Chennai: If you live in Chennai or if you plan to travel there next month, you may not find any beggars on the streets. The city has banned begging and the municipality has tied up with NGOs to rehabilitate beggars.
All who can work will receive vocational training, child beggars will be put in government schools and those eligible will be enrolled for receive government assistance.
"We are not driving them away from the city, we are trying to rehabilitate them," said Rajesh Lakhoni, Commissioner, Chennai Corporation.
A large percentage of beggars are disabled like Lourdh and Kamala. Both lepers can't work and their children are going to private schools. They are ready to quit begging only if the scheme ensures a regular income.
"Who will pay for fees, shoes and other things for my child? If they give money for this, I'll stop begging," said Kamala.
Whatever the government plans are for rehabilitating these beggars, the residents of Chennai are welcoming this.
"It's good because it often becomes dangerous on highways," said one of the local.
While it's a welcome initiative, a big question arises if this is a cosmetic clean up looking at beggars as an eye sore. But the corporation says it is addressing the root cause.