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New drive for beggar-free crossings

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI SEPT. 6. The traffic signal junctions in Delhi may soon be rid of beggars and hawkers if the Delhi traffic police succeed in their campaign to prosecute vehicle owners who give alms or buy goods at intersections.

Launched on Friday, the drive seeks to discourage vehicle owners from indulging in activities that amount to an impediment to smooth traffic flow or hamper safety of road users. The necessity to impose such a rule was felt after the traffic police realised that nothing was being done by the agencies concerned to remove the increasing number of beggars and hawkers who cause unnecessary traffic snarls on signal junctions.

In a notification issued recently, the Department issued an order that those found giving alms to beggars or buying things from hawkers at intersections or within 100 metres on each approaching arm from the central verges would be fined Rs. 100 on commission of first offence and Rs. 300 on subsequent offences.

In a two-hour-long briefing session today, the four Deputy Commissioners of Police in the Traffic Department asked the traffic police personnel to concentrate more on intersections and places were beggars and hawkers were found to be obstructing traffic flow. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, VIP Traffic, Anil Kumar Ojha, said that the drive could be a success if enforced in co-ordination with other agencies concerned.

Reacting to the Delhi Traffic police's decision, Sanjay Gupta, the director of a non-governmental organisation, Chetna, expressed concern over the fate of those who had migrated to Delhi from poor States such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, to earn their livelihood, but landed into begging and petty business.

It is alleged no concrete effort has been made so far to rehabilitate these people, who might even take to crime if not provided any alternate source of earning.

Nonetheless, with the order coming into effect, the motorists here would certainly heave a sigh of relief.

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