Govt to rope in 3,000 beggars to promote Swachh Bharat

Delhi, Aug 04: The Union government is planning to rope in 3,000 beggars for promoting the flagship programmes including Swachh Bharat and Beti Padhao Beti Bachao. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting mooted the proposal. The Ministry directed All India Radio and Songs and Drama Division to study feasibility of training beggars. The pilot project will begin in Mumbai in a month and it would be soon extended to other cities across the country. The beggars will move in the local trains and sing songs on government schemes. The government is planning to provide incentives to selected candidates so that they would not need to beg. The proposal drew mixed response as several acts specify that singing and dancing in public places come under begging and people can be arrested for it.