No official data on number of beggars, drug addicts

NEW DELHI - Even as drug abuse and begging continue to be major social problems, the government Monday admitted it has no data regarding the number of drug addicts or beggars in the country.

There is no authentic data to conclusively indicate that there is an increase in the number of drug addicts, opium, poppy husk and pills consumers across the country, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment D. Napoleon said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) was requested to carry out a survey on ‘Prevalence and Dependence on Harmful Drugs in Mumbai, Punjab and Manipur’. The NSSO report on the survey has not been finalized, the minister said.

In reply to a separate question, he said: There is no authentic data available on the prevalence and presence of beggars across the country.

However, the minister highlighted the measures being taken to fight the social problem.