https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Giving Holy City Varanasi’s Alms Begging Community A Life of Dignity

Chief Development Officer of Varanasi, Himanshu Nagpal, has started the ‘Bhikshavriti Mukt Kashi' campaign to offer assistance to people begging on the streets He is reuniting families, providing rehabilitation, and also giving them skill training Around 416 people have been rescued and rehabilitated till now
Indian Masterminds Stories

Varanasi, known as the spiritual heart of India, attracts millions of devotees and tourists to its sacred temples and ghats. However, the presence of people begging outside these revered places has long inconvenienced visitors. To solve this issue, the administration launched the ‘Bhikshavriti Mukt Kashi’ to stop people begging in such places while offering assistance to those in genuine need.

The campaign, spearheaded by IAS officer Himanshu Nagpal, the Chief Development Officer of Varanasi, has been rolled out in two phases. Speaking exclusively to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Nagpal shared details about the campaign.

BHIKSHAVRITI MUKT KASHI

The first phase involves a collaborative effort with NGOs such as Apna Ghar Ashram and Roti Bank, as well as government bodies like Nagar Nigam and the Police Department. This phase focuses on counselling and encouraging people to abandon begging. Those who comply are offered guidance to reintegrate into society.

For those who persist in begging despite counselling and the knowledge that it is illegal in the country, the campaign takes a proactive approach. “Begging is considered a crime in India and the campaign aims to educate beggars about the consequences while simultaneously offering them an alternative path to livelihood,” Mr. Nagpal said.

He further informed that the destitute individuals are identified and provided shelter, while beggars from other districts are sent back to their hometowns. In the first phase of the campaign, the officer and his team rescued 246 beggars and in the second phase, they rescued 170 beggars. Around 416 beggars have been rescued till now.

STORIES OF CHANGE

Mr. Nagpal shared few success stories where they provided rehabilitation and re-united families. Some of these are:

• Chandra Devi, a 70-year-old women from Bihar who was lost in Kashi since last one year, was sent back home with the help of consultation and identification.

• Sumit, a 12-year-old boy from Bihar who couldn’t even remember his name, was rescued, counselled, and sent back home.

• Many destitutes, who couldn’t stand because of hunger, now have turned healthy and are doing respectable work at shelter homes. “There are around hundreds of such stories made possible because of this campaign,” the officer told Indian Masterminds.

UNITING WITH FAMILIES

The campaign goes beyond just addressing the immediate needs of beggars. It extends assistance to the families, intervening to help reconcile them with relatives if they were cast aside. Families are counselled to ensure a supportive environment for their members.

QR CODE

A novel aspect of the ‘Bhikshavriti Mukt Kashi’ campaign is the promotion of digital giving. QR codes have been placed prominently in the city, encouraging people not to give money directly to beggars but to scan the code if they wish to contribute. Funds collected through this method are used to support individuals residing in shelter homes and facilitate their transition into dignified lives.

REHABILITATION

One of the most heartening aspects of the campaign is the focus on rehabilitation and healthcare for those in desperate conditions. Individuals with severe health issues, including skin conditions, are provided with medical treatment, with a commitment to restoring their health. “We have found destitute whose skin were melting, they didn’t even know their names,” the officer shared. The campaign has also successfully reunited several children with their mothers, bringing tears of joy to separated families.

SKILL TRAINING

‘Bhikshavriti Mukt Kashi’ is not just about ending begging but also about empowering individuals. Skill training programmes have been initiated, providing sewing machines and equipment to make ‘dona pattals’. Such initiatives enable people to acquire skills and earn a dignified livelihood, ultimately transforming their lives for the better.

Mr. Nagpal further said that the success of the campaign is attributed to the visionary leadership of the Commissioner and District Magistrate. The positive feedback received thus far demonstrates the positive impact of the campaign on the lives of both residents and tourists. “Visitors to the temples and ghats in Varanasi can now experience the city without the inconvenience of beggars, contributing to a more serene and spiritually fulfilling experience,” he said.

‘Bhikshavriti Mukt Kashi’ is not just a campaign to eliminate begging, it is a beacon of hope that restores dignity to the lives of those in need while enhancing Varanasi’s reputation as a city of spirituality and compassion.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT