Bhubaneswar: A day after the Centre appreciated the efforts of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) for making the Capital city beggar-free, the civic body has intensified its drive to rehabilitate the street beggars at designated accommodation centre.
With an aim to make the city free from beggars, the BMC has strengthened its infrastructure for their rehabilitation, BMC commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange.
“The beggar rehabilitation centre (BRC) has been constructed to accommodate 200 alms seekers. They will be provided with food, healthcare and other basic amenities,” he said.
A special quad comprising civic body officials will move around the city to bring the beggars to the rehabilitation centre. They are mostly seen seeking alms at traffic signals, bus stands and railway stations in the city.
The civic body will also make arrangements for those who want to go back to their native places, he added.
Three special squads will work in association with police and NGOs, to rescue the beggars and relocate them to the rehabilitation centre.
Notably, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Tuesday lauded BMC’s initiative to make the city beggar-free.
In a post on X, the ministry wrote: “Bhubaneswar, Odisha, is leading the way towards a beggar-free city under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission.”
The Ministry also posted some photos of BMC officials counselling beggars.
