Travelling to a heritage site always makes me happy the reason being that I get to transform myself back centuries and feel the grandeur amongst the ruins. When I was traveling to Pondicherry and was researching the various interesting places in and around Pondicherry then I chanced upon the name of Arikamedu. Searching online revealed that this is an archaeological site currently under ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).

Interestingly Arikamedu has a history that not many are aware of and the significance of the place is not only important for India but ancient Rome (Europe) also. Arikamedu was one of the most important and prominent trading ports of India with the Roman Empire dated as early as 2 BC. This place also finds a mention in Periplus Maris Erythrian which is basically the trade route map of the Roman Empire.

3. However, the Union Territories recorded the least number of beggars. The archipelago of Lakshadweep has only two beggars as per the government record, followed by Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and the Andaman and Nicobar islands with 19, 22 and 56 respectively.

4. Of all the UTs, Delhi recorded the largest number of beggars – 2,187 followed by Chandigarh with 121.

5. Among the northeastern states, Assam topped the list with 22,116 beggars while Mizoram with 53 was ranked lowest.

Around 22 states/UTs have adopted or brought in legislation against begging.

NDA Government has brought a draft law to be implemented by all state governments that will give rights to destitute to demand help from the states. The Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 was first drafted for Maharashtra and later copied by most states. Under the present act, anyone having no visible means of subsistence and found wandering about in a public space is deemed as a beggar. All those who solicit alms in public place under any pretence, including singing, dancing, fortune-telling or street performing, are also deemed as beggars. This law has a provision to arrest the homeless people, along with family members too. but it doesn’t have rehabilitation measures. Each state have different provision to deal with beggars issue

In India, 20 states criminalise the begging in the street, any public place. IF anyone identified or seen the beggar’s mafia, he/she can make compliant in local police station or police commissioner office

The present act gives discretionary powers to the police who can pick up anyone on a hunch that the individual is a beggar or a destitute with no means of fending for himself.

, the court can also order the detention of all those who it thinks are dependent on the beggar.

In an aim to do away with this law, the central ministry of social justice and empowerment has finalised a draft bill called the “Persons in Destitution (Protection Care and Intervention)” Model Bill, 2016. It has presently sought suggestions and objections from the public for the bill till August 29. The new law, once it gets implemented, will help do away the draconian beggary act which allows the police to arrest any destitute found wandering on the road by deeming him as a beggar.

Rather than rehabilitating destitute, it criminalises the poor and those suffering from mental ailments. If convicted under the old law, a person can spend anything between one to 10 years in a beggars’ home. The new law does not criminalise destitutely but cracks down on those who run organised beggary syndicates. The draft law which claims to “provide protection, support training and other services to all persons in destitution” refers to destitution as a state of poverty or abandonment, arising from economic or social deprivation, including age and infirmity, homelessness, disability and sustained unemployment, and which requires support for the person to move out of it.

we are working for a social cause to plunder the destitute in our country. Social welfare groups so-called ATCHAYAM TRUST student-run NGO from Tamil Nadu, researching beggar’s psychological and habits since 2013.

This civil society is working on the moral basis of humanity to all humankind of equality.we are condemn the UN and the govt for not considering the destitute people, hunger, manual scavengers