There has been a drastic decrease in the number of inmates from 2,500 to 250, even though more facilities have been provided at the Beggars’ Colony.

Earlier this year Dormitory No 8 housed 500 inmates. Now the number has been come down to 100. With the improvement in situation this dormitory now houses only 70 inmates, explained a warden.

The minister said as many as 200 inmates, whose relatives have vouched for them or assured that they would not beg in the future, have been released in the past few days.
He also inaugurated a state-of- the-art water purifier system that would henceforth provide oxidised water to inmates. Also five borewells have been drilled to ensure water supply to the Colony, at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.

“We are on a drive to address the lacunae in various beggars rehabilitation centres across the State,” said Karjol.

Mental health

As many as 98 inmates in the Colony are likely to be shifted to the Dharwad Mental Hospital for better care, he added.

In order to improve the situation, three doctors and 10 nurses have been pressed into service at the Primary Health Care Centre at the Colony, in addition to taking up of repair works at dormitories, at an estimated cost of Rs 32 lakh.

Good food

Also, the Department has roped in ISKCON for cooking and distributing better quality food to the inmates, at a cost of Rs 35 per person for three meals a day, he said.

The minister said the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu governments have been asked to rehabilitate beggars from their states, who are now housed in the Beggars’ Colony in Bangalore.