Poverty and Power-The Anti-Begging Act

February 21, 1981 Poverty and Power The Anti-Begging Act Amiya Rao NEVER since the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act (1959) was adapted and extended to Delhi, arresting beggars along with non-beggars, mostly working people, has any member of Parliament raised his voice against its utter brutality. Not even during the last session, alter the Press had given extensive coverage to the inquiry report of the Delhi People's Union for Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights on the inequities of the Act and the horrors of the Delhi Beggar's Home, did any member feel inclined to move an amendment to the Act or ask a question about its administration. The report, copies ol which had been sent to both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, had mentioned certain specific instances where citizens who were not beggars at all but only poor had been rounded up for "'begging" and the court relying on the evidence of a single witness, the policeman who had arrested them, had summarily sentenced them to detention.