Minister chaired a meeting to plan strategies to make Vadodara ‘beggar-free’ in 100 days

A State-wide ‘beggar free’ campaign started in Vadodara on Thursday. The aim is to make them empowered through skill-based training and working to make the city beggar free. The target is to make Vadodara a beggar-free state in the next 100 days.

Minister of State for Women and Child Development Manisha Vakil heads a meeting with MP, Mayor, Municipal Commissioner, MLA, Police Commissioner, Social Welfare Department to plan the strategies and work effectively to make the city beggar free in next 100 days. A mega drive will start from Vadodara followed by all metro cities of Gujarat in the coming days. The aim is to make them self-independent and also get them the benefit of government schemes.

“In a step towards beggar-free city and state, we will start a mega drive from Vadodara followed by other metro cities of Gujarat. The aim is to accommodate them at shelter homes and empower them with skill-based training. The process of their registration, unique identification will be done and empower them with the help of ITI like technical institutes. During the mega drive the areas will be identified where they are normally found and then take them to shelter homes with proper counseling,” Said Manisha Vakil.

She further added that a committee is formed to work on this campaign and help the city and state become beggar-free. She said the most challenging part is mental counseling of beggars to stay away from begging at signals and other places and make them understand the benefit of living at shelter homes and become self-independent.

Later she visited the beggar’s home in the Warasia area and reviewed the facilities given to the beggars. She said, the visit is part of the campaign of and there are about 33 beggars already living there also from outside states. Some of them have mental problems and their rehabilitation and counseling are already going on. A new building is proposed in the coming days along with an increase in beds. There is a need for a personal touch to increase their self-confidence.