Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has identified 3,009 beggars across the state, who will receive assistance under the ‘Sahaya’ scheme aimed at their rehabilitation, the Assembly was informed on Friday.
Nityananda Gond, Minister of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, said the government has already established rehabilitation centres in various locations and introduced several measures to support the beggars.
In a written response to the Assembly, Minister Gond revealed that Sundargarh district reported the highest number of beggars at 417, followed by Cuttack with 400, Puri with 350, and Sonepur with 226 beggars. Other districts with notable numbers include Rayagada (195), Dhenkanal (189), Bhadrak (180), Khurda (150), Jharsuguda (135), and Balasore (131).
Among the 30 districts in Odisha, six districts—Boudh, Deogarh, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, and Malkangiri—have been declared beggar-free.
To facilitate the rehabilitation process, 19 rehabilitation centres have been established in Puri, Khurda, Angul, and Sundargarh districts, as well as in the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) areas. The government has also approved the opening of additional centres in Ganjam, Dhenkanal, and Keonjhar districts.
Under the ‘Sahaya’ scheme, the government is providing a range of services to enhance the socio-economic status of beggars and their families. This includes scholarships, skill development training, integration into self-help groups (SHGs), and financial assistance for the marriage of their daughters.
