Begging is an act of asking earnestly or humbly for something. It can be either a favor, a gift, or monetary help. Asking someone and begging someone are two different things. Simple inquiry is termed as asking but begging is not letting up after getting a no.
To date, there is no National Law against begging. Some of the Indian States and union territories have turned to beg illegal.
Most of the children line up in harsh and cruel conditions where they are left with no choice but to beg. Children from low-income families have no one to look after them and therefore some of them are forced to beg for money to give to human traffickers for drugs and alcohol.
Bombay Prevention of begging act.
Under this act section, no.2 has defined Begging in various ways. Due to the absence of education and employment and other socio-economic people beg as their necessity.
In 2008, the Delhi High court struck down a law that made begging a crime in Delhi. It was highlighted that criminalizing begging violates the fundamental rights of most people. Around 20 states have adopted this law which penalizes beggary. Government should take proper steps to eradicate beggary and rehabilitation should be done.
India’s beggary laws were made in similar with the old European vagrancy laws ,this was made to blame poor responsible for the criminal activities.It does not address the issue of umemployement and depletion of socio economic conditions.
The anti-beggar legislation is aimed at removing the poor from the face of the city. The beggars who have spent years on the street find it very difficult to live in confined space. There are provisions for vocational training in the government run beggar homes. But these are worse than the third rate jails where convicts can spend up to 10 years.
