Total begging ban in the state on the anvil

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is preparing itself for a legislation for total ban on begging. The law is aimed at begging by children and beggars' mafia also, and is planned to be introduced in a matter of months, as told by government sources.

The move comes in the wake of rampant complaints about begging mafia. Even before the legislation, efforts are on for rehabilitation of beggars for which more centres are being organized. The proposed bill will be titled 'The Kerala Prevention of Begging and Protection of Destitute Beggars Bill'.

There have been reports that the begging mafia is gaining more strength in the state and kidnapping children for the purpose. It is understood that stringent punishments are being provided for in the bill.

The government hopes that with the introduction of the legislation, Kerala can effectively stop begging across the state. As part of the rehabilitation efforts, 16 beggar homes have started functioning under the Orphanage Board. The government is prepared to open more such homes too, if necessary.

The relevant findings in this regard are that more beggars are from outside the state, they are seen more in trains and buses. Thus when the law comes into force, notifications as mandated in the bill will be displayed prominently in Kerala-bound trains and buses.

There have been reports and rumours about child begging mafia that indulges in kidnapping of children. At a point, widespread panic was reported among neighbourhoods over certain kinds of stickers put on houses in some localities. However, the police and the government are of the view that child-kidnapping gangs are not so rampant in the state, as opposed to begging mafia which is accepted as existing. The legislation comes in this context.