From Jan 1, FIR to be lodged against people giving alms to beggars in Indore

Indore: In a bid to make Indore in Madhya Pradesh free of beggars, the district authorities on Monday said the administration will start registering FIRs from January 1, 2025 against those who give alms.

The administration has already issued an order banning begging in Indore, district collector Ashish Singh told reporters.

"Our awareness campaign against begging will go on in the city till the end of this month (December). If any person is found giving alms from January 1, a First Information Report (FIR) will also be registered against him/her," he said.

"I appeal to all residents of Indore not to become partners in the sin by giving alms to people," the official said.

In recent months, authorities in Indore have uncovered gangs involved in organized begging. Steps have been taken to rehabilitate individuals who were forced into begging as part of these operations.

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has started a pilot project to make 10 cities of the country beggar-free, which includes Indore. The project covers 10 cities -- Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna and Ahmedabad.

The new measures reflect the administration’s commitment to addressing the root causes of begging while working toward long-term solutions.