The government would soon conduct a survey on beggars in Dhaka city to prepare a database with photographs of people who live on alms.
The ministry of social welfare has meanwhile formulated a guideline for the survey?the first of its kind?to be conducted by some ten NGOs under the guidance of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, a senior official told media.
The beggars?? photographs would be taken to avoid duplicity and ensure proper rehabilitation of the down-and-out people in different parts of country, said Gazi Mohammad Nurul Kabir, Director general of the National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons.
He said most of the disabled beggars would be relocated at government supported rehabilitation centre while able-bodied one would be provided with opportunities for self-employment, preferably in their own district of origin.

The authorities would divide Dhaka into ten zones and carry out the survey on a single day to prepare the database to ascertain the exact number of beggars and their origins and reasons for begging.

The database is essential for rehabilitation of the beggars whose number is growing at a fast rate throughout the country, specially in capital Dhaka, the NFDDP chief said.
Finance ministry officials said Tk 12.47crore has already been allocated for the project titled ??Beggars Rehabilitation Programme??. Half of the project fund would be spent on survey while rest on rehabilitation.

Although there is no specific data on number of beggars in the capital and others major cities, different government agencies estimate it would be one million countrywide.
The number of beggars in the capital would be around 600,000 who are always found seeking alms at bus stands, railway stations, markets and at traffic signals.

The survey on beggars in Dhaka city would be followed by similar surveys different divisional headquarters, said officials.

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