Civic body launches campaign to make Hyderabad 'beggar-free'

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) today launched a campaign to make the city 'beggar-free' and sought people's support to eradicate what has become a "mafia" in the city.
Hyderabad mayor B Rammohan inaugurated a vehicle to appeal to the public not to offer alms to beggar and that they would be taken care of.
Noting that begging has become a "mafia" in the city, the mayor said a survey showed only two per cent of those begging are real beggars.
He said 50 beggars have recently been sent to rehabilitation homes and another 500 would also be taken care of in a phased manner.

People need to cooperate in making the city beggar-free and the issue would be dealt in coordination with NGOs and others, he added.