Bhopal Bans Almsgiving: Collector Issues Order To Curb Begging, Enforce Strict Monitoring

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In a bid to curb begging and related issues, Bhopal collector Kaushelendra Vikram Singh has issued an order prohibiting giving of alms to beggars. The directive, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), states that both giving alms and purchasing items from beggars will be considered a punishable offence.

The city’s traffic signals, rotaries, religious places, and markets will now be monitored using CCTVs to enforce the ban. According to the collector’s order, begging has been causing traffic disruptions at major intersections and rotaries in the city, with beggars often engaging in criminal activities and substance abuse.

As part of the initiative, beggars will be relocated to a shelter home in Kolar, near the Community Health Centre. The ban comes after a man was arrested in Bhopal under the Madhya Pradesh Begging Prevention Act for seeking alms at a traffic signal.

The arrest followed a complaint from a resident who reported the beggar’s refusal to seek alternative work. Earlier this year, Indore collector had also implemented a similar ban, effective from January 1, 2025, warning that both begging and almsgiving would face strict legal consequences.