India home to over 4,13,670 beggars

By NewsGram Staff Writer

The prevalence of beggary is here to stay as there over 4,13,670 beggars, vagrants etc. in the country as per Census 2011.

As per information furnished by Registrar General of India (RGI), only 70,506 beggars out of the total figure of 4,13,670 were disabled.

The prevalence of beggary can be attributed to various reasons including poverty and unemployment, the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar informed Lok Sabha here today.

"The States are responsible for taking necessary preventive and rehabilitative steps on the issue of beggary. As per available information, 20 States and 2 Union Territories have enacted their own anti-beggary legislation or adopted legislation enacted by other States/UTs," Gurjar said.