Bengaluru: Social Welfare Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary on Monday July 18 said that the Karnataka Prohibition of Beggary Act, 1975, will be strictly implemented in the State to end begging.
Eight police teams in Bengaluru have been established by the State Government to curb begging, especially by children. Each team is led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
Speaking to mediapersons after chairing a meeting with Home Minister Araga Jnanedra, Women & Child Development Minister Halappa Achar and other senior officials he said, “We are confident of going to the root of the issue and eradicate the menace.”
The Minister said that beggars include the elderly, the mentally unstable, transgender people, and children. “Children aged under, as well as infants and toddlers are used in begging at traffic signals. We have identified 70 clusters where begging happens alone in Bengaluru. Even drugs are given to young kids to put them to sleep, he claimed. There are also reports of children being intentionally injured so they become disabled.
He further said that according to the Karnataka Legal Authority, 720 children in Bengaluru have been identified who are into begging. “Anyone responsible, including the parents of these children, will be subject to legal action. We are committed to implementing the Karnataka Prohibition Of Beggary Act into effect,” he said.
“The police officers who recently asked me where to house detained people were a little confused. We are making plans to give every support to address the issue,” he said.
