More than 13,000 beggars, both men and women, have been admitted to 'Anand Ashrams' (special homes) here since their establishment over one-and-a-half years ago.
As part of its initiative to make the city 'beggar- free', the prisons department in Telangana on October 20, 2017, started 'Anand Ashrams' for rehabilitation of beggars in Chanchalguda and Cherlapalli central prisons in the city.
The objective of the 'Anand Ashrams' is to serve the people at the lowest rung of society and to maintain law and order by eradicating begging,Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Vinoy Kumar Singh said.
The beggars were brought to 'Anand Ashrams' through regular drives held in coordination with the police and municipal authorities.
"So far we have picked up 8,438 male beggars and 4,977 female ones, out of which 8,260 male beggars and 4,948 female beggars were released on a personal undertaking that they would not resort to begging again," Singh told PTI.
Most of the beggars have been rehabilitated or sent to their homes. Those staying back are either mentally retarded, or who cannot walk or abandoned by their family members and not taken back by their families, Singh said adding: "We're imparting training and upgrading their skills at the "Anand Ashrams."
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