State NPP seeks law to ban begging

National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland unit has urged the state government to introduce a law banning begging in public places, warning that unchecked practices could encourage illegal immigrants and pose demographic, social and security risks, particularly with the expansion of railway access into the State.
In a statement, NPP Nagaland welcomed the Mizoram Legislative Assembly’s recent decision to ban begging and said Nagaland must also take a proactive step before the problem escalates.
The party observed that while cases of begging in Nagaland are currently negligible, most persons involved were outsiders, many of whom were suspected of indulging in petty theft, drug abuse or even acting as carriers and informers for anti-social elements. Allowing such practices unchecked, it cautioned, would endanger peace and security.
NPP maintained that a Nagaland Begging Prohibition & Rehabilitation Bill would safeguard both law enforcement and social welfare, outlining its objectives as follows:
Prevention: Ban organised begging and prevent misuse by illegal immigrants.
Protection: Provide care, rehabilitation and vocational support for genuine local cases.
Public order: Maintain dignity and safety of marketplaces, traffic points and places of worship.
Security: Protect Nagaland from illegal activities, drug abuse, infiltration and exploitation linked to begging networks.
Deterrence: Restrict and discourage unwanted entrants exploiting the State’s improved connectivity through railways.
It asserted that introducing such a law would help secure Nagaland’s borders, maintain public order and protect the interests of its citizens.