Editing Begging (section)

===India===
Begging is criminalized in cities such as [[Mumbai]] and [[Delhi]] as per the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, BPBA (1959).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/f2214e0043383b63b2d1f3cf71a315bd/THE+BOMBAY+PREVENTION+OF.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&lmod=-716342930&CACHEID=f2214e0043383b63b2d1f3cf71a315bd|title=The Bombay Prevention of Begging Act|year=1959}}</ref> Under this law, officials of the Social Welfare Department, assisted by the police, conduct [[Police raid|raids]] to pick up beggars who they then try in special courts called 'beggar courts'. If convicted, they are sent to certified institutions called 'beggar homes', also known as ''Sewa Kutir'', for a period ranging from one to ten years for detention, training and employment. The government of Delhi, besides criminalizing alms-seeking, has also criminalized almsgiving at traffic signals, to reduce the 'nuisance' of begging and ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan and the [[People's Union for Civil Liberties]] (PUCL) have criticized this Act and advocated for its repeal.<ref name="Criminalizing Poverty">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Industries-envirn-resettlement/2004/criminalise-poverty.htm|title=Criminalizing Poverty|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012071651/http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Industries-envirn-resettlement/2004/criminalise-poverty.htm|archive-date=2016-10-12|url-status=dead}}</ref> Section 2(1) of the BPBA broadly defines 'beggars' as those individuals who directly solicit alms, as well as those who have no visible means of subsistence and are found wandering around. Therefore, as a result of the enforcement of this law, the homeless are often mistaken for beggars.<ref name=":0" /> Beggar homes, which are meant to provide vocational training, have often been found to have abysmal living conditions.<ref name="Criminalizing Poverty"/>

In 2018, the [[Delhi High Court]] declared 25 provisions of the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act (1959) as unconstitutional, following petitions filed by [[Harsh Mander]] and Karnika Sawhney.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Soibam Rocky|date=2018-08-08|title=Delhi High Court decriminalises begging in the national capital|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-hc-decriminalises-begging-in-national-capital/article24631922.ece|access-date=2021-11-07|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In 2021, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] refused to ban begging and observed that begging was a socioeconomic problem.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Can't ban begging': SC issues notice to Centre, Delhi government for beggars' COVID vaccination|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2021/jul/27/cant-ban-begging-sc-issues-notice-to-centre-delhi-government-forbeggars-covid-vaccination-2336161.html|access-date=2021-11-07|website=The New Indian Express|date=27 July 2021 }}</ref>