HYDERABAD: A survey carried out by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has found fewer than 400 beggars in the city.
The survey, conducted recently by the civic body, categorised beggars across various groups. Of the total identified, 216 were women, 70 were persons with disabilities, 10 were children below 18 years, and 101 fell under other categories such as the elderly, persons with psychiatric conditions, and infants.
Officials said 22 of those identified have their own houses, 12 are availing government welfare schemes, and 116 possess valid identification documents.
The survey was taken up following an advisory issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) last year for the protection and rehabilitation of impoverished, uneducated, and differently abled individuals engaged in begging.
The GHMC will submit its report to the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) department next week.
Recently, the MAUD department and the Telangana Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) directed all urban local bodies, including the GHMC, to act on the NHRC advisory and submit an action-taken report.
The NHRC advisory outlines steps such as conducting surveys, mapping and preparing data on beggars, facilitating access to healthcare and education for children aged 6–14 years, and collaborating with NGOs, civil society organisations, and charitable trusts for rehabilitation. It also recommends developing a standardised national database and regularly updating it through an online portal accessible to government agencies and shelter homes.
The NHRC further called for registering individuals in shelter homes, issuing identity cards, and ensuring access to essential services, including healthcare, financial assistance, mental health counselling, and de-addiction support.