Delhi G20 Summit: Beggars from capital's specified area to be shifted

New Delhi: The Delhi government issued orders to relocate beggars in a particular area in the Union territory to night shelters as G20 Summit next is coming to the national capital, PTI reported.

The Delhi government has issued directions for sheltering beggars from the Hanuman Mandir area near the Kashmere Gate ISBT to the night shelters of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). A meeting of officials of the Delhi government's Social Welfare department, DUSIB and police will draw up a plan to execute the move.

DUSIB member Bipin Rai said on Friday, "First, we will map the beggars and hold surveys to understand how many of them are there near the Kashmere Gate ISBT. We will also find out the number of family members of the beggars and proceed with the plan accordingly."

"We had a detailed discussion on Friday, and a meeting with the social welfare department and Delhi Police will be held on Saturday," he added.

A four-member committee has been formed, under the chief engineer of DUSIB, to coordinate with government agencies and prepare an action plan by Tuesday. The beggars will be shifted to Dwarka and other places where space is available.

DUSIB CEO K Mahesh's order read, "CM has directed that beggars around Hanuman Mandir near ISBT should be removed and relocated in the night shelters of DUSIB. This exercise is necessitated keeping in view the meetings of the G20 summit."

Convenor of the National Forum for Homeless Housing Rights, Sunil Kumar Aledia, alleged that the move is to keep the area clean and free from the sight of unwanted people.

He said, "The High Court has decriminalised the act of beggary, and therefore nobody can be punished for it, nor any coercive action can be taken. Removing people from any place against their will amounts to defiance of the court order."

According to him, the government must implement a community-based model, employing outreach teams to convince people to quit begging as well as providing them support.

The Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, extended to Delhi, mandates that the Social Welfare Department prevent begging and formulate schemes for their welfare, Aledia said.

After India took the G20 presidency on December 1, the Delhi summit of the same next year will be the culmination of all G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials, and civil societies.

The G20 block includes 19 countries and the European Union. Its members represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.