World Bank Team Lauds Indore's Beggar-Free City Move After A Comprehensive Three-Day Survey

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): A two-member team from the World Bank arrived here on Monday for a comprehensive three-day survey of its groundbreaking beggar-free initiative.

The delegation included Bénédicte de la Brière, leading economist from the World Bank, Brazil and Sumita Chopra, consultant with World Bank, New Delhi.

During their visit, the team explored key locations historically known for high numbers of beggars, including Khajrana Mandir, Sai Mandir, Ranjeet Hanuman Temple and Rasoma Square. To their pleasant surprise, not a single beggar was seen at any of these spots.

The delegation also visited Indore’s rehabilitation centre in Pardesipura, a one-of-its-kind facility in India. The members were briefed about the entire rescue-to-rehabilitation process — including shelter provision, psychological counselling and skill development programmes.

The team interacted with the CEO of Indore Smart City, Divyank Singh, who explained the mechanism and inter-agency collaboration in the initiative.

The centre categorises rescued beggars into three main groups:  60% habitual beggars, 20% who beg due to financial issues, mental illness or physical disability and 20% who are forced into begging, including children and drug addicts.

The team noted that repeated migration back to begging was a challenge.

To combat this, the rehab centre trains individuals in small-scale trades like preparing poha and fruit selling and matches them with government schemes according to their learned skills.

Special efforts are being made to include communities like the Nath and Nut Samaj, who are often unwilling to move into rehabilitation centres. In such cases, training and aid are provided directly within their colonies. Senior citizens rescued from begging are shifted to old age homes where they receive full medical and emotional care.

Both de la Brière and Chopra lauded Indore’s model, calling it “a replicable example for other Indian cities.”

The survey findings will be submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Currently in a testing phase, Indore is expected to undergo an official inspection by the ministry of social justice within a month. If all goes well, the Prime Minister himself may soon declare Indore as India’s first beggar-free city.