Unseen Side: Bhopal Beggars Struggle Amid Official Ban, Residents Welcome Move

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Beggars in the different areas of city were seen soliciting alms on Tuesday even after an official ban on begging imposed by Bhopal district administration. Nevertheless, residents have welcomed the decision. Many beggars expressed distress, citing helplessness due to physical disabilities and personal hardships. A section of beggars in the city shared their plight, stating that they have no alternative means of survival.

Sanno, a 72-year-old woman begging outside a mosque, expressed sorrow over the new order. She lost her son a few years ago and is now responsible for raising her three grandchildren. Living in a small hut in Kolar, she questioned where she would go if authorities removed her from the streets. "If they take me away, they should also take away my grandchildren and burn my hut," she said. Sanju who begs outside Kali Mata Mandir too shared his struggles. He suffers from a broken leg and has no shelter, forcing him to live on the footpath. "I beg to afford food and medicine. If I were physically fit, I would work," he lamented.

Buying drugs

While beggars are disheartened by the new order, some residents and shopkeepers near Kali Mata Mandir have welcomed the move. A flower seller near the temple claimed that many beggars pretended to be in distress but avoided hard work. "Most of them only beg to buy drugs," she alleged.