Bhubaneswar, Feb 14: The Odisha government has identified 5,284 beggars across the state and is actively working towards making Odisha beggar-free through various rehabilitation and support programs. This was revealed by Minister of ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, Nityananda Gond, in response to a written query by MLA Laxman Bag during the Odisha Assembly's Budget Session.

Among the districts, Cuttack recorded the highest number of beggars at 1,060, followed by Bargarh (595), Ganjam (545), Balangir (482), Sundargarh (417), and Puri (350). Gond assured that the government is committed to rehabilitating these individuals by providing socio-economic support and skill development opportunities.

To achieve this goal, the Odisha government has launched dedicated initiatives, including ‘Niladri Nilaya’ in Puri and ‘Ekamra Nilaya’ in Bhubaneswar, which focus on rescuing, rehabilitating, and empowering beggars. Additionally, various schemes and livelihood programs are being introduced to help them become self-reliant. The state plans to expand these initiatives to more districts in the coming months.

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