Beggars-Free Drive: Bhopal Administration To Relaunch Campaign After Failed 2025 Attempt

Bhopal's district administration plans to relaunch its Beggar-Free Bhopal campaign after the 2025 attempt fell short of its goals. The initiative, which aimed to eradicate begging in the city, had failed to achieve significant results and faced challenges such as the rent dispute between the civic body and the shelter home.

During a review meeting chaired by collector Priyank Mishra, the social justice department, Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), and NGO Pravesh were directed to collaborate and create a comprehensive action plan. Mishra emphasized that the new campaign should not only focus on rescuing beggars but also ensure their proper rehabilitation, counselling, and social reintegration. He also stressed the need for extensive public awareness campaigns to sensitize citizens about the issue.

The earlier Beggar-Free Bhopal campaign, launched in 2025 under the Centre's SMILE scheme, established a shelter home in Kolar and identified 242 beggars across the city. Govindpura had the highest number of beggars, followed by Old City, MP Nagar, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Kolar, and TT Nagar. However, the shelter home struggled to reach full capacity due to many rescued individuals reportedly leaving the facility.

The administration had received a first instalment of Rs 9 lakh from the Centre for identifying and mobilising beggars, but the shelter home's location on BMC land led to a rent dispute, resulting in unpaid rent.