Niladri Nilaya Yojana will free Puri from beggars
The district administration at Puri has taken up the responsibility to free up the place of beggars, and so, it is planning to initiate the Niladri Nilaya scheme. In this, the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities department will assist the district for the successful implementation of the scheme.
In this regard, Collector Balwant Singh is of the opinion that counseling for the beggars will be started from the 3rd of March. As per the scheme rules, eight rehabilitation centers or Niladri Nilaya centers will operate in Puri. Under each of the centers, 50 beggars will be rehabilitated. In addition to this, the centers will offer shelter and food to the beggars along with offering them opportunities to earn from their living.
Under the scheme, the state officials will try to get connected with the family members of the beggars. Also, the officials will counsel the beggars and special care will be taken for the mentally challenged, differently-abled and the like ones as stated by the collector.
Balwant Singh has also asked the officials and the voluntary members to exercise care and sensitivity when dealing with the beggars. It shall help to make the district free from beggars easily and give them better living opportunities.
Different NGOs, along with social welfare officials, will find out the loitering beggars, leprosy patients, mentally retarded ones, physically challenged persons, and offer them food and shelter. As the scheme is a sensitive one, the administration has decided to seek assistance from police, residents, and NGOs for smooth implementation of the scheme.
Funds for offering food, shelter and suitable care for the beggars will be offered by the PRAFUL scheme as has been informed by Trinath Padhi, district social security officer.
Before this, many social intellectuals have requested the municipal authorities to make Puri free of beggars who are found in and around the sea beach area and Srimandir. It is further said that tourists and devotees often have to face problems due to the beggars who are sitting near Srimandir and the beachside.
Also, there were allegations that the beggar would compel the devotees and other visitors to provide them food and money. If not given, the beggars would harass and abuse the visitors when they refuse to offer money or food. In this regard, sources also added that the beggars would start to quarrel among themselves and create an unusual situation for the pilgrims visiting the temples in Puri.
However, sources like SSEPD Minister Ashok Chandra Panda said that there are 366 beggars in Puri. Adding to this, some private sources said that the number of beggars is even higher in Puri. Therefore, with the successful implementation of the above-said scheme, it can be said that it will be possible to make Puri free of beggars.
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