<p>The Committee has received information from places like Hubli and Davangere where beggary has become a lucrative profession, Ramalingappa told mediapersons here on Friday. <br /><br />The Central Relief Committee meant for relief and rehabilitation of beggars coming under the Social Welfare Department of the state government is vested with the problem of eliminating beggary in the State.<br /><br />“Certain persons posing as social leaders have been running the racket of beggary. We are busy in gathering necessary evidence to initiate criminal action against them,” Ramalingappa said.<br /><br />He claimed that at few places the “beggary business” was going on a “commission basis” <br />and whenever the officials conducted raids, the beggars escaped from the clutches of law and also alerted others over mobile phones. <br /><br />“Whenever the beggars in disguise are arrested, lawyers rush to get them released,” Ramalingappa said. Most of these rackets thrive in and around well known pilgrim centres and religious places where people generously offer to beggars. He said an awareness programme will be launched to impress upon people that beggary should not be encouraged.<br /><br />Stating that no proper rehabilitation of “genuine beggars” has taken place anywhere in the State, Ramalingappa said a comprehensive survey on the conditions of beggars will be taken up soon. There are 914 beggars including 168 women in rehabilitation centres all over the State. Steps were being taken to set these centres in order.<br /><br />The CRC chairman said he would request the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa not to give 140 acres of land of the Beggars Rehabilitation Centre in Bangalore to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). The Centre originally had 300 acres of land and with the government giving away the centre’s land for different purposes, even the 140 acres remaining was now proposed to be handed over to the BDA, Ramalingappa lamented.</p>
<p>The Committee has received information from places like Hubli and Davangere where beggary has become a lucrative profession, Ramalingappa told mediapersons here on Friday. <br /><br />The Central Relief Committee meant for relief and rehabilitation of beggars coming under the Social Welfare Department of the state government is vested with the problem of eliminating beggary in the State.<br /><br />“Certain persons posing as social leaders have been running the racket of beggary. We are busy in gathering necessary evidence to initiate criminal action against them,” Ramalingappa said.<br /><br />He claimed that at few places the “beggary business” was going on a “commission basis” <br />and whenever the officials conducted raids, the beggars escaped from the clutches of law and also alerted others over mobile phones. <br /><br />“Whenever the beggars in disguise are arrested, lawyers rush to get them released,” Ramalingappa said. Most of these rackets thrive in and around well known pilgrim centres and religious places where people generously offer to beggars. He said an awareness programme will be launched to impress upon people that beggary should not be encouraged.<br /><br />Stating that no proper rehabilitation of “genuine beggars” has taken place anywhere in the State, Ramalingappa said a comprehensive survey on the conditions of beggars will be taken up soon. There are 914 beggars including 168 women in rehabilitation centres all over the State. Steps were being taken to set these centres in order.<br /><br />The CRC chairman said he would request the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa not to give 140 acres of land of the Beggars Rehabilitation Centre in Bangalore to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). The Centre originally had 300 acres of land and with the government giving away the centre’s land for different purposes, even the 140 acres remaining was now proposed to be handed over to the BDA, Ramalingappa lamented.</p>
