India has no federal law on begging and destitution. About 20 states have adopted the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, which carries a penalty of detention of three to 10 years in beggar homes.
Giving alms to street children and beggars is prohibited by law. This was according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as it reiterated its appeal to the public to refrain from giving alms to street children, homeless individuals, and members of indigenous peoples' (IP) groups.
If you really do want to give to beggars, only give 10-20 rupees at a time. Only give when you're leaving a place, not arriving, to prevent being mobbed. Try to give to those who are elderly or legitimately crippled. Especially avoid giving to women with babies because the babies usually aren't theirs.
There is no national-level law criminalising begging, but begging is a crime across various states and union territories of India. If a person who has previously been detained in a certified institution is found begging, he/she may be sentenced to detention for up to three years (section 5(5) BPBA).
Though there is no central law on begging, some states have adopted the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, which penalises beggary. Its provisions are often used by the police to detain, harass and otherwise oppress not only beggars but also homeless people, vagabonds, nomads, migrant workers and any poor person.
The states which have anti-beggary laws include Bihar, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Punjab. Further, two Union Territories, Delhi and Daman & Diu, also have anti-beggary laws.
We do not have any central law in our whole country but the states have brought in their own anti begging laws. Beggary laws continue to exist in Indian jurisprudence regardless of any evidence on abuse and without any presumption of criminal act among the already vulnerable section of the society.
While beggary has turned into one of the major social problems in almost all big cities in the world with Iran being no exception, Tabriz, the capital of East Azarbaijan Province is an exception -- no beggars, no homeless addicts and not many in need.
Although your sympathy might end up in some spare changes in his pocket, the beggar ends up earning around Rs 30,000!
The more you give to beggars, the harder beggars will try. This leads to what economists call "rent exhaustion," which again limits the net gain to beggars ... If you are going to give, pick the poor person who is expecting it least.
Offer food.
If you're near a restaurant or café, offer to buy a cup of coffee or a sandwich. This will allow you to address the beggar in a way that's helpful and open. You also can at least be assured they'll have food or a warm beverage. Keep in mind some beggars may trade food for other goods or services.
Why Should You Never Lend Money to Friends or Family? Lending money can damage relationships with your friend and family, especially if they might have trouble paying it back. This emotional damage can often feel worse than losing the money.
Most people who are homeless are homeless for a reason. Either their families have chucked them out or they have spent all their money on drugs or alcohol. By giving these people money, all you are doing is giving them the means to continue their bad habit.
The Bible clearly illustrates how Christians are to respond to the poor and hopeless. Jesus says, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you,” in Matthew 5:42, and in James it says, “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
Most, however, are not desperate at all; begging is their chosen profession and they make very good money at it by local standards.
Most beggars are in West Bengal, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Worldwide, homelessness results from many factors, including drug addiction, mental health, housing options, education and government decisions. Japan's strict drug laws, mental health systems and housing options contribute to the countries low homeless population.
Indore, Feb 17 : The Madhya Pradesh government has accelerated the efforts to make its business capital Indore a 'beggar-free' city. Initiatives have also been adopted to ensure the rehabilitation of beggars and how people can contribute to the cause.
Among the social factors, hereditary occupation, family disorganization and widowhood are causes of begging.
United States
U. S. Courts have repeatedly ruled that begging is protected by the First Amendment's free speech provisions.
(h) “Children's Home” means a place notified by the Government as suitable for the reception of beggars below the age of 14 years and not suffering from any infectious or contagious disease. 3. Begging an offence under this Act.