Aizawl: The central committee of the Young Mizo Association, the largest civil society group in Mizoram and Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP) or elders' association, have pledged to make Mizoram a beggar-free state.

Members of the elders' association, during its 27th general conference held here recently, had urged the state government to take the initiative to make Mizoram a beggar-free state.

The association also asked the state government to remove billboards advertising use of condoms and curb illegal sale of cooking gas and fuel.

"Being a Christian state, begging on the streets looks indecent. So we asked the state government to take an initiative to make Mizoram a beggar-free state and find an alternative for those who beg on the streets," a leader of the association told The Telegraph.

Though the state social welfare department failed to maintain records, the number of beggars here is estimated to be around 40. A majority of them cannot speak the local language. Officials of the social welfare department said measures are being taken to maintain proper records.