In a bid to curb the alleged nuisance caused to the public and the vehicular traffic at the main road junctions caused by those begging for alms, the Hyderabad City Police Commissioner imposed a notice on the ban on begging. The ban has been imposed for two months, beginning from morning 6 am of 8 October.

The Hyderabad City Commissioner of Police M Mahendar Reddy stated that the notice has been issued after taking into consideration, the hardships faced in smooth movement on the roads. They hinder the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Their “indecent and awkward manner of begging” causes a problem for daily commuters.

However, the order comes ahead of the three-day eighth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2017 to be held in Hyderabad from 28 November. This event is likely to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump.

About 400 beggars were taken away from Goshamahal area and lodged at the rehabilitation centre at Chanchalguda Jail.

The Hyderabad Police had undertaken a similar procedure when Bill Clinton visited in 2000. The then Municipal officers had started shifting the beggars from their usual junctions.

Notice issued by the Hyderabad police

The notice, according to a report by the Zee News read, “It has come to my notice through the public that many beggars are begging for alms in an indecent manner. They are also employing children and handicapped persons to solicit or receive alms at the main junctions of the roads. Such acts are causing annoyance and awkwardness by exposing in an indecent manner to divert the attention of the vehicular traffic as well as the pedestrians and public, in general, to induce them to give alms. These acts are dangerous to the safety of the vehicular traffic and public in general.”

The notice further stated, “In exercise of the powers conferred upon me under the Section 144 of criminal procedure code 1973, I, M Mahendar Reddy, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City, do hereby make this ex parte written order and notify the same to the general public prohibiting begging alms and also employing children and handicapped in begging alms in public places and at the main road junctions in the city of Hyderabad.”

Effective date and violations

The notice also stated that any person who is found to be violating the notice shall be liable for punishment under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and as per the provisions of Hyderabad City Police Act, 1348 Fasli, TS preventions of Begging Act 1977 and J.J aCT 2000.

The order has been made effective from today, 6 AM in the morning. The order shall remain effective for a period of two months, that is, 6 AM 1 January 2018, unless it is withdrawn earlier.

It was in this background the commissioner said that it is desirable to take speedy and immediate steps to prevent such acts of begging.

The Logical Indian Take

The Logical Indian community is perturbed by the state government’s decision. The move has vested interests and is nothing more than pandering to appeasing international powers. While it is important to deal with begging as it does cause hindrance to daily life, the practice cannot be eradicated without proper rehabilitation. Hoarding these beggars in a rehabilitation centre in the jail is not the best way out. A ban never works with the root cause of the problem isn’t solved.