Dimapur attracts scores of migrant-beggars

A number of places within Dimapur urban indicate that there has been a significant increase in the number of beggars with a majority making the Railway gate and station as their hunting ground.
While a majority of beggars come from neighbouring Assam or as far away as Bihar, there is also an old Naga beggar among the scores of others .
This Reporter also met six children between the ages of four to ten, who know each other well. These children are not orphans and some of them were staying with some persons. One of them disclosed that they came from Assam and travel to and fro by train.
When asked, the child-beggars said they were not working under any ‘don’ but were doing so to fend for themselves.
There were also several disabled adult and old male and female beggars who are active in and around railway area.
This reporter found out that an old Kachari beggar- couple were staying in a single CGI roof -thatched room at a nearby area. The reason for begging was because they have no one to care for them and had to take to begging in order to pay rent and buy food scraps.
Among the factors for begging were – disability, lack of support from families or having no family to be cared for.
Many of the beggars sleep under trees or under the footbridge in the railway platform or around the railway flyover.
Some of the beggars were handicapped, or were disabled after suffering serious injury. Others were forced to begging as they had no to care for them.
As per the admission of some of the beggars, on an average each beggar in Dimapur collect around 300–400 per day. Such earning make begging an alternative source for money especially for the old and infirm who are left without any family. However, age or ailment does not prevent them from working unless they are physically disabled .
It may be noted that in recent months ,the government of Nagaland has undertaken welfare- measures such as a shelter home that was opened in Dimapur in April 2025 to provide temporary relief for the destitute.
In June, advisories were issued directing authorities to ensure that child beggars were enrolled in schools. During July, the Home Department instructed tighter border vigilance to prevent an influx of beggars following eviction drives in Assam.
Despite these efforts, the reality on the ground shows that the number of beggars continue to rise, raising concerns that advisories and temporary shelters may not be sufficient to ensure that the state if beggar-free.