Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to make the capital city free of beggars wandering on the roadside. A decision in this regard was taken at a special meeting held on Monday under the chairmanship of BMC Commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange.
The move to make Bhubaneswar beggar-free ahead of the festive season aims at ensuring the safety of the citizens and pilgrims.
The meeting observed that many people are flocking to Bhubaneswar from different places to earn a living by begging. Most of them are found wandering in the city and sitting outside the various temples across Bhubaneswar.
The Commissioner said that according to a modest estimate, there are more than 500 beggars across the city. The state government has built five rehabilitation centers for beggars but they hardly occupy those.
Special squads have been formed in each of the three zones of the capital city to ensure that the region is free of beggars as well as street vendors. These squads will be under the supervision of the concerned Zonal Deputy Commissioners. Each team will comprise unit staff, BMC sign team, police, rescue team, etc. The squad will regularly visit the areas under their jurisdictions to monitor the crowds at the temples and places of worship during festivals.
The BMC currently has squatter relief centers in Rang Bazar, Dakkua, Niladri Bihar, and other squatter-prone areas. The center has provision for 100 tenants with more than 300 tenants in these centers.
If any family sends an abandoned tenant to beg again, strict action will be taken against them, the BMC has warned.
Among others, BMC Additional Commissioner Laxmikant Sethi, Zonal Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner NULM, members of all Zonal Communities, organizers, and members of the civic body management body were present at the meeting on Monday.
