Mohali administration, police to launch drive today to make city beggar-free
According to officials, the operation will focus on removing beggars from main roads, intersections, and green belt areas, which have increasingly become informal settlements over recent months.
Residents have been raising concerns for a long time about the growing number of beggars in the city. Many of them squat on key roads and spend the entire day there. Several are also reported to be defecating openly in green belts, affecting Mohali's image as an open defecation free (ODF) city.
Locals further say that some of these individuals force pedestrians to buy poor-quality items, while young children and teenagers are made to beg. In many cases, women carrying infants knock on car windows demanding money. There have also been reports of public intoxication, aggressive behavior, and altercations with passersby.
Vineet Verma, a member of the Punjab Government's Traders Commission, said, 'this issue has been troubling not just shopkeepers but ordinary citizens as well. I personally urged the district administration to take strict action. I can confirm that the campaign starts tomorrow, and in the coming weeks, Mohali will be made completely beggar-free.'
Officials emphasised that no one will be overlooked during the campaign, and rehabilitation options for the genuinely needy are also being considered.
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