By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With the menace of begging still rampant in the capital city, the State Government has now decided to adopt stringent measures to deal with the growing number of beggars.
Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh recently said that the Government would take measures to discourage people from indulging in begging.
The State Government had, in September 2009, banned begging in the city to refurbish the image of Shillong as a clean city but till date begging is being practiced openly.
According to Ampareen, the Government is working out details and plans to curb down on begging.
The Minister also sought the cooperation of police and shopkeepers in the city to deal with the menace.
“It has to be a collaborative effort and even the traditional institutions must come forward to solve the problem,” she added.
If one goes by the prevailing situation, begging in the city has now become a thriving business as beggars of all ages are found creating nuisance for the commuters especially in Khyndailad area.