abuse among beggars was quite rampant, the government has decided to engage NGOs in providing/supplementing the services of de-addition treatment in beggar homes.
It said imparting of vocational training to inmates at beggar homes has been started to make them self-reliant. 'Vocational training in accordance with the abilities and health condition of inmates is being imparted in different trades — tailoring, weaving, candle-making — to the inmates of the beggar homes at Lampur complex and Nirmal Chhaya and stipends as admissionle under rules are being paid to them."...source
