Building Bridges, Not Bans: A Path to End Poverty

-Aishwarya Saxena

The state of Madhya Pradesh has made a decisive move to make the city free from poverty by banning begging in the city of Indore, which will be effective from January 1, 2025. Although, this is an extension of an earlier ban that targeted child beggars but now includes adults also. Though I can interpret and comprehend at the same time that the intention behind this measure might be to break the cycle of begging and address its root causes but still there are many questions regarding its human impact, While this step has noble intentions, it also raises concerns about unintended consequences, particularly increase in the police cases and the creation of an environment which may lead to unintentional crimes.

As we know that begging is a visible symptom of deep-rooted poverty and systemic issues, such as unemployment, lack of education, and homelessness. Giving money or goods to beggars is for many, an act of kindness-a small way to help those in need but authorities state that such acts merely feed the practice of begging, often sustaining organized begging rackets that exploit vulnerable individuals, including children and the disabled. Also many a times serious offences like child trafficking or amputation takes place in order to run the business of begging. By discouraging public participation, the administration looks to break such networks and direct support to meaningful and sustainable solutions. This step looks like aiming to identify people engaged in begging and to find out a dignified path for them by offering skill development along with employment opportunities to uplift their poverty.

However, the enforcement of this ban is not straightforward. The ban may push vulnerable groups, such as beggars and homeless individuals, into deeper desperation. With their primary source of survival cut off and no immediate alternatives, some may resort to petty theft, pick-pocketing, or other criminal activities as a means to meet their basic needs. These situations could increase the crime rate in urban areas, making enforcement of the ban a double-edged sword or a bane to society. The lack of adequate rehabilitation measures for all affected individuals may exacerbate the problem, as not everyone will have access to government shelters or employment opportunities.

Simultaneously, Many of the beggars, especially the elderly people, the disabled, and homeless, go for begging as their final option to survive. This may lead to pushing more vulnerable people into the societal periphery if alternative supportive mechanisms are not established for them. In conclusion, while the goal of making Indore a beggar-free city is commendable, the decision to criminalize every such act could unintentionally increase police cases and create an environment that encourages petty crimes. In my opinion, without addressing poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and illiteracy such measures may only shift the problem rather than solving it.

Although making Indore a poverty-free city is ambitious and thought-provoking still it challenges society to rethink how we approach addressing poverty and vulnerability, leaving behind temporary relief, so that we build pathways towards dignity, independence, and empowerment. If done compassionately and with care, this initiative can set examples for other cities in pursuing equity and sustainability in addressing social challenges and eradicating poverty from not a only a single state but from the Nation.

Therefore lastly I raise two questions for ourselves that,

1. Can a ban on giving money or goods to beggars really solve the problem of begging, or will it push vulnerable individuals toward crime and overburden the police system?

2. As change-makers to this society, how can we create a more empathetic society while finding real solutions to tackle poverty and help those in need?