Giving alms to beggars in Indore to become a crime from January 1; FIRs to be filed by police

When in Indore, do not give alms to beggars, or else you will be prosecuted by the police.

This is because the Indore district administration has warned that anyone found giving alms to beggars will face FIRs starting January 1, 2025. The rule was initially implemented for child beggars only. At that time, the administration declared that giving alms or purchasing goods from children constituted an offence. This stance has now been extended to include elders as well.

This initiative is part of the administration's broader goal to make Indore a beggar-free city, according to Collector Asheesh Singh. He noted that an awareness campaign would be launched this month to inform the public about the “harmful consequences of giving alms.”


The administration will launch a public awareness campaign this month about the downsides of giving to beggars. “From Jan 1 onwards, we will take strict action against those who continue to give alms,” Singh warned. A new order will be issued, banning giving money to both children and elderly beggars.

Indore is part of a national pilot program to stop begging. Officials believe discouraging giving money will help break the begging cycle. The city is working to identify and help beggars find other ways to support themselves. Existing efforts include rescuing child beggars and placing them in government shelters. Over 35 children have been rescued since July.

This stricter approach follows the discovery of an elderly woman beggar who collected approximately Rs 75,000 in a week. She is now in a shelter, and officials are trying to contact her family.

The crackdown on begging started in February after a woman was found forcing her children to beg. She had used the money to buy land, a house, a motorcycle, and a phone, reportedly making Rs 2.5 lakh in six months.