Persons in Destitution (Protection, Care and Rehabilitation) Model Bill, 2016

The objective of the Bill is to provide for the protection, care, support, training and other services to persons in destitution and for establishing agencies to further the objectives identified there under.

• It defines destitution as a state of poverty or abandonment arising from economic or social deprivation including age and infirmity, homelessness, disability and sustained unemployment.
• It decriminalizes begging, except for a repeated offence.

According to a statement given by the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar in the Lok Sabha in December 2021, the bill was considered and dropped by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment because as many as 19 States and 3 UTs have either enacted their own Anti Beggary Legislation or adopted the legislation enacted by other States.

Possibilities and Prospects

• At present, anti-beggary laws have a lot of shortcomings, which have made them practically ineffective and oppressive.
• The current provisions and laws have a bias against beggars and the destitute. India is a welfare state, and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that every citizen is provided equal opportunities to develop his/her abilities to the fullest.
• Thus, instead of dropping the bill, the state must take steps to revive the bill and address the issue comprehensively.