In a series of steps taken by the administration for making of a smart city, operation ‘Samvedana’ was launched on Tuesday to make Udaipur a ‘beggar free’ city. With assistance from NGOs, social welfare department, volunteers and police, the beggars at various spots of the city were counseled throughout the day.

“Earlier too, steps had been taken for the rehabilitation of the drifters and many of them even gave up begging. They were taught skills, rehabilitated at shelter homes etc to make them self reliant. But some of the habitual panhandlers have taken back the old ways who would not be spared now” said Girish Bhatnagar, dy director of social welfare department. Officers even appealed to the citizens not to extend alms to beggars in order to reform and join them in the mainstream.

22 beggars were identified and warned against seeking alms while 4 people were taken to police station who were seen teasing the commuters for alms. Three families who were found begging at the bus stand were asked of their whereabouts and sent back to their home towns.

Volunteers Pravin Paneri, Neelima Barna, Nasim Bano of Gayatri Seva Sansthan, Nari Uthan Sewa Samiti, VP Singh Sansthan led the counseling part while teams from Bhupalpura and Surajpol police stations and traffic personnel assisted in the identification task during Samvedana Operation.