IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Feb 7: The government on Wednesday informed the Loksabha that more than six lakh people have been prosecuted for begging and hawking in railway stations in last three years and out of them more than five lakhs were convicted and over 29 crore was collected as penalty from them.
Responding to a written question regarding ‘a beggar free nation’ from CPI(M) MP from Kunnur P. K. Sreemathy, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Planning Rao Inderjit Singh said that under section 144 of Railways Act 1989 from 2015 to 2017 some 616012 persons were prosecuted for begging and hawking in trains and railway stations and out of them 532067 found guilty. A total 29 crore 52 lakh were collected from them as a fine.
According to section 144 of the Railway Act, 1989, if a person found guilty for selling anything in train or railway station without a license or found begging may face a one year jail term or one thousand rupees fine or both.
