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Failure of Beggary Relief System

and

Need for a Comprehensive Social Security Net

16-Dec-2010

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Skewed economic policies, uneven wealth / resource distribution, lack of equal opportunities, economic / social distress, and absence of responsive relief systems, have ensured that some take to means like begging, while others tend to challenge the present system itself.

Lack of appreciation of the links between poverty, unemployment, disabilities, destitution and beggary

The KPB Act is "an Act to prohibit persons from resorting to begging and to provide for the detention, training and employment of beggars,… and for the relief and rehabilitation…”

The idea is, in principle, to discourage beggary, to make society sensitive towards beggary and rehabilitate the destitute to bring them into the national mainstream.

In practice, however, the laws are not sympathetic to destitution and the unfortunate.

A person is provided relief only when he starts begging! The society and state are reactive and not proactive in providing relief.

Need to replace philanthropic approach with a therapeutic and rehabilitative approach

State of Affairs

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Major issues with Beggary

it’s not absence of a proper law but complete failure of government in enforcing the law efficiently and in the right spirit

non-awareness about this whole issue

society’s failure in taking cognizance of the entire matter

absence of systematic humanitarian solutions,

Public Audit Report

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Action Needed in Implementing KPB Act

Law needs few updates/amendments; It’s more to do with Implementation of the Law in the Right Spirit than a new law itself

All 15-30 members on the board of the Central Relief Committee (CRC) to be appointed

Non-official members to be appointed on to the CRC with representations from Civil Society, Management & Tech. experts, Sociologists, psychologists, human rights workers, etc.

Local Relief Committees (LRCs) to be appointed at all Nirashritara Parihara Kendras (NPKs) in the state, which includes appointing non-official members

Board of Visitors to be appointed to all the NPKs in the state

Secure the transfer of the beggary cess collected till date by all local authorities to the CRC

Build necessary social & relief infrastructure like NPKs and training centres in every district of the state to make Destitution relief and Social Security effective

Biometric identification to identify repeat ‘offenders’ (arrange to issue UID to the destitute first)

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Single point state-wide helpline for reporting instances of beggary or cases of people in need

Distinguish able-bodied destitute / beggars from others and train and employ them suitably in maintenance of civic amenities, etc.

Publicise the law and bring awareness among citizens through mass media, hoardings, and meetings with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), educational institutions, Corporates, etc.

Programmes / process for participation of public, voluntary organizations (VOs) and Corporates through partnership and through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in maintenance of NPKs, training of inmates, counselling, medical care, rehabilitation, employment, etc.

Sensitise & train the officials about the provisions of the Act and the spirit behind it

Website for Destitute relief / CRC and publish all data regularly to foster transparency, accountability & efficiency in administration of relief and rehabilitation

Digitise and network all data regarding beggary administration and publish on the website

Action Needed in Implementing KPB Act

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Amendments required in the Interim

Abolish the Beggary Cess to avoid burden on Local Bodies and Citizens. Make alternate provisions of finances like budgetary allocation under the State Budget through the Social Welfare Department

Cease criminalization of beggary; Distinguish Destitution from Professional Beggary, and respond separately.

Classify needy citizens into those requiring permanent support (unsupported old-aged, physically challenged, sick, etc.) and those who need temporary support and can be sent back to the national mainstream and train them accordingly

Eliminate escape avenues for professional beggars

Relieve the DC of his duties to the NPKs. A fulltime Chairman to the LRC dedicated completely to destitute relief at the NPKs must be appointed.

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Social Security is Future

Art. 41: The State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want.

Need for a comprehensive Social Security Net (SSN) for all Citizens with following important components / coverage / provisions:

Constitutional Provision

to ensure minimum food, healthcare, shelter, educational, employment & insurance opportunities (insurance against calamities, injuries, loss of life / employment / shelter, etc.) to all citizens

to establish a permanent support mechanism to cater to destitution, unsupported senior citizens, orphanhood, disability, illness, calamities, etc.

de-criminalise beggary; to have relief centers to house destitute temporarily; only repeat cases of begging by the able-bodied may be treated as offence

transform adhoc schemes like the Sandhya suraksha yojane, bhagyalakshmi yojane, samaajika bhadratha yojane, NREGS, etc.) and bring such benefits under the SSN in a structured way.

abolish Chief Minister’s / Prime Minister's Relief fund and the Central Relief Fund under the KPB Act and institute a Social Security Fund (SSF)

Social Security Net

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Thank You!

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