Sambalpur: The administration has taken up a programme to make the district beggar-free.

The administration has identified total 223 beggars from all the nine blocks of the district and the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation area and taken up various schemes for their rehabilitation. A workshop was arranged for the beggars, in which 53 beggars shared their problems with officials.

It was found after a verification that 17 of the 53 beggars were suffering from old-age related problems and not in a position to do any physical work. So, the administration has arranged old-age pension and ration cards for them. The remaining 36 beggars expressed their interest to do some small business if they were given financial assistance.

"Each of these beggars will be given financial aid ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 through their respective block development officers. Many beggars have shown interest in opening small tea shops, vegetable shops, bicycle repairing shops and grocery shops. They have also expressed interest in cow rearing, goat rearing and poultry farming in the rural areas," said district social security and rehabilitation officer Rabinarayan Satpathy.

"We will not directly provide money to the beggars. We will give funds to the concerned block development officers, and they will purchase the materials for them. For example, if a beggar is interested for goat rearing, the officer will purchase goats for him," Satpathy said.

Accordingly, the administration has already released Rs 3.92 lakhs for rehabilitation of 36 beggars.

The eight beggars of the Sambalpur municipal area have been provided with assistance of Rs 62,000, while Rs 1.20 lakh has been given to 10 beggars at Jujomura, Rs 68,000 to six beggars at Naktidol, Rs 48,000 to four beggars at Bamra. Two beggars each from Dhankauda, Jamenkera, Maneswar and Rengali blocks have also been given assistance, he said.

"The performance of the beggars will be monitored at the block level for providing further assistance. Separate files for each beggar has been opened with their detailed data and medical report. Medical tests have also been conducted on them to know their present mental and physical condition," he said.

After success of the first phase of rehabilitation, the administration will go for the second phase by inviting the beggars for counselling.

The administration has identified beggars under categories such as disabled, destitute, elderly and those deserted by family members.

It has also decided to provide disability certificate, pension, medical facilities, ration card, and loans for self-employment and vocational training to the beggars.

"We are trying our best to rehabilitate the beggars. If our plan becomes successful, Sambalpur will be the first beggar-free district of Odisha," Satpathy said.