Hyderabad Police ban begging in the city ahead of Ivanka Trump’s visit

As per the notification issued by Commissioner of Police M Mahender Reddy, begging has been banned in the city of Hyderabad. Any person who is found disobeying this rule is liable to be prosecuted under section 188 of the IPC for disobedience of an order passed by a public servant. The prosecutor can even be jailed under the provisions of the TS Prevention of Begging Act 1977.

In his order, the Commissioner said, “It has come to my notice that many beggars are seeking alms in an indecent manner. They are also employing children and disabled people to seek alms at major junctions on roads. They cause inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians and are dangerous, apart from being an annoyance.” The Commissioner also added that it is the right of the citizens to use the roads without any inconvenience.

This move, which will be in effect from 6 am on November 8th to 6 am on
January 7th is also deemed to curtail the exploitation of many young children by organised begging gangs.

Incidentally, this move comes ahead of the US President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump’s visit to Hyderabad. Ivanka will be visiting the city later this month in order to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) which will be held in Hyderabad. In fact, a similar order was passed back in 2000 when former president Bill Clinton had visited the city. It was reported that hundreds of beggars were relocated so as to facilitate a ‘beggar-free’ Hyderabad during his visit.